tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post3044097761822255890..comments2024-03-28T18:19:35.415+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: TTG Not Working - Shock!Jim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-2139274421090766312016-05-28T12:03:05.127+01:002016-05-28T12:03:05.127+01:00Agency staff are probably no more expensive to emp...Agency staff are probably no more expensive to employ than permanent staff given the employers commitment to annual leave, sickness absence, training. There is also greater job security and a more secure pension. I am commencing a "resting period" as the actors would say with no job and no pay. Ah! such is agency life. <br />Since this April there are no lunch claims or travel and accommodation expenses for those in jobs which could be done under the "Supervise, Direct and control" regulations introduced by the revenue. <br />Sadly the mismanaging of training means that there may be many newly qualified POs required to continue working as PSOs on PSO pay unless they get a PO job> Someone is miscalculating how many staff are needed. Now this is a scandal for NAPO to deal with. <br />There is a risk that agency work may be come a valid and desirable option for many newly qualified staff as it has been for social workers. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-87856059368905519792016-05-28T11:20:01.407+01:002016-05-28T11:20:01.407+01:00@07.34 I've had several cases tell me this - ...@07.34 I've had several cases tell me this - apparently the going rate is up to £3000 for a two week stint with kinder egg containers as the preferred means of transport. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-60512373109530051752016-05-27T08:36:46.137+01:002016-05-27T08:36:46.137+01:00I have to agree with 21:26. Basic Custody screeni...I have to agree with 21:26. Basic Custody screenings are not worth the time or screen space. The company are getting money for nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-71759700872018889932016-05-27T08:32:51.287+01:002016-05-27T08:32:51.287+01:00The problems of NPS is not the fault of the agency...The problems of NPS is not the fault of the agency staff. Some NPS staff have been collusive in not standing firmer when the role boundaries between qualified and non qualified staff began to collapse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-69992891539216707612016-05-27T08:22:17.849+01:002016-05-27T08:22:17.849+01:0020:28 The reason I have little sympathy with agenc...20:28 The reason I have little sympathy with agencies workers is because NPS are short staffed and they are employing agency workers rather than filling those vacancies with CRC staff who lost their jobs. Those staff were experienced Probation Workers. Some agency staff have never done an oasys so they need a great deal of training before they can even start the role. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-31995184235087727952016-05-26T23:06:49.718+01:002016-05-26T23:06:49.718+01:00The BBC news item was welcome. I am a PO in a CRC...The BBC news item was welcome. I am a PO in a CRC and I am certain that with increasing regularity that breaches and recalls are not being made because of the contract. I know that when this happens people go on to re - offend when they otherwise might not have, a very few will re - offend in a way that grabs the headlines although some who are not breached and recalled when they previously would have been will do neither, but this is not the real story with TR. Rehabilitation for many of the people we work with, those revolving in and out of the Courts cannot be done on the cheap and quick, certainly not the quick and I would say not on the cheap. The models the profiteers are working to want everything ticked off in the first 3 months of a community sentence or licenced supervision period with tokenistic interventions. For some cases this may be appear to work but for the remainder, the people caught in the system more regularly, these are people who are usually faced with multiple problems, substance misuse, unemployment, homelessness, mental - health, emotional affects from an abusive childhood or adult relationships, problematic peer associations, anti – social attitudes and much more. In these cases, all cases, a good starting point for effective and efficient work is a good initial professional assessment and then professionals who can develop a good working relationship to support people to bring about self – directed or guided changes in their lives. This can take quite some time, perseverance and effort and is aided by well trained, experienced and skilled professionals. Sodexo et al did not sign up to this vision and when they figure out that a profit cannot not be squeezed in the way that they had anticipated they will be gone, either that or Probation work will be?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-28909999446896392882016-05-26T23:03:27.512+01:002016-05-26T23:03:27.512+01:00I was paid off by CRC last year on a non-EVR rate....I was paid off by CRC last year on a non-EVR rate. I found myself between a rock & a hard place so chose to jump with a basic parachute rather than being thrown out without one. Within 24 hours I was cold contacted by two agencies offering me generous rates & "guaranteed" 6 month contracts, the higher offer being £34/hour as a private limited company (with all of the commitments outlined by 20:30 above) or £25/hour as a PAYE staffer. They also offered to link me in with "a consortium" of independents who share the legal & accountancy costs... I gained the impression it was a tightly organised arrangement where everyone was in clover.<br /><br />I refused & am quite happy pottering around doing gardens, painting sheds, occasional labouring to keep the mortgage company happy. The stress-free lifestyle is blissful. Its painful reading about the pernicious, divisive & abusive murky depths into which the probation landscape has been plunged.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-1622926379529340892016-05-26T21:59:25.181+01:002016-05-26T21:59:25.181+01:00I'm agency. I'd jump at being permanent if...I'm agency. I'd jump at being permanent if there was a chance. I'd lose about £500 a month. I might be able to apply for a mortgage though and I wouldn't have that sick feeling when the SPO asked to see me. 3 placements already this year. 5 days notice each time when they finished me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-3255167966841024512016-05-26T21:47:46.074+01:002016-05-26T21:47:46.074+01:0020:30 your right you don't get those benefits ...20:30 your right you don't get those benefits but you are self employed and earning a good income per hour more than the hourly rate of perm staff. We have agency staff in our area bragging about earning £6,000 per month choosing to write their reports in the evenings and weekends when they are not disturbed by phones ringing and queries. Don't whinge you left and are now earning more than you were and having a bit fat cigar! Do me a favour! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-86032759848934588782016-05-26T21:40:35.831+01:002016-05-26T21:40:35.831+01:00'Packing for a two week holiday' has a who...'Packing for a two week holiday' has a whole new meaning since TTGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-14287412188275030522016-05-26T21:34:38.859+01:002016-05-26T21:34:38.859+01:00I thought Grayling said something about CRCs becom...I thought Grayling said something about CRCs becoming their own housing provider or was it about getting contracts with housing providers?<br /><br />It all sounded so convincing when he said it would be no more £46.00 discharge grant and nothing else - how are the mentors getting on, do they always get to do a pre discharge visit and get to be at theprison gate on day of discharge - I have not read of any experiences of this working, surely it must be working sometimes in some places?<br /><br />I tried to read the Inspection report but could not for raging - this is what I ended up writing - though there is no reason anyone should be interested.<br /><br />I hear the Labour Party have issued a Press release but it does not seem to have got on their website yet. I am promised a copy tomorrow, I aim to post it via my Facebook page<br /><br />https://www.facebook.com/AndrewSHattonPublicMiscellany/photos/a.769725166483332.1073741828.766570006798848/902899519832562/?type=3&theater<br /><br />Andrew_S_Hattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09115192522317353139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-29703537928050606082016-05-26T21:26:58.788+01:002016-05-26T21:26:58.788+01:00I'm sorry. I'm one of the people on the re...I'm sorry. I'm one of the people on the receiving end of the awfulness of Basic Custody Screening It achieves nothing. I usually know the person being screened and have yet to see one that is true. It is a total waste of time and effort and you guys must be knocking yourselves silly trying to achieve the target. For the first time ever I have heard two people in one week talk about trying to get back inside so they can make a bit of money. It's totally and utterly fucked up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-575331144534291722016-05-26T21:10:27.259+01:002016-05-26T21:10:27.259+01:00Could morale be any lower in CRCs? Every evening I...Could morale be any lower in CRCs? Every evening I get home (late of course) and contemplate resignation but at my age (50 ish) I would struggle to get another job and still have a mortgage to pay. I work in a resettlement team where stress related illness is rife and we are struggling just to do the basic custody screening (target of 95%) let alone any meaningful work arising from this. We try and focus on the most pressing need of soon to be released prisoners -housing, but have very few meaningful resources to achieve the target of 90% of 'sustained accommodation' (clients remaining in that accommodation for at least 3 months following release). We are struggling to put it mildly but face the wrath of managers and prison governors when we fail to deliver. Indeed, we are regularly held to account for the shockingly poor results of the pathways we are supposed to be addressing and we are constantly reminded that prison did resettlement so much better when it was in house. Colleagues in the field also apply the pressure with 'well it's your job to find him somewhere to live.' Impossible with many of our medium risk revolving door clients who have fouled up with every housing provider in a 60 mile radius. Not sure where CRCs can go with TTG apart from to admit failure and push it back to governors. sad and disillusionednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-26424305497139413152016-05-26T20:50:24.239+01:002016-05-26T20:50:24.239+01:00fixed term contracts in Merseyside extended till e...fixed term contracts in Merseyside extended till end of July. It's like they don't know what they're doing or having doubts about moving forwards. Several people have lost their posts and moving to Interserve HQ that will be in Liverpool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-6293613881462282872016-05-26T20:30:27.653+01:002016-05-26T20:30:27.653+01:00Stop this please. It was a fair point. We'll a...Stop this please. It was a fair point. We'll all end up being agency type contract at this rate, rolling contract, deliver to contract or you are out! We are all working people and working bloody hard for the most part, stressed to high hell with all the nonsense. Agency, admin, PO, SPO, PSO, RO, SRO, the title don't matter, we are getting rammed up the Jacksie!! United we stand, divided we fall (sorry ... we have fallen).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-38174512521846334032016-05-26T20:30:21.427+01:002016-05-26T20:30:21.427+01:00You're misinformed. I don't know any agenc...You're misinformed. I don't know any agency staff getting £30+ an hour, you're right though most agencies now are paying around £25. Salaried staff get 10 bank holidays + 30+ days paid holiday. Agency staff now have to become private limited companies. They don't get travel or subsistence, there are no expenses from the employer everything is offset against tax which you pay yourself as well as National Insurance and Professional Liability and Public Indemnity Insurance premiums oh and the fee to the accountancy company every month. There's no pension contributions or a day off sick or a trip to the doctor paid for in work time. Yes the rate of pay looks good on the surface, but when you take off everything else, it's not a great deal more with a lot more uncertainty. It's not the jolly you think it is and if anyone is thinking of doing it go in with your eyes open.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-140653396885078902016-05-26T20:28:52.853+01:002016-05-26T20:28:52.853+01:00Absolutely agree with above point. Get your Manag...Absolutely agree with above point. Get your Manager to instruct you and get it in writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-46208101209835787632016-05-26T20:28:27.005+01:002016-05-26T20:28:27.005+01:00Not sure why some of you feel the need to be so vi...Not sure why some of you feel the need to be so vicious towards your agency colleagues. We all have our reasons for choosing the route we do, for work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-9639723195912839402016-05-26T20:21:06.802+01:002016-05-26T20:21:06.802+01:00OK TTG , now can you provide specific details of e...OK TTG , now can you provide specific details of exactly what this 'unprecedented support' consists of? I want to join your team and tell all my colleagues how wrong they have been, but I can't do it without the evidence. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-11491380397072047492016-05-26T20:17:06.642+01:002016-05-26T20:17:06.642+01:00I've just breached a class A user who agreed t...I've just breached a class A user who agreed to UPW as he was looking at custody. It got him out of the mess in court but now he's hit a problem as he cant attend UPW - I think he's capable of doing it but his lifestyle is such that there's no chance. Anyway, he dna court, picked up on warrant and not only have they not deleted the hours (as per my application) but they've also given him an 8wk curfew for breach. Fecking joke and bet ur bottom dollar he'll breach again, get custody and lose his flat etc etc. I wonder if people are deliberately set up to fail?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-783227084671925372016-05-26T20:10:13.943+01:002016-05-26T20:10:13.943+01:00Diddums, so you're having to reduce from £30+ ...Diddums, so you're having to reduce from £30+ per hour + travel & subsistence. Cashing in on the TR fuck-up is fair dinkum, but whining about it is just crass stupidity. Either take the £25/hour agency work or get a full-time contract at £17/hour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-3800813076979573452016-05-26T20:06:42.401+01:002016-05-26T20:06:42.401+01:00Napo is a disgrace and its remaining members fooli...Napo is a disgrace and its remaining members foolish Can't believe the appraisal instructions we've been issued with today in NPS I don't know why Napi are all over this when did we sign up to civil service performance competencies? It seem to me we are civil servants when it suits Noms and just Probatiin second class servants most of the time It's a disgrace why do professionally qualified staff stand by and take this !! We might as well forget all our specialist skills and retrain to be robots Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-3999323371307758922016-05-26T20:05:14.564+01:002016-05-26T20:05:14.564+01:00Yeah gutted for you 18:44 getting paid more per ho...Yeah gutted for you 18:44 getting paid more per hour than permanent staff together with lunch and parking paid. What a tragedy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-86257017520402143072016-05-26T19:57:10.262+01:002016-05-26T19:57:10.262+01:00Anon 18:44 what a shame.Anon 18:44 what a shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-36199482634003284412016-05-26T19:44:38.851+01:002016-05-26T19:44:38.851+01:00Absolutely right, some of the sentences coming out...Absolutely right, some of the sentences coming out of the courts these days are absurd, the legacy of under-trained NPS staff not having enough time or enough information to do a proper job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com