I've been up since 3am listening to the World Service, unable to sleep. I bet I haven't been alone. It's another day and I see there were 3,529 visits to this platform yesterday, mostly by worried and concerned staff, in many instances trying to reconcile a whole number of competing duties, demands, responsibilities and fears. I suspect today will be no different as the drama continues to unfold and the realities of what it actually means for probation to have been very unwisely merged with a uniformed service, all under direct civil service control become all too clear.
A dilemma is "a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable" and this tweet from Sonia Flynn yesterday rather neatly illustrates the tensions that being part of the HMPPS/MoJ monolith brings:-
A dilemma is "a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable" and this tweet from Sonia Flynn yesterday rather neatly illustrates the tensions that being part of the HMPPS/MoJ monolith brings:-
"The social distance club is our priority .. but as essential Key workers the probation service has to walk the line between PH guidance and Public Protection ... not easy"I'm sure I'm not alone in pondering how differently the current situation would have been dealt with had probation remained an independent service, locally controlled and delivered. We certainly wouldn't have been faced with the current prison nightmare of OMiC where probation staff now find themselves basically helping to cover for some prison officer duties and subject to Governor directions. But it was all so inevitable given the forced marriage with HM Prison Service, an organisation with an entirely different culture and ethos.
It should be entirely different in the community of course, but several years of centralised command and control by NPS/HMPPS/MoJ management has had its effect in engendering low morale, disillusionment and poor retention, even amongst newer recruits who can see the inherent incompatability of centralised direction in dealings with troubled, chaotic and challenging individuals. The once distinctive culture of the probation service has come under sustained attack from within, but joyously refuses to die and it's noticeable that in the current crisis, individualism and resistance to diktat is reappearing like the early shoots of spring.
When this is all over, the world is never going to be the same again and I'm optimistic about that. Why should it be? Isn't this just the opportunity to use enforced isolation in order to think about doing things better? The canals of Venice are running crystal clear; the smog has lifted in India and China; the homeless are being accommodated in hotels; the railways are nationalised: the Tories have realised the importance of the NHS and BBC and we will all realise that putting probation in bed with the prison service was a very bad idea indeed.
Take care everyone.
Someone else couldn't sleep. This came in at 04:39:-
ReplyDelete8 probation staff have tested positive in prisons for the virus, psychologists not coming in, oral hearings suspended, education impacted, why are we treated differently than other civilian staff who perform essential tasks. I'm not bothered about the cash but out of interest does anyone know if prison staff are included in the 150 pounds for going in during this. We sure as hell don't get the same overtime rates so if we are the same as operational staff and should do our duty and pull together which has been expressed in the prison I work in then convenient we are not treated the same when it suits them.
You should take out a grievance stating equal pay
DeleteFAO the sleepless person @04:39 for info
DeletePreviously posted on this blog:
"Along similar lines an unhappy person sends a message to the POA:
"It's fantastic that staff actually working with prisoners on the landings, dealing with potential high risk of infection are getting £150 a month, and the Governors getting £1500 for working from home is terrific. It should stop that divide between staff and governors"
PDF link at bottom of this page which details prison staff 'reward package':
https://www.poauk.org.uk/index.php?circulars&newsdetail=20200324-9_coronavirus-update
I can’t get back to sleep either - 3 nights in a row now. Thinking about how it feels our health and safety is not as important as others. Little if any PPE, not meeting criteria for masks. Being given directions by management who don’t have to see the client group themselves.
ReplyDeleteProbation offices and many other public sector buildings simply not designed to accommodate a policy like 2m social distancing, making them inherently unsafe for staff. Refusal of senior management to accept that some sort of physical shielding/adaptation of interview rooms is necessary if staff are to be properly protected. Forget Napo, they've been left exposed once again as ineffectual when the staff need them the most. Unfortunately it'll be down to individual staff to say when enough is enough and to refuse to complete unsafe tasks. One can only hope that there is enough solidarity amongst staff to send a clear message that the situation is unacceptable.
DeleteAgree and will Napo back members with legal support if they refuse under health and safety. I wonder as the decision on that is based on same principles of no win no fee.
DeleteMy response to the EDM “solution” was exasperation...
ReplyDeleteThe face to face work is probably the least time consuming element of the job. Our time is taken up by the process driven systems, adding Case entries on a poor system, responding to emails, feeding other elements of the service, etc etc.
No allowances are made for these, no consideration that home working is not an office and things may take slightly longer, no consideration that some offenders are demanding more time during these times.
I’ve been working well over the workload for over 12 months and to stay afloat corners are cut. I’m always behind on delius, I’m not seeing cases weekly when the guidance says I should (I’ve not had time to review and drop the risk)
The new instruction is “review every case”.
This would take me a week of doing nothing but oasys work.
“double up to home visit service users”.
A twenty minute interview, plus recording, plus travel is likely to take about an hour. I’d estimate 7-8 cases in a day. I have double that.
Add my colleagues cases that I’m buddied up with, plus the home visits that still need completing on those self isolating.
It’s not manageable. NAPO need to get hold of this and feed up to “Gold Command“ in their ivory towers
To continuing seeing cases to prove to the government that they “need the service” makes frontline staff, or at least me, feel like cannon fodder.
Napo feed up to gold yes kow tow can do anything for you gold anything at all.
DeleteCannon fodder was exactly what I was thinking and so true. Do the idiots really think we have enough time to do the face to face demands anyway nevermind double up with the endless typing and admin we do. Feckwits
Delete“The social distance club is our priority .. but as essential Key workers the probation service has to walk the line between PH guidance and Public Protection ... not easy"
ReplyDeleteTotal nonsense. What Sonia Flynn is saying is that it’s ok for probation workers to intentionally get sick and die. Social distancing is required. To not follow social distancing means to risk the life of yourself, your colleagues and your families. Any probation office that cannot ensure social distancing, or alternatively probation full protective wear, should not be in operation.
Maybe someone should show Flinn's tweet to frontline NHS staff. See what they have to say.
DeleteI saw a neighbour - NHS nurse - sitting, sobbing in her car early yesterday morning before she left for work. We didn't speak. She looked up, saw me, gave a half-smile, nodded. It was some 16 hours later she returned home. No doubt a day of unbridled trauma, no PPE, no tests - and in some cases, no hope.
FAO ANYONE IN MOJ, HMPPS, HMG WHO IS READING THIS BLOG
ReplyDelete& to echo comment by 08:44...
Dear Ms Flynn/Crozier
“The social distance club is our priority .. but as essential Key workers the probation service has to walk the line between PH guidance and Public Protection ... not easy"
Its a no-brainer easy.
DO NOT BREACH THE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES.
Social distancing is not a 'club' where you can skip membership; its not a jolly jape; its not optional.
Its life & death.
How many face-to-face breach-the-social-distancing events are you involved in each day? If its just one, its one too many.
If you are instructing staff to breach the social distancing rules (PM's words, not mine: RULES) then you are reckless & unfit for office.
Its no wonder NPS is in such a parlous state. The spirit of Spurr lives on - do as I say, not as I do, while I pocket shitloads of public funds regardless.
Bye.
A Former PO still worried for probation colleagues.
Global figures this morning give ~4% mortality rate with just shy of 500,000 known cases.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8154603/amp/Probation-officers-hold-doorstep-interviews-released-offenders-amid-coronavirus.html
ReplyDeleteProbation officers will have doorstep interviews with serious offenders to keep them amid the coronavirus lockdown.
DeleteOfficers will be expected to adhere to the 'two metre rule' as they conduct interviews at the homes of released murderers, paedophiles and other criminals.
Staff at probation offices, where interviews typically take place, are key workers but are still being encouraged to work from home, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Officers will be able to use their phones - provided the offender remains visible - if they cannot be heard due to the location, meaning some interviews could take place through a window.
Face-to-face interviews will still take place with terrorists, those without phones and for initial appointments. Offenders considered lower risk will have more frequent supervision - over the phone or through video messaging services.
A probation service spokesman said: 'The public rightly expects us to have plans to continue keeping them safe whatever the impact of Covid-19 – and that's exactly what we are doing.
Just a spokesman. No name. Says it all.
DeleteI'd take issue with a couple of elements:
ReplyDelete"Officers will be expected to adhere to the 'two metre rule' as they conduct interviews..."
That effectively places blame/responsibility on staff, so if it goes wrong...
Also:
"Staff at probation offices, where interviews typically take place, are key workers but are still being encouraged to work from home"
Encouraged? I think not.
Lying shitweasels reinventing the news yet again.
How dare they barefaced lie like that we are discouraged and in some cases told clearly we are expected in and as for telling us to observe the distancing rule beggars belief. Pro social modelling yeah right.
DeleteFrom Daily Telegraph:-
ReplyDeleteProbation officers are to hold doorstep interviews with released murderers and other serious offenders in order to avoid them breaching the Government's lockdown.
The officers will travel to the homes of the offenders rather than holding face to face meetings in probation offices, where staff are being encouraged to work from home despite being key workers.
Probation officers will be expected to maintain the two metre "social distance" as they conduct their interviews to assess the progress of the offenders' probation. If they cannot be heard because of the location, they can use their phones provided the offender remains in sight - even if it is conducted through a window.
The probation officers will continue to hold face to face meetings with terrorists, offenders who do not have phones and those reporting for their initial appointment. Lower-risk offenders will now be supervised more frequently, via telephone or video messaging.
A probation service spokesman said: “The public rightly expects us to have plans to continue keeping them safe whatever the impact of Covid-19 – and that’s exactly what we are doing. Probation officers will continue supervising in person those who pose the highest risk ensuring the monitoring of high-risk offenders remains as tough as it always is. If staff believe it is the right thing to do, offenders can always be recalled to prison. At the same time, we will use technology more to supervise lower-risk offenders to reduce the spread of the virus. These measures will be regularly reviewed.”
All qualified probation staff working in HMPPS headquarters or based in London prisons are being redeployed to the frontline service in the community. Daily calls between individual probation divisions, police forces and local authority social services departments will be scheduled in order to continue the flow of intelligence and review police callouts as part of the risk management process.
Mail & Telegraph - hmmm, wonder why.
Delete"Probation officers will be expected to maintain the two metre "social distance" as they conduct their interviews to assess the progress of the offenders' probation."
DeleteUsual nasty passive-aggressive bullying from "a probation service spokesman".
Its the frontline Probation staff who have been kicking up a storm about social distancing. How dare they turn that round & use it against staff.
"All qualified probation staff working in HMPPS headquarters or based in London prisons are being redeployed to the frontline service in the community." Oh really? Still, most of the HQ & management structure are accountants.
Simple words from a US physician (sorry, didn't catch his name) about limiting the spread of COVID-19:
ReplyDelete"The coronavirus relies on mobility, proximity & density. Stay at home, keep your distance & you deny it the opportunity to spread."
Like everyone else I'm terrified by Coronavirus. Especially as I have a family link to an NHS doctor working on the frontline in a hospital, and I'm afraid that the calm reassurences given to the gereral public by Government isn't reflected in what the doctors and hospitals are being told. The next 14 to 21 days apparently will show just how serious and deadly the situation is, and the 1.5 million most at risk because of serious underlying health conditions that received an NHS letter really need to keep themselves safe, as that letter also means that if you do get sick, it's highly unlikely you'll get access to a ventilator.
ReplyDeleteBut as frightened as I am, I'm also fascinated by the rapid and liquid changes occurring to our social structures and what those changes are exposing.
Richard Branson, Philip Green, Mike Ashley and Tim Martin have all caused outrage this week by their self interested response to the pandemic. Branson takes considerable amounts of money from Government contracts, many of them within the NHS, but he wants a £7.5 billion bail out for Virgin Atlantic, whilst at the same time telling his considerable workforce to take 8 weeks unpaid leave. Green has got rid of any staff he could without any renumeration, and Martin has told all his staff to go and apply for jobs at Tesco. He's also publically criticised the government decision to close pubs. There's no evidence he says that the virus can be spread by people going to pubs.
I'm sure that when this is over people will remember that those whose extreme wealth affords them access to political platforms, showed in a time of Global crisis that their primary concern wasn't for the safety and wellbeing of the public, but rather the protection of their own wealth.
We've also had a decade of austerity, and the mantra used for that was "we're fixing the roof whilst the sun shines". They've shrunk the State dramatically, and told us they've to sell off so much of our public services to the private sector to enable them to fix the roof. But now the weather's changed and the roofs OK but there's no walls left to put it on.
The State has been shrunk so much its in a wholly inadequate position to deal properly with this crisis. But the call to Arms has gone out non the less, its been sounded in the public sector, the third sector, a call for a huge voluntary contribution, and even to those that have retired from public service, all being asked to step up to the plate. The same call to Arms hasn't gone out to the private sector, and infact much of the private sector are still being slowed to flaunt the rules, but they do so with the lives of employees, the CEOs just sit in their ivory towers.
I'm sure many will remember all this when we come out the other side of this.
People to are beginning to realise just how important is is to be able to trade across boarders without restriction. Building the numbers of ventilators needed by the NHS to help combat the virus has been hampered as many of the components needed are manufactured in other countries that are also on lockdown. The same with our food supplies. Do we teally want to live in a world where we create obstacles to essential supplies in exchange for some concept of national identity?
It's terrifying all of it, but I can't help being fascinated at the same time.
'Getafix
'Getafix - as usual, powerful, cogent analysis and we all look forward to more over the coming days. In particular I'm interested in how this world-uniting threat might also be an unprecedented opportunity to think about how things can be done for the better, post-apocalypse, rather than a rush back to 'business as usual'.
DeleteI doubt very much that business as we've known it can return as usual when this is over.
DeleteOutside of a national social context, the global economy is witnessing tectonic power shifts.
China, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, but quick to recover, have now bought up trillions of dollors of shares, stocks and bonds pretty cheaply from a world market in crisis and faltering quickly.
I think Trump might have to revise his relationship with China once this is all over and they'll probably become best friends.
When economies and power shift so quickly and dramatically, then it's enevitable that our social structures must change to accommodate those shifts.
'Getafix
Blimey - hadn't noticed that about China! Took my eye off the ball....
DeleteIts boring listening to all this moaning. Instead of moaning, be creative in being able to do a job we are all lucky to do in these difficult times. If Noah just saw the rain coming down and moaned all the time the ship would not have been built. Its not great what the top brass want but we have to do it and we can so safely if we use common sense
ReplyDeleteWhat qualifies you to tell people that what we are being asked to do by top brass is safe Dr. Anonymous @ 13:21?
ReplyDeleteThat people expressing fear over their life should be categorised as moaners by you is a crass comment.
If you want to siddle up to the top brass by advising people to get on board, shut up and get on with it that's your prorogative.
But don't dare denigrate people that don't share your opinions.
Good luck with the promotion.
Ok no more exchanges on this thread thankyou or I will be hitting the delete button. Cheers.
DeletePRESS RELEASE
DeletePRISON GOVERNORS’ ASSOCIATION – COVID-19
These are unprecedented times in prisons, never seen before. On a normal business as usual day, Governors and their teams have to manage the risk of suicide, self-harm, violence and disorder. We now have the coronavirus added to these risks, with serious depleted staffing levels looming in the coming weeks.
The Prison Governors’ Association believes that the decisions and leadership at the most senior level are helping to mitigate some of the risk, but it is important to say, there still remains significant risk. To run a severely restricted regime across the Service for weeks on end to help delay the spread of the virus and protect those most vulnerable is a mammoth task. Depleted staffing levels mean that those fit and well will be working very long hours in an extremely challenging environment. The international shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the difficulty of securing robust constant supplies makes delaying the spread and protecting staff a constant serious concern for governors. The testing of prisoners for the virus is not routine nor consistent across the prison estate. There is no routine testing of prison frontline staff, which means we now have colleagues in the thousands self-isolating, many of whom could be at work if testing was available. Despite the prison population reducing slightly, we still remain an overcrowded Service, with a number of our prisons holding two people in a cell built for one, which adds to the challenges of self-isolating. We also have dormitory accommodation which makes social distancing a challenge. It is impossible to mirror exactly Government edict in a prison, despite the enormous efforts of managers and their staff.
The Prison Governors’ Association believes the following will help support front line colleagues in managing a risk we have never seen before in our lifetime.
Prioritise prison staff for testing both for the virus and antibodies. This will allow us to boost unnecessary depleted staffing levels to support the efforts in prison.
Routine testing of all prisoners so we know what we are dealing with. This will allow us to understand the level of infection and help cohort prisoners depending on results to protect and care appropriately. This will actually support our magnificent NHS colleagues in dealing with the virus.
Prioritise, along with NHS colleagues, prison staff for available PPE to help delay the spread of the virus and maintain their health and wellbeing.
Government must look at early release schemes at speed for lower risk offenders, this is particularly pertinent to women offenders who we know pose the least risk to society. This will reduce the level of overcrowding, always a good thing for stability during challenging times. It will also help delay the spread of the virus through prisons, so from a health perspective there is an imperative.
Governors and their teams are best when their backs are against the wall. As key frontline workers, their commitment to doing the absolute best for the people in their care and the national effort will be exceptional.
Its 13.52. I'm not trying to provoke but all this negativity is driving me chicken. To me its simple. Keep calm and carry on in the safest way possible in line with our bosses advice or keep calm and stay at home!
DeleteNot everyone has that simple binary option.
DeleteIf there's a need to release prisoners early to negate the risk of Coronavirus, then they need to do so immediately.
DeleteThe longer they dilly dally the more the virus is likely to spread, and we're going to get to a situation where prisoners are being released daily on their actual release with the authorities fully aware that they carry the virus.
It a case of act now or not at all.
'Getafix
The prisoners may escape the virus in prison only to catch it when forced to attend the probation office.
DeleteRalph McTell has finally written a new version of Steets of London, inspired by the situation we are all in together, except the homeless who are not able to isolate. Also a friend called me earlier and said that there was to be a national doorstep applause for our heroic health workers, can anyone confirm this I don't want to look a twat if it is wrong. Might just do it anyway.
ReplyDelete8pm apparantly
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 14.55 try respecting Jim's request and wind your neck in
ReplyDeletepublished today on HMPPS website:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-sentence-supervision-requirements-policy-framework
Second prisoner dies of Covid19.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-second-serving-uk-prisoner-21758932.amp
To add insult to injury on a different note. Whilst yes clearly more important concerns but on the thread of how we are treated, they could not pay our increment next month but are sending out notices to some in prison about prison environment allowance overpayments which they've adjusted in the next pay packet. Funny that, shared services are incompetent idiots.
ReplyDeleteAre there any figures on how many probation workers have tested positive for Coronavirus or been hospitalised?
ReplyDeleteYesterday it was reported 8 who seconded to prisons
ReplyDeleteI personally haven't heard of any community based colleagues with coronavirus
ReplyDeleteI have been told on good authority that many in probation across London have gone down with the virus. This will rise with probation’s policy to continue face to face reporting and ignore social distancing. It is not known if any are critical.
DeleteAs the majority of people are only being tested on admission to hospital, so the true rate of infection will never be known, it would be interesting to know how many colleagues are off with "respiratory/ pandemic". I hope I will be offered an antibody test in due course.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2020/03/26/corbyn-praises-cubas-inspirational-coronavirus-efforts-part-of-its-longstanding-medical-solidarity-around-the-world/
ReplyDeleteGeneral update C19 for Napo members 26.3.20
ReplyDeleteNPS Sick pay and absence management position clarification
Any sickness absence linked to Covid 19 will be excused from the Attendance Management Policy using manager discretion, this is included in the HMPPS FAQs.
If someone has been off sick during the last 12 months for another reason and has exhausted their full pay sick pay there is no change to the contractual entitlement to sick pay so any further period of sickness absence will be paid at the relevant contractual rate (half pay or nil pay). However, if you are fit for work but forced to isolate / shield and unable to work at home this is not sickness absence but special leave with pay. It is important that in these circumstances the line manager ends any previous absence periods on the system to avoid confusion.
CRC and NPS Divisional Exceptional Delivery Models (EDMs)
Now that the overarching EDM has been issued each CRC and NPS division needs to compile their own specific EDM that is in line with the HMPPS model. This is taking a frustratingly long time to be agreed as there can be multiple versions before getting final agreement with the centre. Any members being asked to work in a way that is outside of the HMPPS EDM should raise this with their manager and contact local reps who can forward to Napo Officers and Officials for escalation to Napo HQ if needed. Please note however that there are likely to be swift changes to operations as the CRC or Divisional EDMs get agreed and rolled out, but this should hopefully reduce some of the issues that are understandably causing concern to our members.
Staff working in Courts, APs and Prisons
There will be specific EDMs for these areas of work and as they are agreed they will be issued via the employer. Updates for Napo members were issued yesterday (25.3.20) and more will follow as soon as we have more information. We are continually pressing for quicker progress in agreeing and issuing these models and guidance.
In solidarity
Katie Lomas Ian Lawrence
National Chair General Secretary
"Now that the overarching EDM has been issued each CRC and NPS division needs to compile their own specific EDM that is in line with the HMPPS model. This is taking a frustratingly long time to be agreed as there can be multiple versions before getting final agreement with the centre."
DeleteHMPPS need to be sacked en masse & replaced with a management team who know how to manage.
While everyone else is taking the financial hit, WFH, self-isolating & socially distancing, these fuckers are still being paid ridiculously generous salaries. For what?
The longer they fuck about they're just adding to the virus loading & increasing the death toll.
Mobility;Proximity;Density?
They're certainly immobile & dense; and hopefully in close proximity to a P45.
Just read the following so now have a greater understanding - the HMPPS dumb fucks are simply following the dumb-fuckery of the rest of HMGovt. Buying millions of tests that they don't know if they work or not, and now:
Delete"The government says a communications mix-up meant it missed the deadline to join an EU scheme to get extra ventilators for the coronavirus crisis.
Ministers were earlier accused of putting Brexit before public health when Downing Street said the UK had decided to pursue its own scheme.
But No 10 now says officials did not get emails inviting the UK to join and it could join future schemes.
Labour is demanding to know why the government had changed its message.
Government orders 10,000 ventilators from Dyson
Sunak to unveil financial aid for self-employed
Can I get tested for coronavirus?
The party's shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "Given the huge need for PPE, testing capacity and crucial medical equipment including ventilators, people will want to know why on Monday ministers were saying they had 'chosen other routes' over the joint EU procurement initiatives but now they are claiming that they missed the relevant emails.
"We need an urgent explanation from ministers about how they will get crucial supplies to the frontline as a matter of urgency."
He has said the UK "should be co-operating through international schemes to ensure we get these desperately needed pieces of kit".
The EU has said the UK can take part in the procurement project, which will use the EU's buying power to purchase more stock, even though it is no longer a member of the bloc.
But earlier on Thursday, Downing Street said the UK would not be joining the scheme because "we are no longer members of the EU".
The spokesman added: “We are conducting our own work on ventilators and we’ve had a very strong response from business, and we’ve also procured ventilators from the private sector in the UK and from international manufacturers."
Mr Johnson's spokesman denied the decision was motivated by Brexit, adding: "This is an area where we’re making our own efforts.”
The government faced a backlash from opposition MPs following the statement, with Liberal Democrat Layla Moran accusing the prime minister of putting "Brexit over breathing".
Downing Street has now issued a statement saying the UK had missed the deadline for the first round of procurements.
A UK government spokesperson said: "Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
"As the (European) Commission has confirmed, we are eligible to participate in joint procurements during the transition period, following our departure from the EU earlier this year.
"As those four initial procurement schemes had already gone out to tender we were unable to take part in these, but we will consider participating in future procurement schemes on the basis of public health requirements at the time."
The UK currently has 8,000 ventilators available and has placed orders for another 8,000 from existing manufacturers, but there are concerns about capacity in hospitals as the spread of the virus worsens.
Last week, the government put out a call for other British businesses to convert their factories to make the equipment, and has since signed a contract for 10,000 ventilators with Dyson.
But Boris Johnson's spokesman confirmed the ventilators still needed to go through standards checks and would not be bought and distributed until that happened.
The EU scheme will use the bloc's joint procurement agreement, which helps member states get the medical supplies it needs to tackle cross-border pandemics.
It has also created a stockpile of medical equipment - 90% of it financed by the European Commission - to help EU countries."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52052694
While everyone else is taking the financial hit, WFH, self-isolating & socially distancing, these fuckers are spreading the virus by forcing probation workers, offenders and released prisoners to attend probation offices. I can believe how probation management are getting away with forcing staff to work in offices in the middle of a pandemic.
DeleteNafo in the claim we did something today . What rubbish the absented staff are going to caugfht up in C19 so the obvious thing to do is not pull face to face resources together for absence. It is quite obviously another MOJ led directive and yet again the Napo messenger claims a negotiate outcome what foolishness to not understand we would have expected this.
DeleteWow, I feel chocked up, so many neighbours, known and unknown, clapping, cheering and whistling. I feel better about society tonight.
ReplyDeleteyou blog too much and clog debate . Mushroom fed on shit and pop up all over the place. Everyone celebrated the damaged and reduced abused NHS from tory cuts and set back. Get on the real agenda than constantly stoking your self ego you are quite annoying now.
DeleteMushroom been put to bed hahaha
DeleteYou no PO. Maybe PSO at best
What's up with all the insults towards frontline colleagues on this blog recently? We are all working hard and all concerned at the risks our colleagues are facing. PSO at best 22.24? As a PO of 20 years I can tell you that every PSO I've worked with has been skilled at what they do and incredibly hard working. You'd better not be a PO, because if you are you are in dire need of retraining in the basics.
Delete“We are now seeing 30%, 40% and indeed in some places 50% sickness rates as staff catch the virus or are in vulnerable groups or have to self-isolate.”
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51714498
"That's unprecedented."
DeleteMr Hopson said that, while extra capacity was being brought in - including 4,000 beds at the ExCel centre in London's Docklands - hospital chief executives were concerned it would be used up "very quickly".
It comes as the NHS has taken unprecedented steps to prepare for the peak, which experts say is just two or three weeks away.
Need to read both of these. Make your own mind up if you think there's a connection.
Deletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-boris-johnson-eu-medical-equipment-brexit-latest-a9428401.html%3famp
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/voices/coronavirus-boris-johnson-ventilator-eu-scheme-nhs-a9429196.html%3famp
Boris Johnson: "We will do whatever it takes."
Delete“When there’s fear and increased uncertainty in the market, which is what shorter-term investors focus on, we find there’s a great opportunity. For short-term investors who want to focus on Q1 the risk is that you’re going to miss out on a potentially sizeable recovery in the market on the positive impact of monetary and fiscal policy responses”” fund manager Zehrid Osmani, manager of Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust (LON:MNP), told Proactive.
Investment sage Warren Buffet’s quote to “be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful,” typifies this approach.
5 Smart Ways to Profit From the Coronavirus Crisis - yahoo finance
5 Strategies to Profit From the Coronavirus-Fueled Market Slump - the motley fool
‘Big Short’ investor who cashed in on the financial crisis explains how he’s profiting from coronavirus ‘stampede’. Michael Burry, the doctor-turned-investor who made a killing betting against the housing sector in the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis, said the coronavirus outbreak is delivering a “potential trigger for the unwinding of the passive investing bubble.”
The new coronavirus has been a bonanza for scammers and spies, who are exploiting the global thirst for information about the outbreak to make money and steal information, government officials and cybersecurity experts say.
Criminal hackers, scammers and even governments have been sending fake coronavirus-themed emails designed to trick people into opening attachments that download malicious software, allowing access to their data
Some virus stats to contemplate:
ReplyDeleteUK 11,658 cases 578 deaths
CH 11,811 cases 191
KOR 9,241 cases 131
GER 43,646 cases 262
USA 80,854 cases 1,163
And sadly Italy & Spain have utterly devastating figures.
USA update: 85,268 & 1,293 = 1.5% mortality rate
DeleteGER update: 43,938 & 267 = 0.6% mortality rate
*** UK remains steady at 4.9% mortality rate
Wonder whether sharing in the EU ventilator stocks or buying verified tests would have helped?
USA now tops the charts, surpassing China with the most known cases. To date they have had 2,000 fewer deaths than China.
Despite medical advice to the contrary Trump insists that 'America will be back to work' at Easter, in just over two weeks' time. But he'll probably deny he ever said that tomorrow.
#FakeNews
USA 27/3 (early) : 85,612 & 1,301
DeleteGER 27/3 (early) : 47,278 & 281
(no updates for UK as yet)
Jim can I ask why you deleted my comment/article re Prince Charles being tested ahead of healthworkers and then moving up to a remote part of Scotland, against all advice we commoners have been given.
ReplyDeleteI'm gone from here, good luck and best wishes to all
ReplyDeleteMushroom you want to take over this blog. Not happening . The only way to get on jim side is to bash management or Napo. You PSO and not cut from the same cloth as Jim CQSW schite
ReplyDeleteWow you have a nasty view. Case is rubbish I agree but it was better than th home office crap. Social work was rooted in the service and a different place for mature and experienced ppl.not the 20s set women on mass new degree good on a laptop gimmee the cases to breach. Napo bashing not obligatory on herre but they are appalling if you know about unions and badly led. They know it just can't shift a stain sometes. Management early are good and most probation problems CE from poor management all levels. Over promoted then abuse staff to do more of they could not. Too many friends and face fit jobs. I genuinely do not accept JB seeks have anyone criticised it is a commentary after all he cannot control posting views.
DeleteTo answer the general question as to why I deleted a number of comments, a number of reasons including 'thread drift' at a time when the discussion needs to be focused. Other reasons include comments being unduly offensive, seriously off the point, boring or generally naff in my opinion. Despite what is routinely said, I'm not anti Napo and never have been.
DeleteYour the editor and censorship is ok by me on those terms it's a serious part of engaging contributions. Accepting Napo as we do like dislike is not the same as acknowledging the have a dysfunctional leader a failing model and zero democratic accountability.
DeleteYour moaned about Ian for years
ReplyDelete. Yet he still comes out on top winning
Ok what's his professional qualification base please illustrate his union career record of achievement . A boastful character and has managed or staged a position yet lacks substance. On top of what exactly . He is behind the curve on everything and gets things past on behest of moj. No respect for on the members has an eye on the big pay cheque for little. He is on top all right. No question.
DeleteAt a time of national crisis I certainly will not be drawn into any wrangling about union politics - the only important issue is the protection of staff, clients and the public and that has absolute top priority - so I say to Anon at 11:13 grow up and try winding someone else up.
Delete