A week ago a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of General Lord Ramsbotham was held at St Margaret's Church Westminster and by all accounts it was an extremely moving event, celebrating the life and work of a remarkable man and extremely good friend of probation. In view of the recent final report of HMI Justin Russell, I was reminded of Lord Ramsbotham's Report People Are Not Things: The Return of Probation to The Public Sector published in May 2019.
In all the excitement of what was going on at the time, I don't think we gave it much coverage on here, but now and with the benefit of hindsight, I think it's worth taking a closer look, not least because the present situation cannot continue. The report is full of wise words, concise analysis, sound advice but above all, is person-centred and not bureaucratically-focussed.
The author was absolutely clear regarding what should happen:-
From all this I deduce that:
a. There is no reason why probation should not be returned to public ownership, but that return will require a great deal of preliminary work, which must not be rushed, but the role and purpose of probation must be defined.
(1) Many respondents believe that the traditional ethos still runs deep, and there are likely to be sufficient numbers of good people to provide an organisational infrastructure.
b. To judge from the JCS, NAO, PAC and HMCIOP reports, currently probation is in a parlous state, there having been no strategic direction since the introduction of TR, from the MoJ, NOMS or HMPPS.
c. Probation should be considered in the context of a review of the CJS, and not in isolation, and any review must include all the partners who are essential to the delivery of probation services.
d. Anyone tasked with reviewing the delivery of probation services must take account of the conclusions and recommendations, mentioned in this report, of the JCS, the NAO, the PAC and HMCIOP.
e. HMPPS should be abolished, and the Probation Service regarded as separate from, and different to, the Prison Service, under its own Director General.
f. The provision of probation services should be regarded as a local rather than a national responsibility.
g. Probation should be organised to conform with existing local government, police and justice boundaries, rather than DWP ones.
h. If organised regionally smaller commissioning areas should be considered.
i. Both the private and the voluntary sectors should be included in local provision, but neither should be involved in the governance of probation.
--oo00oo--
Reference my request the other day regarding Gravesend, I'm grateful to the reader for forwarding information and the reminder to all staff of their responsibilities including not discussing matters in open forums, including any social media sites or blogs.
Some of Lord Ramsbotham's best remembered words…
ReplyDeleteHe said it was “ridiculous” that there was no probation trained personnel leading the probation service at an executive level.
He also said the probation service needs to be removed from the “folly” of the prison service and NOMS.
They didn’t listen and now probation is broken!
Should have had a memorial service for probation aswell. It will not be coming back the pendulum has been broken off at full swing the wrong way. Ex soldiers will follow orders just what the moj like. It's all over folks.
DeleteBeen here before! Sunday, 19 September 2010
DeleteSend for the Army
Well it didn't take long for the new government to consider how the soft old probation service might benefit from a bit of military discipline did it? The funny thing is we've been here before. Remember 'boot camps'? (the 'short, sharp shock') - I think that was Willie Whitelaw - the whole thing was a huge success with the young inmates in Young Offender Institutions where it was trialled and I can confirm that they absolutely lapped up the military-style discipline. Boy did they turn out a hell of a lot fitter on release, the trouble being not much work had been undertaken on the attitude side of things. The whole idea withered away quite quickly on two grounds, firstly they were not supposed to enjoy it and secondly, turning out super fit, testosterone-fuelled thugs wasn't felt to be such a good idea after all.
You see it was yet another example of the politicians and Home Office people thinking they knew better than the professionals involved. They probably didn't realise that many of our young clients would love to join the army, if only their offending career hadn't already precluded it in most cases. I'm probably that much of an old-fashioned probation officer to admit that, in the absence of a fully effective Youth Service, National Service would indeed be hugely beneficial for some of our clientele today. I know I was absolutely fascinated by the tv series 'Bad Lads Army' some years ago and the life-changing effect it had on many of the participants, some of whom did indeed join up as a direct result. I am aware that in fairly recent times the military have been so desperate for recruits that they used to do a 'sweep' of YOI's now and then to see if there were any suitable candidates. I suspect they don't anymore. Nothing has given me greater pleasure on occasion than to speak directly with recruiting officers and to be able to give support to young offenders applications for the armed services.
Do we remember how, with the ending of the Cold War, Michael Howard I think it was suggested that as part of the 'peace dividend' demobbed soldiers might make good probation officers? Like a lot of politicians, he probably came up with the idea to win a good headline in the Daily Mail. The plan went nowhere, apart that is in his decision to remove the CQSW requirement that had been mandatory for all new probation officers. Again, the funny thing about this episode was that up to that point virtually all probation officers, including myself, turned to the vocation later in life and from a huge variety of backgrounds, including the military. That wealth of life experience, together with excellent social work training, ensured that for many years the service was a confident, innovating, flexible and immensely rewarding place to be.
So that brings us to the here and now and once more there is a call for military action - but this time not just to 'beef up' community service, but as a cost-saving measure as the government feel ex-squaddies will be happy to work for less pay than current CS supervisors. As widely expected, the government intend to privatise this aspect of the probation service and have already lined up three companies to bid for the work. Louise Casey must be very pleased with herself indeed.
Lord Ramsbotham clearly understands probation as a concept that needs to exist alongside the CJS without being embedded within it.
Delete"People are not things" is a quote everyone should remember.
Probation itself has struggled with this and defined and redefined the people it works with. Clients, service users, PoPs, and yet ultimately when they are being discussed the language used always defines them as "caseloads".
As an aside, I watched the first part of Granslammers on ITV last night. Part of the England world cup winning team training prisoners at HMP Mount for a game against staff.
I felt a very strong sense of the probation ethic that used to exist running through the programme.
Hopefully, anyone from the MoJ that may have watched felt the same way?
'Getafix
Historically prisons have recruited from military personnel. Look how that’s worked out.
Delete.. and the police too !
DeleteRight on que.....
Deletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/bold-new-tv-advert-lifts-the-lid-on-real-and-extraordinary-work-of-prison-and-probation-officers
No such thing as a prison and probation officer. There’s Probation Officers and there’s Prison Officers. Totally different jobs. It’s a prison advert for prison officers. Nothing to do with probation work.
Deletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/bold-new-tv-advert-lifts-the-lid-on-real-and-extraordinary-work-of-prison-and-probation-officers
Not sure if anybody has posted this yet? We have had instructions from the top that we now have to call People on Probation "offenders" to external partners and especially on social media. See below for briefing sent across the North West.
ReplyDeleteWe have had confirmation from the national digital team that we should not be using the term people on probation in our posts on social media when promoting our work. This is an internal phrase and we should use the term 'offenders' externally.
“Our preference for all external communications (including social media posts) is to use “offenders” when talking about “people on probation”, which is obviously a very operational term that isn’t used publicly. This preference is shared with Ministers and [special advisors].”
Please can we also remind you that you should not post images of any people on probation where their face is visible or they could potentially be identified.
Anon 09:10 Bloody incredible! Can some kind person supply the full communication please? It clearly deserves wide attention for it's sheer highlighting of why probation should be no part of HMPPS or the civil service.
Delete
DeleteBecker's labelling theory (1963) argued that: ... deviancy is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an “offender"". No act has inherent deviance in it; it becomes deviant when people label it as such.
Labeling theory posits that self-identity and the behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them. It is associated with the concepts of self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping.
'Getafix
You started out 'unpersoning' are certain cohort namely sex offenders. It should be no surprise it then starts spreading and ruining probation's ethos as it goes along.
ReplyDeleteNepacs is a north east charity which aims to promote a positive future for prisoners, offenders and their relatives by supporting family ties at every stage of the criminal justice system.
ReplyDeleteWe are there to support people when a loved one is sent to custody in those anxious early days when visiting prison remains a mysterious and daunting prospect. Much of our work is delivered by volunteers, who bring energy, warmth and friendship, and offer reassurance in the most challenging of circumstances.
We are also concerned about the damaging impact of a prison sentence on the families of prisoners themselves and seek to limit this through informal support and signposting for help with finance, childcare and health issues. After all, the families haven't committed the crime, but they, especially the children, are greatly affected by the punishment.
The Supplier shall provide specialist support to people on probation convicted of sexual or sexually motivated offences, improving their emotional well-being by strengthening relationships and community ties.
Circles of Support and Accountability is a model for reintegrating high risk people convicted of sexual offences back into the community.
DF Circles of Support and Accountability for North East
A Contract Award Notice
by MINISTRY OF JUSTICE (UK)
Nepacs (Durham)
DF Circles of Support and Accountability for NE
Reference: 22327
Num offers: 1
Value: £336,300
Contractor is an SME.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1160111/cosa-pf.pdf
ReplyDeletehttps://circles-uk.org.uk/2023/09/15/circles-reboot-august-2023/
ReplyDeleteA NEW APPROACH
DeleteCircles of Support and Accountability are an established and effective intervention for individuals who have committed contact sexual offences and present a high risk of sexual harm. In recent years, the need for a Circle tailored for the growing numbers of lower risk individuals who access online Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) has become increasingly apparent. Circles ReBoot incorporates the principles of traditional Circles; Core Members (CMs) are professionally assessed with a robust tool, the Circle consists of 3-4 trained and supervised Volunteers supported by a Coordinator and an Outer Circle of Professionals. Outcomes for the CM are closely evaluated. The Circle is shorter (12 -14 sessions over a 6-month period) with sessions and activities focused specifically on using the CM’s strengths and aptitudes to achieve agreed goals.
CSEM IN 2023
The prevalence of the online sexual abuse of children is increasing dramatically each year. The Internet Watch Foundation UK cites 250,000 separate confirmed abusive images of children reported in 2022. These images are more concerning in nature than previous years with trends indicating children involved are younger (a third of images involve children aged 7-10) and the nature of the sexual abuse more serious. A large majority of images are now created without the abuser being present but filmed by the child in their own home. This type of abuse occurs in the context of threats, grooming, blackmail, coercion and financial payment.
The increasing use of CSEM appears to relate to the availability, anonymity and affordability of these images on the internet. Some (but not all) perpetrators have a sexual interest in children, but there is some evidence that the use of pornography can “shape” the interests of users leading them to search for more extreme images. Most users of CSEM are male; in comparison to individuals who are involved in contact sexual offending, they are more likely to be married, have children and hold stable employment. They are also more likely to be previously socially responsible and law-abiding and less likely to have previous convictions or show anti-social traits than contact abusers.
Many users of CSEM have relevant life experiences (social and sexual relationships, attachment issues and trauma) that do not cause the offending but provide a context. An interaction of these factors with personal situation/difficulties (job loss/ loneliness, relationship breakdown) may lead to CSEM offending.
For all the above reasons, arrest for these offences can have an explosive and catastrophic effect on the individual, their family and their community. The risk of their taking their life after arrest is very high.
The majority (80%) of individuals convicted of CSEM offences do not receive a custodial sentence.
SURVIVORS OF CSEM
As with victims of other types of sexual abuse, survivors suffer in profound ways; issues may include a lack of trust, difficulty building healthy relationships, substance abuse, poor educational attainment and mental health problems. Even when images are taken down from one platform, they still can remain on the internet.
Survivors are aware that past images of them being abused continue to be looked at years after the abuse occurred.
WHY CIRCLES REBOOT?
Assessment tools and interventions designed for people who commit contact sexual offences are not suitable for those who access CSEM. Circles ReBoot is designed specifically to meet the needs of individuals who meet a lower risk threshold, but where it is likely risk will escalate without intervention.
Although lower risk, the individuals suitable for Circles ReBoot are still likely to have a significant level of need. A ReBoot Circle, rather than mentoring, is appropriate because this form of abuse may ‘mask’ complex and underlying issues in the person’s life. As with all Circles, the Core Member is likely to be socially isolated; the interaction and support offered by a Circle is likely to be both a benefit and a catalyst for positive change.
CIRCLES REBOOT METHODOLGY
DeleteCircles ReBoot follows the proven Circles methodology. After being professionally assessed and having given their consent, the Core Member meets regularly with a group of 3-4 Volunteers. There is an outer Circle of professionals (Police, Probation) who make the referral, receive and give updates about progress and attend review meetings.
A ReBoot Circle has more structure than a traditional Circle so that relevant issues in the Core Member’s life can be addressed comprehensively within a shorter time frame. The approach follows desistance principles and those of the “Good Lives” model of rehabilitation (this model promotes working collaboratively with individuals on positive goals; by increasing their personal capabilities and access to legal and legitimate life satisfaction, the risk they present to others is diminished).
The content therefore includes encouraging CMs to identify their own goals and strengths and start to achieve positive changes in their daily life. They work through “Keys for Change,” exercises on topics such as perspective taking, building resilience and mindfulness which have been identified in many studies as supporting desistance from crime. The Circle is Core Member centred; they are an active participant and material can be adapted to suit their individual needs.
CIRCLES REBOOT PILOT
In 2021/22 (despite some interruptions caused by the pandemic) 11 pilot Circles were delivered by Circles South West and Circles South East. The materials provided, training for Coordinators and project support were provided by Circles UK.
Circles UK entered into a partnership with independent researchers from onlinePROTECT and Royal Holloway University (Prof Derek Perkins and Dr Hannah Merdian) to do the evaluation and the final report was released in May 2023, showing positive results. The evaluation was based on the RE-AIM feasibility evaluation framework, which confirmed that the programme design and methodology are appropriate for the service user group, the materials are effective, and Circle Coordinators and Volunteers confirmed that the semi-structured programme worked well.
POST EVALUATION
DeleteSome changes have been made based on Coordinator feedback and the evaluation recommendations. The number of sessions has been increased from 12 to 14 to allow more time to develop a relationship of trust and minor adjustments have been made to materials that worked less well. There has been an ongoing emphasis on offering flexibility for Volunteers to be able to decide which material is most suited to a particular Core Member.
Given the constantly evolving nature and prevalence of CSEM, Circles UK are currently working closely with Professor Perkins and other stakeholders to ensure suitability criteria accurately reflect where is the most need for this intervention. The assessment for Circles ReBoot is also being reconsidered to ensure it reflects the latest research about this population.
More Circles ReBoot are currently being delivered by Circles South West and Circles South East.
As this is the first Circle programme of its kind, the results of the pilot and evaluation were awaited with great interest by key stakeholders such as the Home Office, police, probation and other charities working with people who sexually harm others.
I very much admire the Circles initative but it is not tailored for historical offenders with decades of good behaviour and non offending. Probation simply ignores this. Many historical offenders have health issues so trying to find an employer willing to overlook these two obstacles is damn nigh impossible.
ReplyDeleteI’m not a fan of circles of support or much other religious backed schemes for that matter. In the past there’s been so much focus and investment into this service for just one client group. It doesn’t always work and the volunteers can’t sometimes be really naive. It’s not just sex offenders that need in depth support either.
ReplyDeleteCircles is a well intentioned model, but simply too expensive and resource intensive for a group of people whose likelihood of reoffending is remarkably low. Plus, the intervention is likely to come many months or years after the person's arrest, by which time so many will have already made the minor adjustments to lifestyle that they needed. It would be better targeted at people who have 'dual offender' profiles - that minority who may well be contact offenders who have moved into CSEM. There is also growing evidence that a tiny number will move from CSEM to contact offending, and that the pathway is through social interaction online - men with children being groomed to take pictures by those who do not have children or have been deprived access to children in their own networks. Unless Circles get much smarter about their targeting I fear the 'nothing works' brigade will fill their boots.
ReplyDeleteIt is likely to be a controversial point, but SAA provides an empathetic community of people, many of whom have had 'the knock' and who are committed to supporting each other to recovery and maintaining abstinence. SAA now has an offshoot 'Facing the Consequences' which is a support for men under investigation - the period of time where interventions really need to focussing.
Another day ending in threats from a person on probation/ offender, whatever term we are now supposed to use. Apparently he will ' show me exactly what he's capable of when he gets out" His body language told me that wasn't going to be anything positive but denied it was a threat. We are just expected to suck it up and be the brunt of this anger, no support from HMPPS.
ReplyDeleteRefuse to work the case while he's intimidating you. Health first get it recorded and don't take the case back it's simple a matter of making the so called managers manage
Deletea long-gone ex-colleague once described the job as:
Delete"We're mired in other peoples' shit Monday to Friday with no time to take a shower. The rest of the time we're layering on our own personal shit. Often it all gets mixed in together & sometimes its hard to determine what stink is coming from where. Its a tough job. We should really be allowed time to take a shower several times a day so as to avoid cross-contamination & we certainly need to shower at the end of every working day. But that ain't going to happen. In the eyes of the suits we're just disposable wipes that can be discarded when no longer useful."
Once upon a time we did have regular "showers" - they were called supervision, team meetings & tea breaks; time when we could move away from desks, reflect on & share experiences, swap advice & ideas, understand how everyone in the team was doing, get professional guidance or simply - dare I say it - have a laugh.
DeleteNo doubt such extremist nonsense will be regarded as weak - or woke - by the strong excellent leaders who claim they live & breathe onehmpps.
There used to be training available called 'Freeing yourself from the job' - it was one of those courses for which one could never see the point - until suddenly you could! No longer available which is such a shame. I would caution colleagues not to listen to the siren voices to 'work from home' - all it does is contaminate your home space with work crap. I find the bus journey home is my 'shower' although crowded rush hour London buses are by no means relaxing.
ReplyDelete