Evolution not revolution?
“Like Harry Fletcher, I think we were all surprised to hear from Chris Grayling yesterday that we are not in the middle of a revolution, but rather a few ‘evolutionary’ changes.” Jim Brown looks at recent comments by Chris Grayling at the Justice Select Committee on the omnishambles that is Transforming Rehabilitation.
End game
“…not one member of the government side was prepared to speak in favour of this incredibly bad and dangerous plan. Meanwhile, the service is beginning to fall apart with numerous highly experienced officers …urgently planning exit strategies.” Jim Brown shares some recent emails about how the reforms to probation are being felt in the service.
Decision time
“It’s extremely sad that things have ended up like this for us, but there doesn’t seem to be any alternative…” On the eve of the World Congress of Probation, Jim Brown explains why industrial action may be necessary to resist the Government’s ill-thought-out plans for the probation service.
Omnishambles Update 19
“Meanwhile the Government’s plans to try and sweeten the [Transforming Rehabilitation] pill by encouraging the formation of cuddly-sounding ‘mutuals’ appears to have suffered a few setbacks…” Jim Brown provides a further update on the ongoing omnishambles of probation reform.
Omnishambles update 13
August has arrived and the Transforming Rehabilitation omnishambles rolls on with full cooperation from Probation Trust boards and management citing ‘contractual’ obligations that effectively prevent any other course of action. How they must be laughing down in London at the ease with which they’ve all fallen in to line and are following orders. As one […]
Attention all PO’s and PSO’s
I’ve been reading some exchanges over on the Napo forum website, and thank goodness there’s been some sign of life just recently. What particularly struck me was a response to a long and detailed post by ‘SaveProbation’ basically trying to rally the troops and get colleagues to wise up to the very real threat to our profession […]
Omnishambles update 2
Well I’ve really been heartened by the responses this blog has attracted recently, thus confirming that there does seem to be a need for some kind of vehicle or platform where people can sound off, exchange thoughts and information and hopefully gain some comfort and support, knowing that they are not alone amidst the unfoldingomnishambles. […]
Everyone for themselves!
“I guess it’s no great surprise to see that there’s absolutely no unity of purpose or direction forthcoming from (probation) Chiefs by way of a response to Chris Grayling’s privatisation plans and effectively it’s ‘everyone for themselves!” Jim Brown laments the lack of leadership from probation chiefs in responding to the Government’s probation reforms.
Frontline voices: Jim Brown - In defence of probation
“There’s nothing quite like having to eat some humble pie. Having to admit that you might be wrong about something.” Jim Brown challenges his own ‘Luddite view of Twitter’ and considers the possibility of an online community ‘in defense of probation’ at a critical time for the service.
Oh, how brave Minister!
We all know bears crap in the woods, so I guess it’s no surprise that the Daily Telegraph has warmly welcomed Chris Graylings’s announcement of Probation’s demise yesterday:- “Mr Grayling was accused by the probation union Napo of displaying an ideological hostility to the public sector. Yet his approach is reassuringly pragmatic: he is promoting this policy […]