Guest Blog 83

A Second Chance

As an academic and former probation practitioner I would very much like to comment in my own name and in a few years’ time when I retire I may well do so. Unfortunately, the most powerful voices are not those who comment anonymously but those who are prepared to comment critically in their own name. People like Frances Crook and the late Professor Paul Senior who had established themselves to a point where they were sufficiently well known and respected to do so without fear of repercussions. Unfortunately, although Jim has a good record for allowing others to share his platform such as the late Professor Paul Senior, those commenting on the blog have established a reputation for shooting down those who actually are trying to deal with the reality and tackle some of the issues head on.

I think on occasions there has been some anti and inter union decidedly uncomradely mischief and propagandising on the blog. It worries me because I wonder about the motives of those concerned. Because the anonymous commentators can take a pot shot and hide behind their anonymity, we do not know who they are and that deters those we might like to hear from contributing to the blog discussions. For instance, whenever the Probation Institute is mentioned, this seems to stir up a huge amount of largely irrational vitriolic resentment regarding its supposed genesis. Half of what I read about its origin story is utter nonsense as certain bodies have always got MoJ start-up handouts including Napo who were started by the Home Office. 

Money is money at the end of the day and of all the money that TR wasted that money given to the Probation Institute was, as far as I am aware, at least accounted for and not misspent or bought any particular favours. Yes, it got £80k from the TR pot but that was a great deal less than one enhanced retirement package for a former senior Probation Trust manager, and nothing compared with other expenses – try to get over that and move on. It is of course the child not of Grayling and TR but of the Probation Chiefs Association and the Probation Association. It is not a campaigning organisation but rather focused on practice issues and it has kept to its script and maintained a positive voice for the probation profession. God knows we need all the voices and support we can get. Napo also gets short shrift from commentators on the blog that to many genuine members and observers of probation seems to be unwarranted and unfair.

Constructive criticism of a democratic organisation is valuable but there is point where it just sounds nasty and unprofessional. This puzzles many thousands of Napo members who get a good service from their union as a result of the many experienced local reps and benefit from a small but solid admin team in the centre. There used to be a friendly rivalry between UNISON and Napo in particular however at the negotiating table in reality they are equally represented and perform in more or less the same way. Napo used to be more practice focused as a professional association, but it has undoubtedly lost influence. This is not entirely as a result of leadership woes that will not end when the present incumbents move on or are ousted, but largely due to the focus of its members who with a few notable exceptions do not seem to be interested anymore in organising and campaigning for change.

I cannot help thinking though that those commenting on the blog should consider being more supportive of trade unionism and trades union values as well as professional practice that by and large should go hand in hand. Unions still have some statutory rights regarding consultation of certain matters and access to the corridors of power (some of the leaders were previously activists) and so do professional associations and institutes. Use the pathways of influence you have available to you rather than shooting them down at every opportunity.

Good work is being done by trade unionists and also those working with the Probation Institute (often behind the scenes) including some very respected fellow academics who in my experience can be very persuasive. Academics, particularly the more experienced ones, can often choose where to focus the emphasis of their research. Early stage academics have other pressures. If they keep being criticised and shot down this is discouraging to say the least and may even possibly mean they choose to cast their gaze elsewhere.

Those ranged against the sort of probation reform we might want to see also want to see us divided and sniping at each other in a stupefying show of professional disarray. I would suggest that we all try instead to find ways to support those who want to help and support practitioners. We have all heard of motivational techniques that ignore the undesirable behaviours and encourage the good behaviours instead and that approach is surprisingly effective as well as making you feel better. There is such a thing as enjoying the problems too much and spending insufficient time and energy on the solutions. So try to help the unions in their campaigns that will then be bolstered by your not inconsiderable support and they can then feel emboldened in their demands knowing you have their back. Join a union and encourage others to join and exercise your democratic rights as a member to get what you want on the agenda and make those you would otherwise criticise work for you.

Grit your teeth and support the Probation Institute. Give it a try. Have a look at their publications and take an interest as there is some good stuff being done. If someone speaks out who is broadly supportive of probation, whoever they are, then try to say something positive and constructive rather than attacking them personally, misrepresenting what someone else said they might have said or done or generally rubbishing what they are now saying. Probation people usually give others a second chance, or at least hear them out, otherwise I guess they might be pretty poor at their job.

Just a few suggestions that are guaranteed to irk those who really do not want a strong independent probation service that all probation staff can be proud of but will hopefully encourage others to engage more and be more positive and constructive.

Old Academic