tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post4180801219189741472..comments2024-03-28T17:27:56.016+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: Omnishambles Update 13Jim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-89031674321987162882013-08-04T08:23:27.204+01:002013-08-04T08:23:27.204+01:00You're right, it could all derail at any time,...You're right, it could all derail at any time, but I think we ought to be actively assisting in making sure it comes of the tracks. Messy without doubt and nasty too.....Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-5814984043876837632013-08-04T08:20:33.324+01:002013-08-04T08:20:33.324+01:00Thanks - another good example of how private is no...Thanks - another good example of how private is not better than public.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-65528619237475664672013-08-04T08:17:57.673+01:002013-08-04T08:17:57.673+01:00Thanks for flagging this up - I'll give it a m...Thanks for flagging this up - I'll give it a mention in a forthcoming post - but the link doesn't seem to work - try this:-<br /><br />http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/02/universal-credit-staff-flagship-reformJim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-34158844669239120672013-08-04T08:08:01.717+01:002013-08-04T08:08:01.717+01:00Thanks for raising this - G4S putting in planning ...Thanks for raising this - G4S putting in planning applications for childrens homes in the names of private individuals thus hiding their involvement.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-79707340032524860572013-08-03T09:14:45.586+01:002013-08-03T09:14:45.586+01:00It's a sneaky practice, but one they're al...It's a sneaky practice, but one they're all involved in I'm affraid.<br />With such large mother companies often employees family or friends are recruited to set up their own small companies, financed by the mother company, to bid for funding. Once it's achieved the funding as an independant company it then goes into partnership with the mother company. Simple, but morally repugnant.<br />It's these and similar practices that cost the work programme so many millions. The government must be aware of it, but maybe theres to many important shareholders for any action to be taken.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-41418247710909009662013-08-03T08:13:14.614+01:002013-08-03T08:13:14.614+01:00www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/g4s-did-no...www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/g4s-did-not-declare-company-name-on-planning-applications-8744523.html<br /><br />Oh dear. It really is the gift that keeps giving. They should be banned outright from bidding for govt work. End of. Garethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16448521101087639084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-37052332626905965302013-08-02T22:26:37.309+01:002013-08-02T22:26:37.309+01:00Ethical Walls - maybe not a previous leader of the...Ethical Walls - maybe not a previous leader of the PS, but certainly something the con - dems, MoJ and Noms - can't spell, let alone understand....sound bites, soundbites soundbites - still a crock of shite!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-52224777888175002262013-08-02T21:57:26.445+01:002013-08-02T21:57:26.445+01:00At a guess I would say that they do not give a dam...At a guess I would say that they do not give a damm as very few of them have an understanding of the job. If they did they would not have inflicted Delius on us!<br /><br />It will probably be the same people who had a hand in this:<br /><br />http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2382926/Failed-firms-53m-Labour-NHS-deal-Taxpayers-foot-huge-ministers-terminated-contract-GPs-stopped-referring-patients-failing-hospital-unit.html?ito=feeds-newsxml<br /><br />I hope NAPO/Unison are collating all of these calamities as evidence for what can (and normally does) occur when brown envelopes replace integrity!!Obi Wannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-25587593020635519982013-08-02T20:41:17.389+01:002013-08-02T20:41:17.389+01:00Interesting news is coming out of the DWP this eve...Interesting news is coming out of the DWP this evening: a leaked staff survey describes high levels of stress and poor management over the Universal Credit reforms. Phrases like "soul-destroying" and "firefighting and panic management" are picked out from the comments.<br /><br />(see http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/02/universal-credit-staff-flagship-reform)<br /><br />It would be nice to know what the views inside the MoJ of TR really are - anyone got any contacts?Timnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-76122433318597631132013-08-02T20:14:22.437+01:002013-08-02T20:14:22.437+01:00Ethical Walls? Didn't she once head up the Nat...Ethical Walls? Didn't she once head up the National Probation Directorate?TheUrbaneGorillanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-67524573321338914252013-08-02T17:28:11.485+01:002013-08-02T17:28:11.485+01:00Yes, its a veritable smorgasbord of stupidity. The...Yes, its a veritable smorgasbord of stupidity. The sad thing is that when this all emplodes the minsters will be either moved on to other departments or nice directorship. The carcase will be locked into 10 year contracts which it will slowly fall apart. The press will say how terrible it is that contacts are being overpaid for work not done, SFO's to the eyeballs until they start changing the definition of an SFO. Le SighAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-51179749329787415622013-08-02T12:04:21.508+01:002013-08-02T12:04:21.508+01:00Whilst I accept the direction of travel is ominous...Whilst I accept the direction of travel is ominous, there are still a mass of unanswered fundamental questions about the whole model. It is possible that it will derail itself before NAPO needs to call for industrial action. This is the blind leading the blind into a cow field in bare feet. It's gonna get messy :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-90642581805513200002013-08-02T11:30:58.473+01:002013-08-02T11:30:58.473+01:00I, too, read the Napo forum remarks that you quote...I, too, read the Napo forum remarks that you quote. Although I am not sure what 'ameliorating the effects on members' means in practice, I can see the grounds for pessimism. It is all being implemented. <br /><br />It is almost a certainty that the turnout figure for the ballot is being withheld because it's derisory and offers no platform for resistance. I always thought Napo's fighting talk about 'resistance' was empty rhetoric. I would not blame Napo for the low turnout. The workforce demographics and profiles have changed significantly in probation over the last decade or so. The dog will not bark, let alone bite back. <br /><br />In the meantime Napo engages in discussions and sends out circulars. Napo hopes to maintain collective bargaining rights and national consistencies around early retirement and redundancies and so forth. After the fiasco in London over community service, I would not place much confidence in Napo's negotiating strength. Pity really that there was not a stronger show in the indicative ballot as militancy in the workforce can concentrate the minds of the employers. <br /><br />I think it is all going to come to pass. If the Serco experience is any guide there will be massive redundancies. Napo will hope membership levels do not nosedive and it will find a niche for itself in the new arrangements. <br /><br />Wearisome times indeed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com