Over the years politicians from all three main political parties have wrought havoc on the probation ethos, most notably Michael Howard, Jack Straw, Tony Blair, Nick Clegg and Chris Grayling. As 'probation' indulges itself in yet more unedifying self-congratulation, here we have a notable academic explaining what happened, why it happened and why it's definitely time to do something different.
In this presentation, part of the @DMUPPHub Prison and Probation Series, Professor Rob Canton argues that it is more than time to revisit that decision and consider the implications for probation’s mission.
That's an excellent video, and I hope it's well watched.
ReplyDeleteI was struck however by just how long the Social Work ethos has been removed from probation.
I often think of probation being in a process of losing its social work ethos rather then thinking of it as having been extinguished completely.
It was quite sobering to realise that someone with 25 years in the service, and probably seen as an "old timer" now would not have worked within the social work ethos that existed pre 1990.
Time flies I guess!
'Getafix
Yes, that was a sobering reflection for me too, but in other ways the source of some considerable satisfaction that despite everything, social work is still practiced by many and by stealth. The term 'client' has in particular weathered considerable efforts at abolition, but such is the sheer cussedness of some officers, it has always refused to die! If you think about it, how have politicians the right to claim the moral and intellectual high ground on anything much?
Deletehow refreshing. Will have to listen to this a few times. Thanks for posting this
ReplyDeletere-The Seebohm Report:
ReplyDeletehttp://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-129-138-c-88.pdf
Surprised that not one person has highlighted:
ReplyDelete"Best practice takes place when staff endowed with knowledge & understanding deploy their skills in ways that give expression to the profession's values"
Except, of course, when MoJ/HMPPS/NPS/CRC have excised those who have the knowledge & understanding on the basis that they are troublesome, expensive &/or threaten the political message.
Really enjoyed presentation. I was DipPS rather than CQSW but my values were aligned with Social Work very largely. Probation professional and practice values mattered and Social Work values were not lost just known by a different description. The problem increasingly, as I saw it, was that we were not allowed to practice our profession. Probation and all other overlapping professions retreated into themselves frantically trying to do more with less, sticking to a narrow remit, and forced to do so by a hard nosed, unsympathetic, narrow minded type of politics. What we have now is an outcome of those politics.
ReplyDeleteI'm really at a loss on how to expand this comment, but it seems to me the following article needs to be associated with the presentation video.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of any social work ethos missing, I find the lack of humanity and the lack of empathy for another human being who has just suffered such a traumatic experience, not just shocking, but deeply disturbing.
I don't know if she had entered a plea, but she was on remand and not sentenced.
https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/25/prison-guards-but-not-mother-get-counselling-after-baby-dies-in-cell?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16326647297376&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsociety%2F2021%2Fsep%2F25%2Fprison-guards-but-not-mother-get-counselling-after-baby-dies-in-cell
'Getafix