tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post4648031709205971996..comments2024-03-29T06:40:58.606+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: A Future for Probation?Jim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-28470208545799017622015-09-20T20:14:45.896+01:002015-09-20T20:14:45.896+01:00here herehere hereAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-9896926587317709662015-09-20T11:52:33.237+01:002015-09-20T11:52:33.237+01:00I know. I'm really beginning to despair....I know. I'm really beginning to despair....Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-86963230891363706022015-09-20T11:31:37.502+01:002015-09-20T11:31:37.502+01:00A lot of teachers are lazy!!!! Isn't that the ...A lot of teachers are lazy!!!! Isn't that the broad brush approach we actively discourage? What is happening to our profession?anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03589578682021640817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-85150281816421826432015-09-20T08:59:26.863+01:002015-09-20T08:59:26.863+01:00I actually think Michael Gove seems like a sensibl...I actually think Michael Gove seems like a sensible gut who is committed to driving up standards and letting research inform policy, rather than being purely ideologically driven. Yes, he fell out with the teachers but in my view a lot of teachers are incredibly lazy and resist any attempts to reduce their excessive number of holidays. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-9582422194884549582015-09-20T08:39:22.125+01:002015-09-20T08:39:22.125+01:00THOUSANDS of criminals could be spared jail to sav...THOUSANDS of criminals could be spared jail to save millions from the Ministry of Justice budget, senior Tories warn.<br /><br />Justice Secretary Michael Gove is under pressure to cut the size of the prison population, sources claim. Experts say Treasury savings demands could see more crooks handed community service, early release or having shorter sentences axed.<br /><br />Campaigners urged Chancellor George Osborne to slash the jail population by at least a quarter, 22,000 lags, claiming it would make “massive” savings. One Minister said: “I’m sure Michael is coming under pressure from inside the Department to cut prisoner numbers. “They already get out at the halfway point, we shouldn’t be letting them out any earlier.”<br /><br />Tory backbencher Philip Davies said there were rumours that Gove was discussing the plans with the Chancellor. But he branded the idea “idiotic” and said they would be unacceptable to crime victims.<br /><br />Prison numbers have soared to 88,000 and there are growing concerns about the pressure on space in jails. The Sun yesterday revealed unions may also launch the first prison officer strike in eight years over low staffing.<br /><br />The Howard League for Penal Reform think tank wrote to Mr Osborne insisting “massive” cost savings could be realised if the “prison population is reduced and prisons are closed”.<br /><br />A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation surrounding the spending review.”Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-81953868216086840372015-09-20T08:35:38.848+01:002015-09-20T08:35:38.848+01:00A number of sources, observation and impression.A number of sources, observation and impression.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-74495408673141713512015-09-20T08:11:30.033+01:002015-09-20T08:11:30.033+01:00Anon 20:09 you are so management mouth....the poin...Anon 20:09 you are so management mouth....the point I think that was trying to be made was to encourage those in a very deep despair of redundancy.....oops I mean voluntary severance of course, is that it may turn out for the best in the end! Come to think of it you may not be management you could just be HR!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-49213180105663573182015-09-20T01:42:26.579+01:002015-09-20T01:42:26.579+01:00Labour Frontbench
Justice
Rt Hon Lord (Charlie)...Labour Frontbench <br /><br />Justice<br /><br />Rt Hon Lord (Charlie) Falconer QC<br />Andy Slaughter MP<br />Jenny Chapman MP<br />Wayne David MP [Joint with Scotland, Cab Office]<br />Lord (Willy) Bach<br />Lord (Jeremy) Beecham<br /><br />http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/labour-frontbenchAndrew_S_Hattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09115192522317353139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-73929097465589086102015-09-20T01:14:14.029+01:002015-09-20T01:14:14.029+01:00And you (20:09) are not forced to be rude and unhe...And you (20:09) are not forced to be rude and unhelpful, but clearly you are being. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-8304783671810984712015-09-20T00:21:40.601+01:002015-09-20T00:21:40.601+01:00No-one claimed "good times". The comment...No-one claimed "good times". The comment at 19:19 observes a shift in approach by the 'professional' body from its raw (& perhaps more amateurish?) Napo days to the newly born pseudo-slick PI, which seems to be desperate to polish the TuRd.<br /><br />'Good times' can be had in any environment & are increasingly essential at times of stress & distress. Working every day with angry, damaged or abusive individuals is stressful. Immersing ourselves in & recognising others' distress is distressing. 'Good times' are an attempt at easing that burden. There were good times & there are good times & I hope good times will continue.<br /><br />The PI should neither condone nor collude with having the professional status & autonomy diluted, re-branded or removed by global pickpockets. My worry is that the PI is falling foul of the modern disease 'style-over-substance'; one symptom being when snappy soundbites take the place of clarity, another the noticeable aroma of TuRds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-69543583301765301062015-09-19T21:36:40.324+01:002015-09-19T21:36:40.324+01:00anon 20:12 pure propaganda. my mate's in the ...anon 20:12 pure propaganda. my mate's in the crc and it's nothing short of a circus - I wont go into details but safe to say no building, not enough staff, caseloads through the roof - temps being poached from other offices - yes let the good times roll - may send jim a private email as you couldn't make it up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-17541709450834724552015-09-19T20:56:01.140+01:002015-09-19T20:56:01.140+01:00I'm sure you are. Some forms of delusions can ...I'm sure you are. Some forms of delusions can be quite enjoyable, while they last.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-7384106478513461822015-09-19T20:12:31.686+01:002015-09-19T20:12:31.686+01:00There are loads of good times. We're having a...There are loads of good times. We're having a ball in our CRC. We've embraced the changes and never looked back :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-42506419108706686102015-09-19T20:09:26.147+01:002015-09-19T20:09:26.147+01:00Then get a new job PO. If your not happy then do s...Then get a new job PO. If your not happy then do something else. We live in a democracy and your not forced to work in any one job!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-58771815477881564212015-09-19T19:52:56.005+01:002015-09-19T19:52:56.005+01:00The comment thread in particular is becoming ever-...The comment thread in particular is becoming ever-more fractious and now lacking some of its former erudition and insight.<br /><br />The above statement is utterly deluded. When the hell were the good times, I don't remember.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-40136353359690224292015-09-19T19:25:13.722+01:002015-09-19T19:25:13.722+01:00Completely agreeCompletely agreeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-4214969107567850312015-09-19T19:19:46.625+01:002015-09-19T19:19:46.625+01:00From PI ethical guidelines issued 18 Sept:
"...From PI ethical guidelines issued 18 Sept:<br /><br />"Value 1: We believe in the ability of people who have offended to change for the better and become responsible members of society."<br /><br />"People who have offended..." - who?" Do they mean "people who have been convicted of committing offences"?<br /><br />What is involved in 'changing for the better'? According to whose benchmark?<br /><br />"... become responsible members of society." Not everyone subject to supervision by probation service providers is necessarily irresponsible at the point of referral/sentence.<br /><br />Pedantic? Yes. Valid pedantry? Well, given the claim the PI have over professional standards & academic supremacy in the field, I would say it IS valid pedantry. It is this self-righteous arrogance & shiny sales spiel that fuels a dislike of & resistance to probation intervention.<br /><br />Probation never used to be like this. It used to be humble, self-effacing, genuine, engaging, effective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-56496518248246873032015-09-19T18:38:10.598+01:002015-09-19T18:38:10.598+01:00Earlier today I bumped into a former Admin colleag...Earlier today I bumped into a former Admin colleague who left after deciding that she was going to walk away with her dignity and not be just pushed from pillar to post ( as close to her words as I can recall). She knew that her finances would be tight but told me she had not regretted it for one minute but most of all SHE LOOKED GREAT, honestly she looked years younger. She told me that she felt better than she had for years, was sleeping better and enjoying life and that she had not realised how much her work had dragged her down. Just thought I'd share that there is life after probation.....<br />A POAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-91108154139670869102015-09-19T17:32:12.521+01:002015-09-19T17:32:12.521+01:00The new operating model in the N W seems to be bas...The new operating model in the N W seems to be based on having a hub staffed with PSOs who would rather focus on the breaching and HDC enquiries whilst others work remotely for three days per week attending the hub where there will be insufficient desk space for everyone.........the other two days spent in the field meeting and greeting with offenders and recording remotely....admin will be in the divisional hub and processing forms and letters......now seeing as how we struggle to get information from one room to another now not sure how this is going to work in practice though staff will try their best to do so interview rooms likely to consist of partition spaces......not sure about office security which most practitioners will tell you is paramount whereas the SMT tell you that it's a work in process.....the recording booths are ready to go but I'm told that if they go down repairing them could be quite prohibitive given the complexities of their programme......now most offices have problems getting a photo copier repaired.....so that should be interesting but the question of expenses seems to be rearing its ugly head....are we allowed to claim for a coffee and cake purchased for an offender in a cafe.....one manager says yes whilst the other quotes policy now if at this late stage we can't get the basics together....lots of strategic talk but little day to day nuts and bolt thinking......rant over.......but still worriedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-47267023954047524472015-09-19T17:04:48.195+01:002015-09-19T17:04:48.195+01:00Thanks Andrew - we knew it was happening hence th...Thanks Andrew - we knew it was happening hence the reduced wav worries that all CRCS are facing but it is good to see it being picked up on - what will the public think when people committing nasty crimes are let off with a slap on the wrist to save money?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-7565946786987093002015-09-19T16:58:00.829+01:002015-09-19T16:58:00.829+01:00Sodexo severances start 31/10. Staff involved are ...Sodexo severances start 31/10. Staff involved are currently seeking legal advice and have to have their signed agreements in by 25/9. Then the collpase of the CRCs starts as staff leave and the new 'make it up as they go along' operating model kicks in. Staff denied severance also leaving in significant numbers in some offices. CRC offices are still being sought in most areas and moving dates have been mentioned (but are unlikely to be met). Look forward to hot desking and pitiful interviewing facilities (think voting booths in election polling stations). Staff will be denied the right to display personal items at their desks and will be allocated storage room/lockers. Talk of sharing toilets with offenders, poor parking facilities for more staff than there are desks etc etc. It's going to suck!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-67778495122857332972015-09-19T15:28:37.843+01:002015-09-19T15:28:37.843+01:00That link does not work properly for me although i...That link does not work properly for me although it is correct - you might alternatively try: -<br /><br />https://www.facebook.com/howard.league.for.penal.reform<br /><br />AND scroll for the article.Andrew_S_Hattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09115192522317353139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-91545564080714720142015-09-19T15:08:30.495+01:002015-09-19T15:08:30.495+01:00From Facebook: -
" Howard League for Penal R...From Facebook: -<br /><br />" Howard League for Penal Reform<br /><br />4 hrs · <br />.<br /><br />This article has appeared on the Sun website. Copied in full here, as it is behind a paywall:<br /><br />THOUSANDS of criminals could be spared jail to save millions from the Ministry of Justice budget, senior Tories warn.<br /><br />https://www.facebook.com/howard.league.for.penal.reform/posts/1181269278566474 "<br />Andrew_S_Hattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09115192522317353139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-33397254525924367212015-09-19T08:07:41.859+01:002015-09-19T08:07:41.859+01:00Jim, can you explain your comment "what is cl...Jim, can you explain your comment "what is clear is that the MoJ mandarins were against it from day one and have ensured that the NPS has nothing to do with it" a little further? I'm in a CRC and so am unaware of any negativity from the MoJ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-34936289025655695122015-09-19T07:51:59.179+01:002015-09-19T07:51:59.179+01:00My understanding is that the Bench administrators ...My understanding is that the Bench administrators will have their employment terminated new years eve! The ones who've gone for the severance that is! I imagine the same applies for some back office staff. Perhaps someone from BeNCH can establish. Not sure where they are with their estates strategy though. My understanding is that even the so called Admin hub has not been determined. There may be trouble ahead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com