It seems working for MoJ/HMPPS/NPS has suddenly become a joyous, well-rewarded experience, or the civil service muzzles are a snug fit.
Senior managers in the new Probation Service must be feeling pretty pleased with the steady decline in staff feeling brave enough to voice discontent via social media platforms, but that pesky, bloody probation blog just seems to keep on going, despite all our best endeavours:-
*****
Doctor Adshead has excellent insights and a compassionate outlook. These qualities are sadly lacking in Probation at the moment. I have had many conversations with offenders who don't trust me throughout my career and that is and always was par for the course. What hurts me most is the realisation that their lack of trust is now entirely warranted. Probation Workers face a daily dilemma as to whether they value their own livelihood and their own well being. If they do, many of them feel compelled to throw the people they supervise 'under the bus'. Offenders are therefore now fully justified in their mistrust of Probation Officers and Probation Service Officers. Trust is not granted but gained through behaving morally and with respect. Hitting performance targets and operating a knee jerk breach or recall practice makes trust in Probation practice an absolute rarity.
So, 24 days on in the new PS 'Former CRC Staff' as we are now called are rather miffed. In the tortuous Corporate Induction Marathon, I was forced to attend yesterday, I learned some genuinely interesting things. I learned for instance that if you want to get promoted you need to be 25 - 30, have limited life experience, well-groomed and with the happy slappy enthusiastic zeal of the newly converted.
Doctor Adshead has excellent insights and a compassionate outlook. These qualities are sadly lacking in Probation at the moment. I have had many conversations with offenders who don't trust me throughout my career and that is and always was par for the course. What hurts me most is the realisation that their lack of trust is now entirely warranted. Probation Workers face a daily dilemma as to whether they value their own livelihood and their own well being. If they do, many of them feel compelled to throw the people they supervise 'under the bus'. Offenders are therefore now fully justified in their mistrust of Probation Officers and Probation Service Officers. Trust is not granted but gained through behaving morally and with respect. Hitting performance targets and operating a knee jerk breach or recall practice makes trust in Probation practice an absolute rarity.
******
I really appreciate where you're coming from. The only way I navigated all this was 1) give the people I supervised a reason to actually turn up, other than simply to satisfy the minimum terms of their order. Ultimately it was their appointment, their time and I worked hard to engage each and every one of them in what they wanted from that time and space. 2) make it abundantly clear that either I or them could not change the system we were both obliged to adhere to, whether we find that system unfair or not. Ultimately I would adhere to those license conditions to the letter and so should they, because I was not willing to bend or play with the rules and expectations placed upon me.
I'm not saying I was perfect or didn't make mistakes along the way, I did. But I adhered strictly to the principles of Trotters "working with involuntary clients" because that was the only way I could keep sane.
What got to me in the end was my feeling that I lacked training or skill to deliver meaningful work, and the emphasis on "referring out" our peoples issues to other agencies, and my realisation over time that other agencies staff (ie keyworkers/mentors/mental health staff and drug workers or CRC interventions) were no better equipped or trained than I. There was still unmet need, despite all these other people involved, but service delivery appeared fragmented and meaningless. I could no longer in good consciousness "play the game" and delivering meaningful appointments meant I was regularly in the office till 9pm filling out meaningless OASYS and umpteen referral forms. So I got out.
I really appreciate where you're coming from. The only way I navigated all this was 1) give the people I supervised a reason to actually turn up, other than simply to satisfy the minimum terms of their order. Ultimately it was their appointment, their time and I worked hard to engage each and every one of them in what they wanted from that time and space. 2) make it abundantly clear that either I or them could not change the system we were both obliged to adhere to, whether we find that system unfair or not. Ultimately I would adhere to those license conditions to the letter and so should they, because I was not willing to bend or play with the rules and expectations placed upon me.
I'm not saying I was perfect or didn't make mistakes along the way, I did. But I adhered strictly to the principles of Trotters "working with involuntary clients" because that was the only way I could keep sane.
What got to me in the end was my feeling that I lacked training or skill to deliver meaningful work, and the emphasis on "referring out" our peoples issues to other agencies, and my realisation over time that other agencies staff (ie keyworkers/mentors/mental health staff and drug workers or CRC interventions) were no better equipped or trained than I. There was still unmet need, despite all these other people involved, but service delivery appeared fragmented and meaningless. I could no longer in good consciousness "play the game" and delivering meaningful appointments meant I was regularly in the office till 9pm filling out meaningless OASYS and umpteen referral forms. So I got out.
******
I find this so depressing and degrading for the individuals we work with. Providing counselling, therapy, CBT or psychotherapy takes years of study and years of professional practice to do well. Many of our individuals need just that. But nope, we as trained probation officers apparently can't provide personal wellbeing. Much better to farm the service out to someone who has no more training than a driving licence and GCSE English. I'm ENRAGED!******
Hi Jim,
So, 24 days on in the new PS 'Former CRC Staff' as we are now called are rather miffed. In the tortuous Corporate Induction Marathon, I was forced to attend yesterday, I learned some genuinely interesting things. I learned for instance that if you want to get promoted you need to be 25 - 30, have limited life experience, well-groomed and with the happy slappy enthusiastic zeal of the newly converted.
I learned that any critical questioning is actively discouraged because in PS land it is only permitted to agree or compliment not question otherwise you are surrounded by wet sponges who try to smother you. The chat box was policed and all inappropriate questions that were not approved were deleted including the question about why questions were being deleted. If Stalin were doing a Teams event in 2021 then it would probably be remarkably like this death by poorly put together PowerPoint.
So much energy seems to be wasted with overly long self-indulgent meetings and an uninspiring regional director surrounded by equally uninspiring acolytes and fawning hangers on. Certainly, in London we are treated to the regional directors’ personal anecdotes that make a rendition of Vogon poetry seem pretty good and preferably by comparison.
Transition was a disaster for many with hundreds of staff being downgraded, others still in limbo, promotion for the favoured, those at the top eased into jobs at the top in the new service whilst those elsewhere languish. Poor leadership. Stress. Nepotism. Low pay. Business as usual then. Many former CRC staff want to go back. Ho Hum
******
As an ex Senior manager in the pre TR Service, this sounds like a case study in how to develop a failing and dysfunctional service.******
I applied for promotion 3 times. Never even got to interview stage. In each case the jobs were given to graduates fresh from university (despite job description saying experience essential) Didn't even get the courtesy of a rejection letter/email. So glad I am now out of it.******
First time emailing you after years of following the blog which I often turn to for some perspective or maybe just to feel some camaraderie. Yesterday’s post brought tears of laughter to myself and another ‘legacy NPS’ member of staff after a tough day. With over 30 years experience between us, and having both remained NPS post TR, we read with glee what was a terrifyingly accurate depiction of the Civil Service monstrosity that is the Corporate Induction. All that has changed in these with the ‘new PS’, is that the efforts to persuade us that the Emperor has got clothes on have ramped up tenfold. I later sent your blog to a CRC colleague after they phoned struggling to make sense of the inefficient, stifling culture they have been thrown into. Welcome to the new world of civil service probation ‘legacy CRC’.
"So off went the Emperor in procession under his splendid canopy. Everyone in the streets and the windows said, "Oh, how fine are the Emperor's new clothes! Don't they fit him to perfection? And see his long train!" Nobody would confess that he couldn't see anything, for that would prove him either unfit for his position, or a fool. No costume the Emperor had worn before was ever such a complete success.
"But he hasn't got anything on," a little child said.
“Did you ever hear such innocent prattle?" said its father. And one person whispered to another what the child had said, "He hasn't anything on. A child says he hasn't anything on.”
"But he hasn't got anything on!" the whole town cried out at last.
The Emperor shivered, for he suspected they were right. But he thought, "This procession has got to go on." So he walked more proudly than ever, as his noblemen held high the train that wasn't there at all.
"So off went the Emperor in procession under his splendid canopy. Everyone in the streets and the windows said, "Oh, how fine are the Emperor's new clothes! Don't they fit him to perfection? And see his long train!" Nobody would confess that he couldn't see anything, for that would prove him either unfit for his position, or a fool. No costume the Emperor had worn before was ever such a complete success.
"But he hasn't got anything on," a little child said.
“Did you ever hear such innocent prattle?" said its father. And one person whispered to another what the child had said, "He hasn't anything on. A child says he hasn't anything on.”
"But he hasn't got anything on!" the whole town cried out at last.
The Emperor shivered, for he suspected they were right. But he thought, "This procession has got to go on." So he walked more proudly than ever, as his noblemen held high the train that wasn't there at all.
******
I would love to know where all these thousands of new officers are. Well, we all know the truth, they are recruited then either quit mid way through training, or move into better paid and less stressful third sector jobs after qualifying.
I would love to know where all these thousands of new officers are. Well, we all know the truth, they are recruited then either quit mid way through training, or move into better paid and less stressful third sector jobs after qualifying.
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Yes, truly horrible job to be in. Treated like data in putters but with heavy responsibility. Which other organisation bar social services has such witch hunt, scapegoating attitude? Most protect their own, even complaint bodies. Ours quick to throw you under a bus then run over you a few times for good measure. Quality and performance demands while not giving proper training if any or the time to meet this constant influx and their instilling the fear of SFOs and losing your job to get unpaid overtime out of already stressed employees. Demands high yet no professional respect or support. It's a sad joke.
******
Boring heard it all before.....probation is more like HMS Titanic. Get me off this ship asap.
******
I feel I am banging my head against the bulkhead. If you want to retain staff pay them decent wages. Tired of slogging my guts out and being fed on ships biscuit.
I feel I am banging my head against the bulkhead. If you want to retain staff pay them decent wages. Tired of slogging my guts out and being fed on ships biscuit.
*******
I agree about receiving paltry 'ship biscuit' wages for being front line Probation staff . I'd also add that the SFO investigation service also bears comparison to being keel hauled then assaulted with a cat 'o nine tails whip if a target should not have been met. Bring back Captain Birdseye, all is forgiven!
*******
"unification of the Probation Service has taken huge amounts of thought and planning over a long period of time." I'm guessing the first thought was "Oh F***, what have we done?" and the second was "We are just going to have to undo it. A bit" and the third was "Deny all responsibility for the original omnishambles"
******
Quite quiet in the office today, Jim. The Director, or the ACO or Exec or whatever they are called today is off on leave and the torrent of emails and directives seems to have dried up a bit. Think I will go and actually talk with a client, offender, service user, POP, PICNIC: my offering today for innovative nomenclature Person In Charge (Nominally in Charge).
Quite quiet in the office today, Jim. The Director, or the ACO or Exec or whatever they are called today is off on leave and the torrent of emails and directives seems to have dried up a bit. Think I will go and actually talk with a client, offender, service user, POP, PICNIC: my offering today for innovative nomenclature Person In Charge (Nominally in Charge).
******
Meanwhile, in steerage, we cling on to any old wood floating in the ocean....
Meanwhile, in steerage, we cling on to any old wood floating in the ocean....
******
"Probation when you think about it is one of the most important ships in the justice fleet... This bigger, better probation service will allow us to take a more consistent approach to supervising offenders at every level of risk and to drive good practice up and down the country."
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
"we have got to ensure that probation is ship shape and truly set up to turn offenders’ lives around for good, which is why we wasted £half-a-billion pissing about, lining the pockets of cheats and liars and dismantling a once-proud profession. But we have now spent £155m trying to paper over years of our targeted, intentional fiscal & institutional vandalism"
"Now the record investment we’ve put into probation, not just in cash terms but in personnel as well, mean that it is better able than ever to cut crime in our country. And through the unification of services, we’re making sure that probation is more joined-up, better equipped, and more able than ever to ensure justice is done and seen to be done."
This is the cul-de-sac that politicians have been desperate to drag probation into. Boateng tried with his "enforcement agency" bollocks. Buckland has finally said it out loud:
You're all now under the command of Romeo, who is the very willing lieutenant of Buckland and his 1922 masters. Mete out justice as you see fit; show the world you won't tolerate crime, insolence, resistance, alternative views, difference. Make the World Right! Who needs Dominic Cummings when we have an army of willing agents who will impose the chosen political will upon the world. !!!!!HUZZAH!!!!!
"Probation when you think about it is one of the most important ships in the justice fleet... This bigger, better probation service will allow us to take a more consistent approach to supervising offenders at every level of risk and to drive good practice up and down the country."
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
"we have got to ensure that probation is ship shape and truly set up to turn offenders’ lives around for good, which is why we wasted £half-a-billion pissing about, lining the pockets of cheats and liars and dismantling a once-proud profession. But we have now spent £155m trying to paper over years of our targeted, intentional fiscal & institutional vandalism"
"Now the record investment we’ve put into probation, not just in cash terms but in personnel as well, mean that it is better able than ever to cut crime in our country. And through the unification of services, we’re making sure that probation is more joined-up, better equipped, and more able than ever to ensure justice is done and seen to be done."
This is the cul-de-sac that politicians have been desperate to drag probation into. Boateng tried with his "enforcement agency" bollocks. Buckland has finally said it out loud:
"probation is a politically expedient crime-fighting agency which will ensure justice is done and seen to be done."Fuck the rehabilitation agenda. Fuck humanity. Probation will reinforce the political ideology of work, reward, satisfaction; employment, accommodation, and appropriate 'treatment' for those who do not comply with that model. Probation was NEVER about ensuring justice is done or seen to be done - that is the role of the courts.
You're all now under the command of Romeo, who is the very willing lieutenant of Buckland and his 1922 masters. Mete out justice as you see fit; show the world you won't tolerate crime, insolence, resistance, alternative views, difference. Make the World Right! Who needs Dominic Cummings when we have an army of willing agents who will impose the chosen political will upon the world. !!!!!HUZZAH!!!!!
******
"Transition was a disaster for many with hundreds of staff being downgraded, others still in limbo, promotion for the favoured, those at the top eased into jobs at the top in the new service whilst those elsewhere languish. Poor leadership. Stress. Nepotism." Sounds like a scene-for-scene remake of the "transition" to Trust status back in 2008/09.
"Transition was a disaster for many with hundreds of staff being downgraded, others still in limbo, promotion for the favoured, those at the top eased into jobs at the top in the new service whilst those elsewhere languish. Poor leadership. Stress. Nepotism." Sounds like a scene-for-scene remake of the "transition" to Trust status back in 2008/09.
******
“Unpaid work will be the highly visible shopfront of our new Probation Service” I stopped reading at this point. Total shite. Same broken service. Now 100% led by ministerial numptys.
*******
Whilst probation operates a desistance model rather then a rehabilitation model it will always be shoved along the 'crime fighting' road. In a resource deprived service, the desistance models common denominator will always be one of compliance or punishment. It doesn't solve anything, it only shelves problems. Just a thought for today. Can today's probation service really claim to have anything at all to do with the rehabilitation of offenders?
Whilst probation operates a desistance model rather then a rehabilitation model it will always be shoved along the 'crime fighting' road. In a resource deprived service, the desistance models common denominator will always be one of compliance or punishment. It doesn't solve anything, it only shelves problems. Just a thought for today. Can today's probation service really claim to have anything at all to do with the rehabilitation of offenders?
******
Whilst I should feel pleased that NHS workers are getting a 3% pay rise I feel envy and anger that Probation staff and other public sector workers have been discriminated again. Napo need to step up to plate and highlight even before this latest award probation staff have received 11% less pay increase over the last 10 years.
Whilst I should feel pleased that NHS workers are getting a 3% pay rise I feel envy and anger that Probation staff and other public sector workers have been discriminated again. Napo need to step up to plate and highlight even before this latest award probation staff have received 11% less pay increase over the last 10 years.
******
I am pleased for NHS. I want to see them paid above offer and above inflation. Napo won't say or do a thing as staff don't support Napo. Lowest membership and dissolution. There are many new staff also who do not have old values it is shortly to become truly new delivery of a provision not a service. There are so few commentaries on here but no real objection it's an indicator the majority agree . New service new design old views are lost.
******
I have 6 more working days as a Probation Officer. After 20 years I will cross that line on my knees, broken hearted, dispirited and disillusioned. I feel guilty for not coping and for my failure to adapt and change? Sad.
******
Huge congrats and praise for dedicating two decades! It’s practitioners like you that we can’t afford to lose, so sorry this is how you are left feeling BUT remember the people in all this, the probation family and SUs alike will never forget the positive impact you’ve had!******
Whether you agree or not, it is really important that all voices within Probation should be heard. This is crucial to practitioners' need to feel valued and that they are part of service and workforce development.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/23/ministers-letting-young-people-catch-covid-to-prepare-for-winter-sage-adviser-claims
ReplyDeletean expert confirms what has already been said on this blog - after slaughtering the elderly through a combination of petulance & incompetence, this govt is now going to sacrifice the future of the UK, our children, on the altar of short-termism, i.e. economic gains for their own selfish ends.
It's awful and the management draw all their leadership's from the Tory treasure chest . Anything is possible with this lot of crooks and yet we cannot challenge them as a collective . That says it all we are going to see worse before we all realise . Let's hope it's not too late like it is for the service .
DeleteI disagree @09.59. I believe our children were sacrificed on the altar of saving the elderly through repeated lockdowns. The young have missed out on education coming of life experiences and the long term psychological damage for that generation will be profound. And it will be the young who have to pay off the COVID debts over the coming years and decades.
DeleteWhichever point of view is taken, @09:59 or @21:13, its a consequence of having an idiot Prime Minister and all decisions being taken by a shite Tory government.
DeleteWe've had so many lock downs because of Tory mismanagement and selfish bastards not willing to follow the rules.
We are all getting a bit sweary and negative and cross here. Thank heavens for that. Cant be done anywhere at work or even in public. Got a ticking off just the other day for not being enthusiastic enough. For Fucks Sake.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time your Employer tells you that your employment will change (again) & while you might wish to express a preference as to where you end up, you will actually end up where you are directed or lose your job. nationally your union has negotiated an enhanced voluntary redundancy package & you are encouraged to apply for it because you are eligible.
ReplyDeleteWhen the reshuffle is over & the inevitable redundancies are made, your 'new' employer tells you they were not party to the enhanced arrangements & they pay out a very much reduced version of the deal you were told you would be entitled to. They threaten you with gagging orders & legal action if you dare complain.
I'd say there were grounds for complaint by anyone who was affected by that deception. A Tory deception which the Union played along with by keeping silent. I wonder what benefit the union received for playing along with that scam & shafting its members?
And a deception I don't doubt is being repeated as the same lying cheating fuckers screw over the ex-CRC staff, while the union bleats meekly in a corner.
In other news... our newly appointed UK Health Secretary scoffs at anyone who isn't living a normal life as the covid-19 virus scythes through the nation's population, calling them cowardly. His tweet in full:
"Full recovery from Covid a week after testing positive.
Symptoms were very mild, thanks to amazing vaccines.
Please - if you haven’t yet - get your jab, as we learn to live with, rather than cower from, this virus."
Us 'little people' are nothing as compared to such powerful beasts, the self-defined ruling elite, the uber-privileged heroes of our time who can survive anything, who can say & do as they please, who can steal & lie & cheat whoever they please.
It’s a similar story across probation. Senior managers offered Enhanced Redundancy or nicely eased into choice jobs. For everyone else, CRC forced into any available jobs. NPS moved from pillar to post to make way for them. Total shit show at the moment. Bullying and cronyism at its peak.
DeleteI've been reading a few bits lately on Changing Futures, and I can't help but feel they have some agenda other then what's being announced. I get the feeling they have been given some significant authority on the way services will be run in the future. I admit to being cynical, but £64m over 4years, given the range of services and geographical area to cover, seems not a lot to me. The expansive collection and sharing of data also makes me curious.
ReplyDeleteJust who's futures are they aiming to change?
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/changing-futures
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changing-futures-privacy-notice/changing-futures-programme-privacy-notice#with-whom-we-will-be-sharing-the-data
'Getafix
yours & mine - for the benefit of the paymasters, but also as part of the ideological socio-political shift this govt is imposing upon the UK population.
DeleteThe UK is being restructured by unelected bullies who are manipulating the public face of rightwing politics, aka the Eton trifles (who are always happy to be in the limelight & pocket a few quid).
SpAds & consultants are trousering vast sums of public cash to expedite their own extreme view of the UK, whether its Brexit, mismanaging the pandemic, pissing off Northern Ireland or simply handing £billions to their mates.
Want to protest against racism? Support Black Lives Matter? Want to argue for safer streets for women? Or for climate change issues? They'll send the Met & others to beat you & arrest you & fuck up your life.
Want to lie about the EU? Want to claim vaccines are dangerous & that medical staff should be hung? Want to shout about "freedom" (even if it means spreading disease & distress)? Not a copper in sight, not a single arrest.
Want to prove how important you are by travelling around the country during lockdown to visit your parents or some of your houses? No problem, no issue, nothing to see here.
BBC News today - head of English football fans association stated that covid testing was suspended during the Euro competition "because there were too many people".
And that was supposed to have been one of the govt's flagship examples.
The lies, the cheating, the preparedness to throw anyone & everyone under a bus is reprehensible.
Don't try to distract yourself with Olympics coverage -
ReplyDelete"This is no longer possible, however, after Olympics organisers decided to sell the European television rights for the games to the US company Discovery in a £920m deal. Discovery has in turn put the vast majority of the coverage behind a paywall, accessible only through their Eurosport channels or on the new £6.99-a-month streaming service Discovery+."
The mission of the International Olympics Committee?
"The mission of the IOC is to not only ensure the celebration of the Olympic Games, but to also encourage the regular practice of sport by all people in society, regardless of sex, age, social background or economic status. This is done in many ways, year round and on all five continents."
Greed, corruption & lying are all part of a global malaise.
https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/special-advisers
ReplyDeleteA start might be via my contact details on the profile page. Cheers, Jim
ReplyDeleteCan you forgive a wee ramble?
ReplyDeleteWe (me & t'other'arf) were watching the Steve McQueen documentary about the 1981 New Cross fire & Brixton riots. We both came to a similar view, namely that at that time, in our early 20's, we had a very different life experience from today's late-teens/twenty-somethings.
We were desperate to leave home, we had low paid work when we weren't studying, we were angry about many things, e.g. racism, nuclear weapons & nuclear power, womens' rights, world poverty. We marched, we attended activist events, we made a lot of noise about things.
* Greenham Common protests ran from 1981 to 2000
* CND marches in London & around the country
* serious outbreaks of rioting in London (Brixton), Birmingham (Handsworth), Liverpool (Toxteth), Leeds (Chapeltown), Manchester (Moss Side)... and also "Bradford, Preston, Birkenhead, Stoke, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, High Wycombe, Southampton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Leeds, Hull, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Aldershot and Portsmouth (areas of high unemployment & existing racial tensions).
We see many young people living lifestyles we couldn't have dreamed of back then & wondered if that is why there are no angry mobs of young people anymore, i.e. they are afraid to lose the glitzy lifestyles they've been duped into acquiring?
Might this be the reason Johnson & co feel so comfortable with their policies? Because they have the next generation in a vice-like grip of debt which they've just topped up by giving their chums £billions of taxpayer handouts.
We know twenty-somethings who happily live with their parents, are in debt past their ears with six or seven credit cards maxed-out, a car lease commitment they can't afford to exit & they're terrified they won't be able to buy the next iphone, or are caught wearing last month's scent, or are seen wearing last week's jeans...
It breaks our hearts.
Many young folk we know don't want the vaccine because they've been told this-or-that by some "influencer" who says its 'not cool' or 'it'll compromise your career' or some such bollocks.
Now the UK govt, who they seem to trust because they want to preserve their spending power, is telling them they need to get the vaccine or they can't do the really cool things like go to football games or clubbing or travel to Ibiza...
It is a truly sad way to run a country. Many of these poor young fuckers will end up with long-term health complications because of this shitty govt's desire to spread the coronavirus. The truly despicable distraction of the "pingdemic" trope is scaring the kids, leading to many deleting the app because they can't afford not to earn money - but placing themselves & their families/friends at significant risk from covid-19.
Which is exactly what this fucking govt wants.
So, as an old git & a miserable piece of shit, can I offer some thoughts?
1. get yourself fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
2. Putting up with last year's t-shirts or cologne or iphone will not kill you.
3. Try to imagine a future which does not require you to be a slave to 'things'
4. Ignore the paid-up bullshit promoted on social media
5. Buy a 2nd hand pushbike, buy some footwear you can actually walk in (rather than keep in a box in a wardrobe)
6. Start questioning everything, including how & why you are buried in debt, and create some new solutions that will help you - & the world - survive this consumerist nightmare we have become immersed in.
7. If you look at many of your caseload you will find they are sitting across the table from you because of very similar pressures, its just they didn't have the good fortune of supportive parents, or a job, or a healthy relationship, or an inheritance, or an education, or any number of privileges.
8. And always remember that there but for the Grace of whatever god/deity or belief system you might subscribe to...
Telegraph.
DeleteThe Government squandered at least £2 billion in taxpayers’ money on personal protective equipment of such poor quality it cannot be used in the NHS, a report has warned - five times higher than official estimates.
Some 2.1 billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE) have so far been deemed unfit to keep doctors and nurses safe in clinical settings - with 10,000 shipping containers-full still to be unpacked as of May this year, said the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The amount of unusable kit is five times higher than the number estimated by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in January, said the select committee, which monitors public expenditure.
The wasted sum forms part of the estimated £372 billion spent by the UK on pandemic-containing measures which will expose taxpayers to “significant financial risks for decades to come”, the cross-party committee warned in two reports published on Sunday.
MPs say they “remain concerned that despite spending over £10 billion on supplies, the PPE stockpile is not fit for purpose” with potential levels of waste “unacceptably high”.
As of May this year, out of 32 billion items of PPE ordered by the DHSC, 11 billion had been distributed, while 12.6 billion pieces are on standby at a cost of around £6.7 million a week in storage, the PAC said.
Some 8.4 billion pieces on order from around the globe have still not arrived in the UK.
For excess PPE that is suitable for medical use, MPs said they are concerned the Government is “yet to create any robust plans for repurposing and distributing this essential stock in a way which ensures value for money and protects staff and patients.”
A public inquiry scheduled to start next spring into the Government’s handling of the pandemic will not come swiftly enough to ensure lessons are learned, the PAC added.
Ministers also risk undermining public trust by failing to swiftly publish the full details of contracts awarded, the report said.
The PAC noted that details of three-quarters of the 1,644 contracts over £25,000 awarded up to the end of July last year were not made public within the 90-day target.
Last year, the Telegraph revealed how the chaos behind the global stampede for the kit needed to keep doctors and nurses safe left Britain’s hospitals desperate for protective equipment and almost out of surgical gowns.
Cont.
Cont.
DeleteInterviews with PPE suppliers, contractors and Whitehall insiders exposed a race to stay ahead of Covid, backed by unprecedented sums of public money and the full might of the civil service machine.
It also uncovered a lack of transparency surrounding the lightspeed outsourcing of billions of pounds worth of contracts to private companies, some of whom – including currency traders and cannabis researchers – had little experience of supplying PPE.
The public inquiry is expected to run for years, and the PAC report said it is “clear that the Government cannot wait for the review before learning important lessons” and must instead present a Covid recovery plan in the autumn spending review.
PAC chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier said: “With eye-watering sums of money spent on Covid measures so far, the Government needs to be clear, now, how this will be managed going forward, and over what period of time.
“The ongoing risk to the taxpayer will run for 20 years on things like arts and culture recovery loans, let alone the other new risks that departments across Government must quickly learn to manage.
“If coronavirus is with us for a long time, the financial hangover could leave future generations with a big headache.”
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “We cannot wait until next year for the public inquiry to start and ministers cannot kick it into the long grass and cover up their failures by refusing to hand over information hidden in personal email accounts.
“The public inquiry must start immediately and the inquiry must have full access to all ministerial correspondence, contracts and documents, including all government business carried out on personal email accounts.”
Britain’s stocks of some types of PPE were almost entirely depleted when Covid-19 took hold in late February 2020, with the National Audit Office already finding the UK’s stockpile at the time was “inadequate”.
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/127/public-accounts-committee/news/156913/pandemic-lessons-cannot-wait-for-government-inquiry-with-massive-taxpayer-exposure-unacceptably-high-waste/
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