I am feeling like most parents; LOL - I notice that NO ONE is reading this, so I am, effectively, talking to myself! Never mind, I live in hope. If nothing else, I can vent some spleen. It's cathargic (that may well be spelt wrong!).
In my second week of a job I didn't want but had to take (mortgage, kids, etc.) or else they'd let me "go". As I said in the first "episode", the job I have loved and successfully carried out for over ten years has been "budgetted" out of existence. It is heartbreaking, because we are still getting 'phone calls - desperate 'phone calls - from people we previously worked with, and we have to say "Sorry, it doesn't exist anymore; go to your local CAB (appointments available in 8-10 weeks time) or . . .", or where? Those few "not for profit" agencies that exist are already seriously over-subscribed.
Instead of helping and working with the "deserving poor" (OAP's, children with disabilities or learning impaired, sensory impaired, mental health/ illness, physically disabled, etc.) I have been given the task of working with a completely different group.
My new job is managing a team who will work with offenders. All, and any, offenders - be it the petty or the lifer. Prisoners discharged from institutions are treated as "Priority Homeless" and, in a naive initiative to reduce reoffending, those who declare themselves "NFA" (No Fixed Abode) are entitled to our help. We attempt to find them somewhere to live, establish support structures (having assessed needs first) and get them off to a fresh start.
Please don't get me wrong. I am not opposed to any initiative that stops this country from filling up Prisons. A former Chief Inspector of Prisons, a retired General I think, said something very apposite once. He said, "British Prisons contain too many people. Two thirds of them should never have been locked up; and one third should never be let out". By this he meant that many imprisoned have mental health issues or dependency problems (alcohol, drugs, etc.), and should be treated not punished. I agree with him. In my past, I have worked with offenders before - my assessment was 75% made bad choices in response to a situation and did something silly/ illegal; the other 25% are career-minded, evil sods, who simply prefer to act as parasites. We have so many disused pits in the UK. Surely we can drop them down there? (OK - humour!!)
My problem is that they can find the necessary funding for me to work with offenders, but they cannot for me to work with the non-offending, listed above. I am on the exact same salary - so is this best use of my skills and tax-payers money?
I am not certain it is!
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Sunday, 16 May 2010
losing my virginity . . . calm down!
. . . and we're off;
Having been born in the 20th century, worked in an industry rooted in the 19th century, i'm finally using 21st century devices.
For those interested, i am a "child of the '50's", who failed his 11+, went to a secondary modern school and left in 1969 without any qualifications. That all came much later, after shovelling s**t in a Foundry and being a union pain for many years. This was when the UK had a manufacturing industry.
Made redundant in 1983 (it wasn't personal, there were several thousand of us), I used my new found freedom to gain some access skills and finally did a degree in Politics and graduated in 1989. Now I work in Local Government, but things look grim in the near to medium future.
Political parties, of all hue, feel like creating a scape goat, and local government will do. The so called free press spin stories of gold plated pensions and unproductive posts, but this is largely through ignorance, and at the behest of media tycoons with personal agendas. the overwhelming majority of local government workers earn modest salaries, and have a dedication to service delivery. Yes, there is the occasional "bad apple" - what industry doesn't have that? Certainly not Finance and Banking, eh?
Up until the 31st March, I ran a Welfare Rights Unit, and served those citizens of my city who had mental health issues, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and a range of needs that were not being addressed. Budgetary cuts mean that no longer happens, and the hundreds (yes, hundreds) we assisted are left to the under-funded voluntary sector now.
What have they saved? About £100,000. That employed four people and paid for the office costs, etc. Not massive salaries, note! It was a LibDem decision, but it wasn't opposed by any other party, save the odd rogue councillor.
i shall be watching the new government for signs of hope, but I am not confident.
Having been born in the 20th century, worked in an industry rooted in the 19th century, i'm finally using 21st century devices.
For those interested, i am a "child of the '50's", who failed his 11+, went to a secondary modern school and left in 1969 without any qualifications. That all came much later, after shovelling s**t in a Foundry and being a union pain for many years. This was when the UK had a manufacturing industry.
Made redundant in 1983 (it wasn't personal, there were several thousand of us), I used my new found freedom to gain some access skills and finally did a degree in Politics and graduated in 1989. Now I work in Local Government, but things look grim in the near to medium future.
Political parties, of all hue, feel like creating a scape goat, and local government will do. The so called free press spin stories of gold plated pensions and unproductive posts, but this is largely through ignorance, and at the behest of media tycoons with personal agendas. the overwhelming majority of local government workers earn modest salaries, and have a dedication to service delivery. Yes, there is the occasional "bad apple" - what industry doesn't have that? Certainly not Finance and Banking, eh?
Up until the 31st March, I ran a Welfare Rights Unit, and served those citizens of my city who had mental health issues, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and a range of needs that were not being addressed. Budgetary cuts mean that no longer happens, and the hundreds (yes, hundreds) we assisted are left to the under-funded voluntary sector now.
What have they saved? About £100,000. That employed four people and paid for the office costs, etc. Not massive salaries, note! It was a LibDem decision, but it wasn't opposed by any other party, save the odd rogue councillor.
i shall be watching the new government for signs of hope, but I am not confident.
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