The New Orthodoxy
| Author | David Burnham |
| Published date | 01 September 1981 |
| Date | 01 September 1981 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/026455058102800406 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
THE NEW ORTHODOXY:
In the Place of Confusion
David Burnham
In the second of his articles reflecting on the current state of
the Probation Service, the author sees its organisational
structure as the source of many of the problems and much of
the disillusionment.
My previous commentsl about a new
division and if he had served a number
orthodoxy in Probation were directed
of years there. The increase in numbers
largely at the relationship between
in the Probation Service not only reduced
departmental
managements,
local
each individual’s status but began to de-
authorities and the Home Office. In this
mand some formalisation in the relation-
piece I want to took at some of the fac-
ship between officers, the support they
tors which are affecting both service
were offered and the type of work they
delivery and working relationships within
were expected to do. The development
departments. My contention will be that
of the familiar bureaucratic structure
the rapid, and some would say dele-
came only slowly as first seniors and prin-
terious changes taking place in probation
cipals were introduced and then assistant
philosophy and practice at the moment,
and deputy principals, to complete a five
are facilitated by the present structure;
grade structure. The other features of the
and that it is the structure more than
classic bureaucracy, besides hierarchy,
anything else which is responsible for the
formal and written rules, advancement
grade polarisation that now seems ende-
by merit, formal regulations of the rela-
mic.
tions between grades, are all present in
the structure of the modern Service. The
Growth of Bureaucracy
introduction of labour and health and
An excursion into the history of the
safety legislation has further formalised
Service might prove useful in this dis-
relations within departments. Those who
cussion, and some understanding of the
perhaps remember the days when the
movement from a professional mode of
principal knew all his officers’ and their
organisation toward a bureaucratic’-
wives may view the current landscape
structure is essential.
with a touch of melancholy-but it is
Before the last war the probation
difficult to see how any large organisa-
officer worked on his own. He was
tion can operate without structure or
accountable to the court, the committee
formal rules.
and the Home Office, but maintained a
practical autonomy which modern offi-
fewer decisions are made at
.
cers would find frightening. Such auto-
basic grade level ..
nomy and the beginnings of a training
requirement indicate that the status of
The particular mode of organisational
the officer was that of the semi-profes-
structure used by the Service, however, is
sional, if a harassed and overworked one.
difficult to reconcile with what have pre-
This status would be commensurately
viously been regarded as its salient and
higher locally if he were the only officer . important features and which may still
attached to a particular petty sessional
accord with the prevailing culture. One
130
previously lauded principle, officer auto-
is confused with a method which leans
nomy, seems to be jeopardised by the
toward the coercive. New officers quickly
current structure. One must not, of
sense ’professional development’ to be at
course, accept any ’Golden Age’ ideology
best a confused concept, and at worst a
about officer autonomy; probation offi-
dishonest
control
mechanism.
This
cers have never been nor can ever be
...
To continue reading
Request your trial