Faulty Reasoning
| Date | 01 March 1993 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455059304000122 |
| Published date | 01 March 1993 |
| Author | Mark Oldfield |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
LETTERS
Deadline for letters in our June issue
is April 8th
Creeping Demise
However, I must express an objec-
tion to point 4 of the suggested Service
Mark Drakeford’s article on the death
User’s Charter: ’A right to change pro-
throes of home visiting expressed so
bation officers (perhaps twice max-
well the impressions I have been get-
imum in any 12 month period),
ting for some time, particularly of the
without explanation’. My objection is
style of work of newer entrants into the
based on the fact that black probation
Service. I’ve spoken with many
officers sometimes face
established colleagues who find
requests from
it
Service users to change officer merely
equally difficult to see how the job can
because she or he is black.
be done without the flexibility and
My guess
is that female officers
willingness
may have ex-
to home visit.
In
perienced similar dubious requests
my
view the creeping demise of
home
visiting is only
merely because of their gender.
a
reflection of the
I would be inclined to
attack
agree that
on social work with offenders.
If
a user should have the
it is misguided in that
right to change
sense it is also
their
misguided under the ’new order’ style
probation officer, but a good ex-
of work
planation should be given and examin-
as it limits full professional
ed to
assessment and understanding of the
see if there is an adequate reason
choices
for
facing
a
our clients.
change. The right to change
supervisor without explanation would
Michael Carney
play into the hands of racist and sexist
Probation Officer, Sheffield
service users and legitimise their
behaviour.
Changing Officers
Herman Norford
Probation Officer, Redditch
As a black first year officer, I have been
hoping for a Citizens Charter in the
Faulty Reasoning
Probation Service for some time. It was
therefore refreshing to read ’Citizen-
It is a pity that Mike Neary, in his
ship, Rights and the Probation Service’
criticism of Ross’s R&R
programme
~P, j...
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