Some Personal Reflections on Probation Training

Abstract

This research draws upon the author's personal experiences and the comments of his former colleagues on their perception of undertaking the Diploma in Probation Studies (DipPS) in the Midlands Region. This relatively recently established qualification, undertaken in order to be eligible to work as a probation officer in England and Wales, has created substantial discourse due to its break with social work traditions. This research was undertaken over a two-year period and intends to provide 'consumer' comment on the training and examines the perceptions of trainee probation officers (TPOs) on the suitability of these training arrangements. The author argues that whilst the intention of the programme was not to create an unquestioning 'enforcement' driven mentality, a number of trainees adopted just that. The article suggests that this is due to the tension created by a perceived disparity between the needs of the organisation and the demands of the university amongst the trainee group. This is reinforced by the imbalance in delivery, between the vocational and academic components. The author's view is that the current arrangements are too vocational in practice, and this is likely to continue, given the move towards delivery of the academic component through 'distance learning'. It argues that the future pre-qualifying arrangements need to retain a belief in the value of academia and be delivered (at least in part) outside the employment setting.

Probation Training: The Experience of Learners and Teachers

“…Treadwell (2006), an academic who had also been a TPO, criticised the potential of the NVQ to reinforce a managerialist approach to practice. He raised the issue of the academic independence of HE providers in a purchaser-provider relationship with the service, and warned against what Nellis (2001) had termed "instructionalist" styles of teaching.…”

Investing in ‘Toughness’: Probation, Enforcement and Legitimacy

“…In seeking to answer this question, it must be noted that no large‐scale research on enforcement practice has been conducted since the mid‐1990s' study by Ellis, Hedderman and Mortimer (). We do, however, know that in the following years the professional training of probation officers was separated from social work training, and that the new training provision has been assumed to produce more compliant practitioners (for example, see Treadwell ; Annison, Eadie and Knight ; Deering ). This would appear to ‘fit’ with performance data pertaining to compliance with National Standards, noted above.…”

The conveyor belt of criminal justice: the Sonnex case, risk, and de-skilling in probation

“…The drawing up of the proposed new probation training qualification has been a complex and lengthy process, which many fear will either lead to a shortening of the training or a reduction of the academic content or both. Already Treadwell (2006) feels the 'core curriculum' is too narrow and not academically focused enough.…”