tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post2600383038328582743..comments2024-03-29T14:15:33.681+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: The Debate Goes OnJim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-1949121434315908712013-08-15T07:54:46.757+01:002013-08-15T07:54:46.757+01:00Probation has not been well-served with IT systems...Probation has not been well-served with IT systems and OASys-R and N-Delerious are truely dreadful and as I've said many times before, seriously reduce our productivity.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-57087222745568914842013-08-15T06:57:58.780+01:002013-08-15T06:57:58.780+01:00Mike,
Good to hear from you. Do you know I never ...Mike,<br /><br />Good to hear from you. Do you know I never got to a Lakes Conference or ever remember chatting to someone who did, which says a lot about the sheltered backwater my career has been conducted in. I guess the closest I got were Regional Staff Development courses at the seaside which were famous for the quality of contributors and the late night drinking. Such events were eventually ruled out by the accountants of course, but the training aspects were second to none and will never match a day at Head Office with a cascade trainer.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-45401366270349019752013-08-15T06:48:27.251+01:002013-08-15T06:48:27.251+01:00Good to hear, especially that you still go 'of...Good to hear, especially that you still go 'off script'. I don't think you can be a good officer if you don't to be honest - the problem has been encouraging newer colleagues in my experience.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-21829087766339823832013-08-14T22:41:05.437+01:002013-08-14T22:41:05.437+01:00I would like to think that I can straddle the new ...I would like to think that I can straddle the new stuff, eg i.t. systems, because for a multitude of reasons, it's necessary, and still have a meaningful relationship with those I supervise. There is a danger in thinking 'PROBATION' as opposed to keeping our focus on people. I enjoyed references to those past colleagues who really left their mark and made a difference, but most of us do, to some degree. It's me, '30 years in' and I still go off script, but I also try to ensure I cover all bases, before embarking on the life changing stuff. If I didn't think it worthwhile, and exciting I would have left a long time ago.......there is still a lot of passion, innovation and gutsy people in the service, we just need to encourage and allow them to blossom. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-29906757734272630762013-08-14T19:01:09.320+01:002013-08-14T19:01:09.320+01:00In recent weeks I have had to grind to a halt with...In recent weeks I have had to grind to a halt with mind-numbing OASys-R and then the shambles of N-Delerious. These great crap systems are unfortunately the argument for change in Probation. De-centralise the whole lot of it and give it to the Trusts with the allowance that they can at last innovate. It's these terrible national constraints - score cards and all - that stifle innovation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-59855297521948959002013-08-14T17:37:58.043+01:002013-08-14T17:37:58.043+01:00Well put. I was thinking the same things. Well put. I was thinking the same things. Garethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16448521101087639084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-66617052561397815162013-08-14T14:41:36.778+01:002013-08-14T14:41:36.778+01:00Jim,
One particularly 'enriching set of exper...Jim,<br /><br />One particularly 'enriching set of experiences( aside from dodgy comics & calorific overload!) which seems to have completely faded from the probation back catalogue .. was the yearly Lakes Conferences organised with consummate passion by the late and greatly lamented Napo activist Brian Hampson... innovative practice was regularly paraded and shared... recall veteran PO Bron Roberts working with denial with Sex Offenders.( alongside the late Ray Wyre).. I do hope that Jill Anniston who is collating Napo archives will unearth some of this hidden history & refute some of the sillier obiter dicta that Probation and innovative practice do not mix... I certainly concur with Netnipper's succinct analysis of recent trends ... ps I also attended the now defunct Otterburn Conference... another trove of innovative probation practice...I could go on! keep up the fight...<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Mike Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-22866565720910557092013-08-14T14:38:14.048+01:002013-08-14T14:38:14.048+01:00More bad news for G4S today on the 'Stop G4S&#...More bad news for G4S today on the 'Stop G4S' website.<br />I know it's not an attractive quality, but I take great pleasure in their misfortunes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-52982611812795086342013-08-14T12:41:51.671+01:002013-08-14T12:41:51.671+01:00Netnipper: I am most definitely on Jon Harvey'...Netnipper: I am most definitely on Jon Harvey's side of the argument, not least because his language is humanised as opposed to cybernetic outcome-focused management speak. I can understand PbR in the context of sporting and other contests, but I will never understand how it can ever be meaningfully applied to reoffending rates. <br /><br />As for the client experience, it has changed significantly since the mid-nineties. One of my reservations when it comes to saving probation, is what exactly is being saved? What is the difference in management behaviour between some probation trusts and private companies? I see few differences as for years now the former has been aping the latter. Public probation are going to screw their staff with as much energy as the private or third sector. It is no wonder that the probation experience has become a more oppressive one for clients, as that is exactly what it has become for staff. <br /><br />In the mid-nineties probation was also dealing with a higher-risk probation population; it was later that it started to suck in lots of first offenders to 'treat' them. The other thing I remember about the mid-nineties is that far from being inward looking and chained to desktops, probation was forever networking with voluntary agencies in all those fields that could potentially assist with the rehabilitation and resettlement of clients. So, I think the mere assertion that PbR innovates may be true, but the actual evidence shows that historically public probation was good at innovation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-27834324091652743392013-08-14T10:47:07.902+01:002013-08-14T10:47:07.902+01:00Innovation in the private sector will always be fo...Innovation in the private sector will always be focused on the improvement of profit margins and financial gain and not concerned with social issues, social mobillity or the advancement of humanity.<br />Putting all our public services into private markets directs innovation in a very particular way, soley focused on wealth creation.<br />Public sector services provide a balance to this, and innovative focus is directed to'wards social interests.<br />We all want some wealth, but not at the cost of losing our social ethics and responsibilities.<br />We must retain some balance between public and private sectors.scalagousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07962107613759204960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-65706526615241186022013-08-14T10:11:43.394+01:002013-08-14T10:11:43.394+01:00MITIE, another dodgey outfit, who may or may not h...MITIE, another dodgey outfit, who may or may not have design on getting its fingers in the TR pie have announced that its aquired UKCRBs.<br />Outsourcing is now becoming a viral concern.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-91097728283756046242013-08-14T09:42:34.942+01:002013-08-14T09:42:34.942+01:00Interesting article in yesterdays Huddersfield Dai...Interesting article in yesterdays Huddersfield Daily Examiner regarding W Yorkshires drive to involve the voluntery sector in probation work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-47018547159907595542013-08-14T09:01:56.985+01:002013-08-14T09:01:56.985+01:00Probation is I have to admit a very different anim...Probation is I have to admit a very different animal then it was in 95/96. I do think however that it is still far more suited to rehabilitation, assistance, supervision and public protection then anything that PbR and the private sector can provide.<br />On the question of innovation? I'd have to agree that PbR creates great capacity for innovation.<br />You only have to look at the millions that was swindled by A4e subcontractors in the work programme and G4S billing for recalled and dead clients to see just how innovative PbR really is.<br />No doubt such innovative practices will also be present in the TR model.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com