tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post4974221826329300474..comments2024-03-28T07:32:23.397+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: Probation Behind BarsJim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-15120454218993540572018-04-22T15:42:56.378+01:002018-04-22T15:42:56.378+01:00The OMIC model is fundamentally flawed due to the ...The OMIC model is fundamentally flawed due to the very fact that prisoners often move numerous times between prisons, either to achieve their sentence plan, security moves or simply to free up bedspaces. London prisoners in particular move numerous times, from the original holding prison, out to a prison in Kent, then back to a London prison for their "resettlement" (aka a keyworker asking them a load of questions and incorrectly recording the answer in a BCS Part 2). The model, or any commentator including NAPO here, do not address how consistency can be achieved when the "prison offender manager"(whether NPS PO or prison officer) changes so many times, with a final transfer to the community PO some months before release. I've seen countless cases where community transfers are badly handled because the transferring officer simply disappears as soon as they know the other area is seeing the person; SFO's remind us that transfer itself is a risk factor when not properly handled; and yet here we have a model that has transfers built into its very core.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-51829247513766832812018-04-22T09:16:59.676+01:002018-04-22T09:16:59.676+01:00The SPO /Managers know they are stooges. They’ve r...The SPO /Managers know they are stooges. They’ve read the small print already and do not care. NPS are good at recruiting people like this into its upper ranks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-23263098128339824692018-04-22T06:46:48.074+01:002018-04-22T06:46:48.074+01:00The interchange model
We can support people to ma...The interchange model<br /><br />We can support people to make changes to their lives, but my firm belief is that it is only when an individual wants to change, that really crucial progress can be made.<br /><br />Interserve, which runs five Community Rehabilitation Companies, has recognised this principle and has made it a cornerstone of its Interchange Model. Interchange is the company’s model for the rehabilitation of people on probation, suspended sentence orders and on licence from prison. The aim is to learn from experiences of personalised support in social care and elsewhere.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-77135197716931033982018-04-22T00:22:06.060+01:002018-04-22T00:22:06.060+01:00An interesting project?
https://mailchi.mp/russel...An interesting project?<br /><br />https://mailchi.mp/russellwebster/marshpersonal?e=957533b1d4Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-21393266059107292682018-04-21T22:42:26.443+01:002018-04-21T22:42:26.443+01:00I'm calling it now. In 5 years it will be HMPS...I'm calling it now. In 5 years it will be HMPS.<br /><br />I'll leave you to work out what the missing P is.<br /><br />I hear my local CRC are after PO's.....might be a good time to jump ship.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-42749061170879996412018-04-21T22:01:07.213+01:002018-04-21T22:01:07.213+01:00Annon @ 21:44
That is my sentiments exactly! I wo...Annon @ 21:44<br /><br />That is my sentiments exactly! I wonder if anyone has given much thought to how OMIC might impact on their relationship with their union? <br />Prison Officers are barred from taking industrial action, and if the governors your line manager???<br />Will those that get put behind the wall have to surrender their right to take action for the period of their secondment? <br />Just a thought.<br /><br />'Getafix Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-32381097252055423392018-04-21T21:44:42.872+01:002018-04-21T21:44:42.872+01:00I agree that fundamentally there is a natural need...I agree that fundamentally there is a natural need for Probation expertise within Prison establishments. But if this is to be controlled and dictated by prison governance then there will be very limited capacity for “probation expertise” to do anything other than prop up the prison service.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-75831946146384562272018-04-21T21:38:40.959+01:002018-04-21T21:38:40.959+01:00Fundamentally there is a natural need for Probatio...Fundamentally there is a natural need for Probation expertise within Prison establishments. It is a shame that the environment is such that people are wary, understandably given political disregard for the profession. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-5401831395424080822018-04-21T20:38:27.433+01:002018-04-21T20:38:27.433+01:00I agree with Getafix and also find the line manage...I agree with Getafix and also find the line management by the Prison Governor a worrying development. I've worked in a mixed Probation and Prison Offender Supervisor team and agree that is a model that can work well... until all the prison staff are taken off to line the route! I am concerned though at the loss of the SPO in name, now Head of Offender Management or somesuch, and the prison management hierarchy taking over. I would have liked to go back into a prison team at some stage but now am not so sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-66034237092800311682018-04-21T20:24:40.154+01:002018-04-21T20:24:40.154+01:00So basically if you want to be a prison officer ap...So basically if you want to be a prison officer apply for an OMiC probation officer role. <br /><br />SPO’s managed by prison governors. Probably eventually replaced by prison senior officers.<br /><br />Avoid, avoid, avoid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-44232521491985988062018-04-21T17:46:18.673+01:002018-04-21T17:46:18.673+01:00An SPO who will be line managed by prison governor...An SPO who will be line managed by prison governors who understand nothing of what we do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-22790580998222114432018-04-21T16:46:25.810+01:002018-04-21T16:46:25.810+01:00From Russel Webster July 2017.
2: The Offender Ma...From Russel Webster July 2017.<br /><br />2: The Offender Management in Custody model<br />Here’s NOMS description of the model which is integral to the prison reform project:<br /><br />The model will increase the number of prison staff while providing them with more time for meaningful face to face contact with prisoners. Governors will have the freedom to determine the mix of grades of staff to best meet the needs of their population.<br /><br />There are five key principles:<br /><br />that the resources available should be targeted to offender groups proportional to the risks and needs presented and duplication is removed – in particular reducing the number of assessments.<br />for offender management to be effective and for prisons to be positive places in which to work there must be a strong rehabilitative culture across all activity within prisons.<br />relationships between offenders and staff must be developed further. They should be supportive, yet challenging – offering hope, encouragement and empowering offenders to take responsibility for their lives and their futures. Prison officers will have a key role in this.<br />for good quality offender management practice to be consistently delivered we need the right staff, those who are appropriately trained, skilled and motivated. We need to invest in training and supporting all staff involved in offender management.<br />governors will be responsible and accountable for the quality of offender management delivered Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-22034048134606672782018-04-21T15:09:16.293+01:002018-04-21T15:09:16.293+01:00We need more probation behind bars. All the variou...We need more probation behind bars. All the various attempts over the years to engage prison officers in rehabilitative work have had mixed outcomes. Some prison officers take to it, others are indifferent and some are hostile to the whole notion of helping prisoners to lead law-abiding lives. <br /><br />I don't see why Napo is being so negative. It seems to me that it's a multi-disciplinary model under the leadership of an SPO. What better way to get probation embedded in prison culture. As for staff having different employers, that's been the case in youth justice teams for a couple of decades and it's been operationally effective. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-6721583846637035702018-04-21T15:01:57.530+01:002018-04-21T15:01:57.530+01:00Apart from the issues for staff and the disruption...Apart from the issues for staff and the disruption to their lives spoke about above I really fail to see how OMIC will enhance the services that are on offer to offenders. Indeed I feel the removal of staff from the community into the custodial estate can only reduce the amount of services and support available in the community. <br />I can't help but think all is not as it seems. There's a bigger picture somewhere, and I'm missing it. <br />I'm reminded of the term "rehabilitation officer" mentioned awhile ago on here. Would the failure to recruit and retain prison officers be a variable with this? You can argue the case for less prison officers if you can say they're backed up by qualified professionals skilled in rehabilitation services.<br />I'm struck also as another level of detachment seems to be being introduced. Caseloads will not only be passed back and forth between NPS and CRCs, but also now between custody based probation and services based in the community. If someone's sentenced to five years, how many 'supervisors" will have managed their case before they reach sentence expiry? <br />And I personally find the idea of the prison governor 'line managing' probation staff very disturbing. I'd be very careful of what I discussed with probation knowing that the prison governor is actually the boss. Such an arrangement must only damage trust and impact negatively on any relationship building between PO and client. But perhaps if a case is going to be passed on so many times, then there's no reason to think about the relationship anymore. <br />OMIC puts probation services further into the prison service model and its concepts of what "rehabilitation" means, and that's not good for anyone. <br /><br />'Getafix <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com