Standing On The Shoulders of Giants

It's New Years Eve, and despite a couple of drams of whisky, I spotted "Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants" on a two pound coin and thought about the giants in my life who had supported me in moving away from the life of a prolific offender.

I hate to think of where I would be without the advice, assistance and befriending that came to me before and after I accepted that I needed to change my ways. 

Over thirty years later I realise that I have been and seen further because I have been standing on the shoulder of giants. 

It seems that the best-known use of this phrase comes from Isaac Newton who penned a letter to his rival Robert Hooke, in 1676:

"What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much several ways, and especially in taking the colours of thin plates into philosophical consideration. If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."

Newton didn't originate the phrase though. The 12th century theologian and author John of Salisbury used a version of the phrase in a treatise on logic called Metalogicon, written in Latin in 1159. Translations of this difficult book are quite variable but the gist of what Salisbury said is:

"We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours."

Great People Who Add To Another's Stature

After studying Theology and working for the Probation Service for 14 years and I have learned that both disciplines have their own vocabulary, and which to be honest have baffled me at times. But after serving a four year stretch in a college of education, and working with the Probation Service, it is my opinion that three giants stand tall:

·      The Giant of Advise

·                                                                                   The Giant of Assist

·                                                                                                                                                                   The Giant of Befriend

 Times Are Changing, And Changing Very Fast!

The tragedy is, in my opinion, that the new trends from Government of Stamp, Punish and Enforce, do not work as well as the simple, now-sought-to-be-discredited caring approach.

As someone once stated: "The core value of the Probation Service must be understood by all those who presume to reconfigure it. Deeply unfashionable as it seems to have become, the phrase, 'to advise, assist and befriend' encapsulates that humanity and the essential, personal quality of the nature of probation work, which we reject at our peril."

At the beginning of a New Year, and in Tribute to those who Care, I'm Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.

Please sign this Petition, against privatisation, as it's very important that our Public tune into the SOUL of Probation's Heritage and a Public Service that has served this country well.

Happy New Year To All

Happy New Year to All 

Especially my Probation colleagues 

And may your Road be brighter in 2014 

The Incredible Pat Waterman and Alan Bennett

The Incredible Pat Waterman Probation Officer.

The Incredible Alan Bennett, Yorkshire born Playwright.

Alan Bennett the Yorkshire born playwright, says in his published 2013 diary:

"Walking along Wellington Street towards City Square I pass the offices of the probation service, now plastered with protest leaflets and posters from Napo against the selling off of the service, protests that in my view are wholly justified. The notion that probation, which is intended to help and support those who have fallen foul of the law, should make a profit for shareholders seems beyond satire".

Folly or Fortune?

I really enjoyed a trip out to the countryside where I came across a folly called the Needles Eye at Wentworth.

  

“Legend has it that Earl Fitzwilliam built the structure as a result of a wager that he could drive his horse and carriage through the eye of a needle. The position on the coach road supports this story, although the size of the archway is probably only sufficient to accommodate a small gun carriage”.

I was thinking of my "Probation Voice" blog and wondering if it was my folly, or have I possibly got something right about "Transforming Rehabilitation" and the privatisation of the Probation Trusts.

Looking at the definition of a folly/fool, I read:

• ·    The state or quality of being foolish and rash
• ·      A foolish action or idea,
• ·      A costly and foolish undertaking.
• ·      An unwise investment or expenditure.
• ·      Self trust rather than accepting other counsel.

To my mind this sums up the "Transforming Rehabilitation Programme". A programme that that has not been tested or proven, a costly and unnecessary undertaking, brought in by a Government that is trusting ideology, rather than listening to criminal justice workers, experts, and the media, especially in regards to the risks of the programme to the public. 

But looking at our Coalition Government, I can’t help seeing what could be called the folly of the foolish!

The Folly of Public Sector Privatisation.

• ·      Which threatens the quality of welfare our nation needs.
• ·      Which threatens public sector workers.
• ·      Which threatens employment levels.
• ·      Which promotes profit over people.

The Folly of Pandering to Corporations.

• ·      Which threatens our democracy and reduces the voice of the individual.
• ·      Which leaves workers open to exploitation
• ·      Which takes money away from the poor, and gives to the rich.
• ·      Which threatens small business, with a powerful monopoly.
• ·      Which threatens to give too much power to Fat Cats
• ·      Which threatens our national wealth, due to tax avoidance.
• ·      Which threatens to leave us as tenants in our land.

The Folly of Broken Promises.

I don't know about you but find it very difficult to hear what politicians are saying, when you look at a Government of broken promises:

• ·      Regarding front line services.
• ·      Regarding the NHS being in safe hands.
• ·      Regarding the crack down on Bankers’ bonuses.
• ·      Regarding getting the UK working.

A Government of Folly or Fortune? Time will tell, but should we take a Chance?

Staggering Account of NHS Privatisation.

NAPO members sing from best place in Europe ;o)

NAPO members sing from best place in Europe - Yorkshire ;o)

• Says The Guardian, "Yorkshire - God's own country is best in Europe".
• Lonely Planet says Yorkshire, "one to top global places".

Union Leader, Ian Lawrence on govt plans to privatise .

Not a pretty picture admittedly, but he gives a great video interview!

Privatisation, Tax Avoidance & Dodgy Dealings

Some people live in a different world to me and I'm not sure that they have my interests at heart. 

The video is interesting to me, although a little to much food for thought, so will have to come back to it after I have had time to think about its relation to privatisation, corporations and the government.

Not only does this Government face serious criticism for mismanaging private contracts, an article in The Guardian today is is also interesting, "Four tax inspectors pursuing HMRC's most wanted". Only four? No wonder the Government have been accused of failing to tackle tax avoidance! 

Probation In The Dock?

The 107 -year-old Probation Service has been the envy of the world and its practices copied by many other countries.

Now it finds itself being dealt with harshly, unfairly and having been judged and sentenced to privatisation.

The Pedigree of Probation Trusts.

They are one of the highest performing services in the country.

Reoffending Rates have been reduced year on year.

The Staff of  Probation Trusts.

Probation Staff are trained to assess risk, spot signs that risk levels are increasing and Intervene.

They are worried for their jobs, like many other public service workers in the Health Service, Education, Criminal Justice and Fire Service.

The have served this country well over many years, and have now been gagged, judged and sentenced by the by the coalition forces to privatisation.

I have found while working with probation colleagues during this process is their determination to continue to protect the public and help turn around the lives of the offenders they are working with. Despite any misgivings they may have about the proposed changes, this resolve has remained steadfast.

The Sale of the Probation Trusts

The Government is planning to sell off 70% of the Probation Service to private companies.

It's a huge gamble with public safety within our communities.

 The Guardian  reported earlier this month, "Plans to put private companies such as G4S in charge of supervising tens of thousands of criminals on licence in the community have a "very high chance" of putting the public at greater risk and will result in a poorer service for victims of crime, according to an internal assessment presented to the Ministry of Justice.

It's also a huge gamble with money from the tax payers purse. 

The Telegraph reports today that Margaret Hodge, the chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee says, “I can hardly think of a major project that has been successful in the last two years — whether it’s universal credit, HS2, or aircraft carriers". 

The Companies after the Probation Trusts.

People are becoming more aware that big companies are influencing the decisions of Government.

Private Companies will not even be required to use qualified staff.

I understand that Tony Benn once said "I wouldn't like to go to a dentist who told me he was not a dentist himself but that his father had been a very good dentist."

These companies will be working with violent offenders, sex offenders, burglars, gang members, and domestic violence perpetrators and they have not got the skills.

The Government Selling off Public Services

The Government plan to transfer Probation work to private companies who are interested only in profit.

This Government is not a fair representation of the people, they are very wealthy people, who are taking from those who have less, and giving to those who have more.

This Governments plans to privatise both the probation would suggest that soon almost all the crime business will be run on the basis of personal profit, along with Court Services and the Police.

Happen, it should be the Government that should be in the dock about it's policies of privatisation. Please sign this petition as the Probation Service has served this country well.

Age Of Austerity

Means A Loss Of Public Service

This Government have been hell bent on attacking so many public services.

Now the Government is on the verge of selling 70% of the Probation Service to private companies.

What we know from outsourcing and privatisation is it's more expensive for the taxpayer in the end, it costs more money not less.

Charlotte Morris from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reflects on what we have learned during a year of austerity cuts, welfare shake-ups and rising living costs.

Means A Loss Of Public Protection

The Government chooses not to see the risks regarding public protection, or just does not care!

The Government are still pushing on with their plans to privatise the Probation public service even though the experts and the assessed risks have  shown that it will put to the public at risk.

The media highlights that Probation Service sell-off plans are 'danger to public' - claims secret official report.

The danger to the public is also highlighted in the  resignation letter of Tim Young who was a Probation Board member, "it is only because I am so committed and passionate about the work of the Service that I feel that I have not option but to step aside, so that I can campaign with others, to stop or, at least, delay the governments deeply flawed and dangerous plans....someone will be killed who would not otherwise have been killed as a result of these changes.

Means A Loss Of Service Quality

The Probation Trusts are a quality service which has qualified and dedicated staff who serve and protect the public. 

Private Companies are motivated by profit and serve to protect their shareholders.

The Government is not allowing Probation Trusts to bid for their own work even though ALL are assessed as good or excellent!

The Ministry of Justice points out that even though Serco & G4S been referred to Serious Fraud Office the Government lets them play role in privatising probation. 

Please sign this Petition against privatisation, as it's very important that our Public tune into the SOUL of Probation's Heritage and a Public Service that has served this country well.

Seasonal Wishes, Happy Christmas

Why Britain Isn't Eating.

As There Is High Unemployment.

My father in law used to say that in his day there were 10 jobs for every person, but the Tories made sure there were 10 people for every Job. We could reduce the level of unemployment, if we were to narrow the gap between the have's and the have nots.

Due to Low Wages

The Tories say that they want hard work to pay, but set about the Public sector workers and unions in way that undermines and stigmatises. Wages rises peak at 1% for workers on the workface, but not for MP's, Bankers and Company Directors. It is said that three quarters of foodbank users are working families. Britain queues for food, while MP's queue for 11% rise from the gravy train!

Due to Benefit Sanctions

The poor have to jump through so many hoops to make a benefit claim nowadays, such having to claim on-line, and they when they get there sanctions are put in place for the drop of a hat. Claimants are living in fear and insecurity. Sanctions are not there to get people into work, because they cant get them. They are there to reduce the welfare bill. Trussell Trust points out that people referred due to problems with benefits has soared from 20% in 2005 to 52% in 2013. 

Due to the Rich taking from the Poor, and giving to Themselves.

Privatisation creates more money for the rich and wealthy, and provides peanuts for the poor, resulting in high energy bills, transport bills, and taxation on every thing but the air that we breath. Somebody said I have to make the choice now between heating and eating. We are in danger of losing a fire service, our probation service our health service, our pensions, our justice, our voice, our future because the Rich don't want to lose their stake in the community. Tory ideology is the problem blame the poor and pamper the rich with tax avoidance & evasion which costs the UK £260m a day. Britain isn't Eating and Iain Duncan smith hates this picture.

Britiain Isn't Eating Because of Media Propaganda. 

A Government Taking Us Back for the Future

From a wonderful inheritance of Welfare for the Poor, and excellent  Public Services, we seem to be going back and back, for the future.

George Osborne's Christmas Carol

You'd laugh if it wasn't true. I wonder if Dickens could ever have imagined when he penned this story over 150 years ago that it would still hold such resonance in the 21st Century?

This Government are here to keep the old ways going strong for workers and the poor.

This are Government taking us back for the future.

They are doing away with the NHS, doing away with decent wages and pensions for workers, doing away with the Probation Service, doing away with Public Services, doing away with Justice for the poor, and replacing them with titan prison houses (and not for dodgy corporations, I might add).

Suzanne Thompson, a Manager of Employment, Training and Education points out that the "Strongest growth in Britain is in poverty, low pay & inequality & explosion of food banks, charity shops & loan sharks.

We deserve better than this for our future:

Unlocking Potential: 2013 Back to the Future in Penal Policy

Unlocking Potential: 2013 Back to the Future in Penal Policy: 2013 will probably be remembered as the defining year for the coalition’s penal policy. Kenneth Clarke’s rejection of policies that “endles...

Unite And Save Our Public Services.

With the onslaught of this Government's destructive policies, Public Workers can't afford not to think and not take action. We need to: 

Unite and Save Our Probation



Harry Fletcher informed us yesterday that work was still going on the in House of Commons and that Labour is going to table amendments to OR Bill 1) No selloff unless vote in both Houses 2) No roll out of TR unless Piloted first 3) Probation trusts allowed to tender for work with short term prisoners 4) Domestic Abuse work to stay public.

The Tom Rendon of NAPO says, "Massive thank you and well done to Napo members- hard slog of lobbying is yielding real results. # 2014 is our year" :)

Unite and Save Our NHS

Clive Peedell of the National Health Action Party says Privatisation of public services transfers public money to speculators and tax havens, & transfers financial risk from the rich to the poor.

Please sign the petition to withdraw clause 118 of Care Bill that makes it possible to close viable hospitals without consultation. 

Unite and Save Our Justice



Barrister Sam Parham says, "Seems that current generation of Tories have complete contempt for poor & vulnerable & are happy to be seen as nasty" and that " Probation Officers, Court Staff, Solicitors & Barristers must unite to stop Tories flogging off criminal justice - together we're strong".

Peter George Owen writes of the UK Moving Backwards: Half a Century of Social Progress Reversed in Last Decade and points to the Scriptonite Daily where it says,  "Those who say that we cannot or will not win this struggle, do an enormous injustice to the generations who brought us social democracy in the first place.  They faced excruciating circumstances and overcame them through persistence and solidarity.  This is all that is missing today…and it is not some gene that today’s generations are sadly lacking.  It is forgotten and needs to be relearned.  We need to do so, and fast. While many remain largely oblivious, their futures are being written for them, and it’s a future far from the promise of that post war promise that brought us so much, so fast, that we forgot we earned it".

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Please sign this Petition against privatisation, as it's very important that our Public tune into the SOUL of Probation's Heritage and a Public Service that has served this country well.

The Coalition Government

A National Tragedy

And A More Expensive Employee

With Destructive Policies

That Attack & Dismantles a Nation, While Protecting the Rich!

Please sign this Petition. The Probation Service has served this country well.

On Probation Blog

On Probation Blog: Political Jenga by Jim Brown: As often happens, I was struck by a comment left by someone this morning:- Anyone wanting to play political jenga? The way to remove the l...

Goliaths Can Fall!

Earlier this year someone said that TR is a done deal and that Goliath has won.  It must be acknowledged that TR is a powerful force which endangers the Public, the Criminal Justice System and thousands of public sector workers. The threat is very real and Minister Grayling, the Government’s champion still stands and challenges all who would oppose his plans.

THE THREAT FACED BY BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS.

THE THREAT FACING THE PROBATION TRUSTS

“Courage in the face of adversity” – Ian Lawrence Writes, “A read across to the campaign of intimidation and disinformation being waged against Probation by Chris Grayling and his still ever growing army of civil servants, spin doctors and now we hear in addition, Ernst and Young Consultancy (who the Taxpayer will subsidise to the tune of around £1000 per day per consultant so that they give the answers that their paymaster wants to hear), is creating massive despondency and outright despair judging by the feedback we have been receiving.

Jim Brown Points out in On Probation Blog that, “We started the year complaining (quite rightly) that not many people know about Probation.  They do now.  The debates in both Houses of Parliament, the Justice Select Committee, the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the media coverage, the signing of public petitions, the motions against TR passed in town halls, the parliamentary lobby, the roasting of government ministers on the news, uncovering of the ugly side of privatisation in London CP, the walk outs, the demos, the strike, we have pressed home our argument and raised our profile. 

Pat Waterman in her interview with the Artist Taxi Driver says we face a large stone, but we must attempt to overcome it.

Jim Brown points out again thatThe government originally said  “no continuous service for your members”.  Knowing the strength of our membership, they capitulated when we demanded 7 years.  Voluntary redundancy- taken off the table on a ministerial whim- is now put firmly back in the agreement.  This doesn’t prohibit our vigorous campaign against TR or mean there aren’t further problems, but we couldn’t achieve that in negotiation without the confidence that members will stand up and take action. 

TRANSFORMING REHABILITATION  IS NOT A DONE DEAL AND GOLIATH HAS NOT WON YET.

I seem to remember that Goliaths Can Fall.

History has often shown that when what seems to be the underdog chooses not to play by Goliath's rules they win.

Barrister Sam Parham said, It will be great to see probation officers showing solidarity with The Criminal Bar & solicitors on 6th January 2014. I dearly hope you'll fight to save legal aid, access to justice & probation service from dreadful attacks by MoJ & Grayling. Excellent that Law Society are supporting this - essential we all stick together - vital Grayling sees he's united everyone involved in criminal justice.

Joint Napo/UNISON statement

 Transforming Rehabilitation –

Significant progress on a Staff Transfer and Protection Agreement

Following on from the meeting at the offices of the conciliation service ACAS on Monday, Napo, UNISON and GMB/SCOOP met with the Minister, Jeremy Wright yesterday.  A frank but constructive dialogue took place and we managed to secure a further concession from the MoJ with regard to protections for staff over continuity of service. Since Monday, we have improved the additional protection of continuity of employment for staff employed on the 31 March 2014 who transfer between CRCs or from the NPS to a CRC, post share sale from 9 months to 7 years.

As a result, the following statement has been sent to the MoJ today.

The joint trade unions acknowledge the progress made in discussions during w/c 16 December, including ACAS and the Probation Minister, regarding the NNC/SCCOG Staff Transfer and Protection Agreement. We are minded to recommend the latest offer (subject to written confirmation) to our respective committees with a view to seeking agreement and ratification at the next NNC. As you know, we need to make rapid progress on an interchange agreement, the staff commission and technical pension issues.

Each union will now be making arrangements to call meetings of relevant committees to progress matters. Meanwhile, both unions have agreed to suspend local disputes regarding TR assignment pending decisions on the final draft agreement at the next NNC.

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NNC CIRCULAR No. 11/2013
SCCOG CIRCULAR No. 10/2013

TRANSFORMING REHABILITATION – ER/HR ISSUES

NATIONAL AGREEMENT ON STAFF TRANSFER AND PROTECTIONS

.

We write to confirm that, following a period of intensive negotiations, it has been agreed that the National Agreement on Staff transfer and protections will now be tabled for ratification at a full meeting of the NNC/SCCOG in January 2014.

The Agreement includes an enhanced voluntary redundancy scheme which will remain in operation until 31 March 2015, with the last day of service agreed to be no later than 31 March 2016. Additionally, the commercial contracts will specify that, other than where more beneficial terms exist, where voluntary redundancy is offered, these enhanced terms should apply to any member of staff employed by a Probation Trust on 31 March 2014.

Key provisions of the Agreement are:

•         A guarantee of employment for all probation staff, employed by a Probation Trust at 31 March 2014, in either the NPS or appropriate CRC.

•         No compulsory redundancy up until 1 June 2015

•         Protection of continuity of employment for any member of staff transferring between NPS/CRC up to the point of share sale.

•         Additional protection of continuity of employment for staff employed on the 31 March 2014 who transfer between CRCs or from the NPS to a CRC for a period of seven years post share sale, this to be specified in the commercial contract.

•         Continuation of Trade Union Recognition.

•         Continuation of National Collective Bargaining - national collective bargaining arrangements will be continued with the recognised trade unions.   These arrangements, which will replicate the existing NNC and SCCOG machinery appropriately reconstituted, will be recognised in formal Constitutions agreed by 31 March 2014.

•         Maximising career development opportunities and interchange between the ​CRCs and NPS. An Interchange Agreement will be developed and jointly agreed by 31 March 2014.

The employers and the trade unions recognise that the past few months have been very unsettling for staff.  The additional protections provided by key elements of the Agreement are designed to provide greater reassurance to staff about their future employment and terms and conditions.

This Agreement will be formally ratified at a full meeting of the NNC and SCCOG in January 2014.  In the meantime, the disputes at local level are suspended by the trade unions and will be withdrawn once the Agreement is ratified.