tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post3184132171098418015..comments2024-03-29T06:40:58.606+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: Latest From Napo HQ 6Jim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-52569901126665583942013-12-11T08:13:12.032+00:002013-12-11T08:13:12.032+00:00Social enterprises can have a key role in the upco...Social enterprises can have a key role in the upcoming privatisation of prison probation in 2014, argue industry experts.<br />Sector leaders are confident that social enterprise projects could improve employment prospects of offenders and reduce reoffending.<br /><br />The latest business models suggest that social enterprises are more likely to develop innovative new ways of interacting with offenders which offer sustainable, community driven solutions. <br /><br />Evidence suggests that even small social enterprises can successfully help offenders access mainstream employment, training and education services.<br /><br />But, experts have warned that the sector is often dismissed and over looked by contractors.<br /><br />“The reach of social enterprises is immeasurable”, said John Parkin, the Performance Manager of the West Yorkshire Probation Trust, speaking at the National Consortium of Social Enterprises Launch in Birmingham.<br /><br />“But social enterprises need bigger cash investments to forward their businesses", he told The Information Daily.<br /><br />The government’s “Transforming Rehabilitation” will transfer the supervision of the UK’s former offenders from 35 probation trusts to 21 private companies.<br /><br />Experts are worried that social enterprises will be disadvantaged when bidding for government rehabilitation contracts.<br /><br />Despite the introduction of the Social Value Act in 2012, social enterprises are still widely unrecognised and undervalued by private businesses outside of their sector.<br /><br />Therefore, probation performance managers have called on the government to help social enterprises lead the prison probation privatisation.<br /><br />This includes levelling out the playing field and increasing the accessibility of contract opportunities.<br />The government need to “improve the ability of the social enterprise sector to participate in the delivery of criminal justice services”, said Jennie Barns, the Business Manager of the National Offender Management Service.<br /><br />“Social enterprises allow offenders to find sustainable roots” and “get people into the right jobs at the right time with the right businesses”.<br /><br />“We need more social enterprises to be involved in public service delivery,” she added.<br /><br />Sector leaders hope that increased publicity may increase the share of social enterprises in the delivery of rehabilitation services in 2014.<br />Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-18400557434616280922013-12-11T08:10:00.516+00:002013-12-11T08:10:00.516+00:00The pair have numerous other horror stories – whic...The pair have numerous other horror stories – which also sound like effective sales pitches to prospective clients.<br /><br />"Just before lock-up you get a little flask filled with hot water, for a hot drink at night," says Waswani. "The girls would fill that with sugar and throw it on [someone they had fallen out with]. So it burns and sticks to the skin."<br /><br />Dagworthy says that "sugaring" is a common score-settler in men's prisons, too, along with inmates creating a knife by using a cigarette lighter to melt the handle of a toothbrush and then mount a razor blade. The less inventive "pool balls into a sock" is popular, too.<br /><br />The risk of bullying does not appear to decrease markedly for females. "If you are a woman and you've hurt a child, it is probably better to do yourself in than go to women's prison," says Waswani. "Women's prisons are the most bitchy arena. Why? Mainly because women are like that. Women can harbour grudges, whereas men drop them quicker. Also, women go inside with a lot more pressure [around their home lives]. When there is tension like that, you are probably not the nicest person to be around."<br /><br />Even now that she is out, Waswani does not appear particularly concerned with ingratiating herself with other well-known women. Of Vicky Pryce, the economist who wrote a book on serving two months for taking her husband's motoring penalty points, Waswani says: "I don't think that having served the time that she did [Pryce spent four days in Holloway before moving to an open prison] she is an authority about prison time."<br /><br />And of Meera Syal, the actor who played Waswani in the 2005 BBC docudrama, The Secretary Who Stole £4m, she says: "I couldn't believe they picked Meera Syal. That sense of indignation. It's horrible. She's horrible."<br /><br />When the programme was broadcast, Waswani says "the whole prison erupted", although media interest in her case meant that she was already one of the highest-profile female prisoners held in Britain.<br /><br />So how does fame affect your time inside? There is dealing with the complete loss of status: "I had the shittiest jobs. I had to pick and measure cucumbers," she says. And it is essential not to portray yourself as being superior to other prisoners: "I saw a high-powered businesswoman get beaten up by a girl who had murdered someone."<br /><br />There are also unknowns, such as prisoners' perception of white-collar crimes. Both former inmates predict some white-collar defendants who might yet end up in prison could find sentences tough.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-78014399330393647222013-12-11T08:08:55.768+00:002013-12-11T08:08:55.768+00:00The former Goldman Sachs secretary who was jailed ...The former Goldman Sachs secretary who was jailed in 2004 for stealing more than £4m from her banker bosses has landed a job coaching white-collar criminals in how to cope with a prison term.<br /><br />Joyti Waswani, who served half of her seven-year sentence in three closed prisons under her then married name of Joyti De-Laurey, is said to be Britain's biggest female fraudster after stealing vast sums from her bosses, Scott Mead, Jennifer Moses and Moses's husband, Ron Beller, all of whom were directors of the investment bank.<br /><br />The trio were so wealthy they did not notice their savings being plundered – despite, the court was told, Waswani buying more than £300,000 worth of Cartier jewellery, flying lessons for her husband and a £150,000 speedboat.<br /><br />Released in 2007, she has been working as director of fundraising for the Royal London Society, the prisoner charity, before taking up her new role as a consultant at a start-up business called Prison Consultants, which says it advises its clients on "how to prepare and deal with the unfamiliar surroundings of serving time at Her Majesty's establishments".<br /><br />The business has launched just as many high-profile white-collar cases are coming to court, from the prosecution of bankers allegedly involved in rigging benchmark interest rates, to the phone hacking trial currently at the Old Bailey.<br /><br />"I didn't feel safe at all when I first went in," recalls Waswani. "I felt really scared. Every five minutes there was a kick-off [a scuffle]. You don't need to know how to make friends; you just need to know how not to make enemies."<br /><br />Hence the role with Prison Consultants, a business conceived by Steve Dagworthy, another former white collar criminal who served half of his six-year sentence for what was described in court as a £3m Ponzi scheme. Dagworthy took his idea to a longstanding business contact called Steve Hamer, a former chairman of Swansea City FC, who formed the company and employs Dagworthy as a consultant.<br /><br />Dagworthy says: "If you go inside for fraud, the first question [from inmates] is 'how much?'. The second is 'what did you do with it?'. If they think you've got money, they'll start working you. You will get one person asking 'anything you need?'. Then you'll get someone else who gives you a hard time. So you go to the person that's been friendly to ask for help, but it costs you. And often you find that those two people have been working together."<br /><br />Both Waswani and Dagworthy warn of other traps that white collar prisoners fall into, such as taking jobs in the prison kitchen, where inmates are frequently left with the choice of breaking unwritten prison rules or taking the risk of smuggling food to the wing. "If you don't do it, that's when the bullying starts," says Dagworthy. Such problems can escalate, he says.<br /><br />If you end up needing official protection, he adds, "you've got to put yourself on the 'numbers', which means you're in with all the sex offenders. So when you move prison, someone will say: 'I remember you. You got moved to the VPs [vulnerable prisoners]. You're a paedophile.' It will follow you wherever you go."Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-50919158619201737602013-12-11T05:45:57.927+00:002013-12-11T05:45:57.927+00:00http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2013/12/09/soci...http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2013/12/09/social-enterprises-to-lead-the-prison-probation-privatisationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-42164780295595621712013-12-11T04:24:21.248+00:002013-12-11T04:24:21.248+00:00http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-12-11/govt-tou...http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-12-11/govt-tougher-guidelines-for-community-sentences/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-46255145976995343152013-12-11T04:00:41.509+00:002013-12-11T04:00:41.509+00:00Off topic, but I'm left wondering if we'll...Off topic, but I'm left wondering if we'll have class divisions with TR? <br /><br /><br /> http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/10/secretary-stole-4m-goldman-sachs-teach-jail-strategies<br /><br />And what a load of shite, but they'll develop a mentoring post release scheme or something (because they're professonals) and feed off the TR gravy train.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-91424369821439384672013-12-11T03:32:26.198+00:002013-12-11T03:32:26.198+00:00http://m.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/gene...http://m.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/mps-call-for-probe-into-civil-service-following-major-contract-fiascos-1-6307908Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-82965912442930315482013-12-10T23:49:15.374+00:002013-12-10T23:49:15.374+00:00I submitted my grievance today (auto allocated to ...I submitted my grievance today (auto allocated to CRC). Some fear a comeback if they do so and do not understand that this would be illegal. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-81406349569007090892013-12-10T23:17:22.185+00:002013-12-10T23:17:22.185+00:00I don`t want any part of this new arrangement, whe...I don`t want any part of this new arrangement, whether NPS or CRC. I`ve simply had enough and want/need out. I know of a number of colleagues saying the same thing. I don`t need an enhanced package, just enough to get by on. But I have younger (and probably more able and useful) colleagues who are blown to bits by the uncertainty and some have eloquently stated that here.<br /><br />They`re going make swathes of staff redundant before long, probably in both bits. Why not just see who wants out on standard terms now and give more of those with mouths to feed and futures to live a better chance of at least having a job. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-22367788860069823152013-12-10T22:43:06.897+00:002013-12-10T22:43:06.897+00:00As a practicing PO assigned to a crc already I wil...As a practicing PO assigned to a crc already I will be following suit with grievance and possibly appeal. Although I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place given the whole uncertainty. HOWEVER having a supportive manager is helpinour team through this difficult timeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-82292795220459895392013-12-10T21:48:00.896+00:002013-12-10T21:48:00.896+00:00Sorry to hear so many heartachingly painful storie...Sorry to hear so many heartachingly painful stories about colleagues.<br /><br />Heard our Trust has been asked to pilot a new system for NPS &/or CRC. I suspect some non-union lame duck will put their hand up for it, thereby undermining colleagues' solidarity. I trust (!) NAPO are aware?<br /><br />Our Trust management briefed against submitting grievances as they didn't believe there was "anything to grieve about". How wrong they are...<br /><br />Insult follows insult follows insult follows insult follows insult ad nauseam.<br /><br />Forgive them Papa, because I can't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-53419763862698376632013-12-10T21:47:10.755+00:002013-12-10T21:47:10.755+00:00And many thousands of appeals to follow on.And many thousands of appeals to follow on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-55948716228799243412013-12-10T21:36:39.863+00:002013-12-10T21:36:39.863+00:00The only problem is, UNISON have advised their mem...The only problem is, UNISON have advised their members against submitting grievances (for the present). The workforce therefore appear disunited in their response, and the Grayling monster that is TR rolls on, devouring decent hardworking people. Hang on, I thought this Govt positively supported hard working people - Dave, do you ACTUALLY KNOW what is going on at the MoJ? <br />DebAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-76925526646586926882013-12-10T21:19:28.734+00:002013-12-10T21:19:28.734+00:00This is so sad but I fear will be all too common. ...This is so sad but I fear will be all too common. I do hope your colleague has a good support network to help them through. This is criminal. One of my colleagues aged 48 has had a heart attack. I'm starting to wonder if Grayling is just trying to kill us all off. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-66432710780938415972013-12-10T21:10:08.253+00:002013-12-10T21:10:08.253+00:00I like the example Tom Rendon has given in this bl...I like the example Tom Rendon has given in this blog with the example of his Grievance - how will MOJ cope if MANY thousands of INDIVIDUAL written Grievances are submitted to Probation Employers?<br /><br />Andrew HattonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-1126038310587026582013-12-10T20:48:58.452+00:002013-12-10T20:48:58.452+00:00Beautifully said, with a clear value base. makes m...Beautifully said, with a clear value base. makes me feel I am not alone.<br /><br />ANARCHIST POAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-1393240948528397482013-12-10T20:38:15.341+00:002013-12-10T20:38:15.341+00:00So our trust keeps rolling out training and expect...So our trust keeps rolling out training and expects everyone to my embrace new ideas and be positive about how they will implement them. However they fail to recognise that staff are struggling to even cope with the day job and are not a lot function with the me levels of stress from day to day. It is unbelievable that we are required to tick a box to choose a job, of which we don't even have a job title!?? This is madness/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-21983643447479812302013-12-10T19:49:23.856+00:002013-12-10T19:49:23.856+00:00Today a really hard working colleague collapsed a...Today a really hard working colleague collapsed at work in considerable distress about his /her circumstances ( sorry but I don't want to identify their gender) and I fear will not be at work for some time. As a sole parent with children to support, the fear and anxiety created by Grayling's dreadful mess has simply become too much to bear.This person has an excellent sickness record but sees their future having been removed and can no longer cope with what we all know is a demanding job. Shame on this government, collectively and wholly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-21823966130770020292013-12-10T18:01:16.391+00:002013-12-10T18:01:16.391+00:00If I am Palestinian I may not be able to work for ...If I am Palestinian I may not be able to work for G4S because of their involvement with the detention of political prisoners in the Middle East.<br />If I am African I may not be able to work for either Serco or G4S because of my belief that they are involved in human rights abuses in South Aferica.<br />The same if I'm Austrailian.<br />If I champion Animal Welfare I cannot work for a company that is responsible for clinical trials on animals.<br />If I champion enviornmental causes then I couldn't work for a company involved in destroying our rain forrests.<br />If I am anti-war I cannot work for a company involved in the supply of arms.<br />These are diverse issues and as such raise issues of diversity. I have a right to hold ethics, and the freedom to stand proud against whatever wrong I believe exists in the world. <br />I am state employed not state owned and as such retain the right to make free choices.<br />To be asked to accept employment from an unknown employer takes my choices away, refuses to acknowledge issues of my diversity, and leaves me concerned about political, religious, moral and ethical abuses I may be faced with when I meet my new employer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com