Through the Eyes of the Probationer
| Published date | 01 September 1979 |
| Author | Martin Davies |
| Date | 01 September 1979 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455057902600304 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
84
ial
for the
groups,
course
evaluation
and
descriptions
of
staff
members’
tasks.
Considerable
thought
and
activity
has
been
applied
to
the
theory,
organisation
and
structure
both
in
terms
of
general
design
and
points
of
detail.
This
guide
can
only
be
regarded
as
a
part
of
the
process
of
pass-
ing
on
information
and
experience
to
others
who
may
staff
the
course.
Planning,
preparation,
time
and
energy
fortunately
diminishes
as
exper-
ience
is
gained.
Whilst
the
provision
of
this
course
may
seem
daunting,
in
fact
the
work
has
been
undertaken
alongside
existing
functions.
In
practice
the
organiser,
supervisor,
helper
and
adult
group
leaders
(six),
need
to
be
present
on
all
three
evenings
and
the
children’s
group
leaders
(six)
on
one.
The
presenters
only
need
attend
for
an
hour
on
one
evening
each.
How-
ever,
we
have
found
that
presenters
like
to
attend
throughout
to
gain
the
feel
of
the
course.
A
meeting
of
staff
members
is
held
before
and
after
each
course
in
order
to
plan,
evaluate
and
support.
Some
of
the
course
staff
come
from
offices
ten
miles
away.
During
these
meetings,
time
is
set
aside
for
role
groups
to
go
into
the
detail
of
their
task.
Other
members
of
staff
are
kept
informed
by
circulation
of
evaluations
and
notice
of
next
course.
A
considerable
bonus-has
been
that
our
knowledge
and
under-
standing
of
our
divorce
court
welfare
work
has
been
enhanced
to
the
point
where
many
of
us
find
that
our
individual
work
in
this
sphere
has
an
additional
dimension.
f &dquo;The
Divorce
Experience
---
A
Guide
for
Staff
Alembers&dquo;
t.r
available
£2
post
free,
from
the
Chief
Probation
Ofeer,
Leicestershire
Probation
and
A f ter-Care
Service,
2fi
Millstone
Lane,
Leicester
LEI
5iN.
Consideration
is
being
given
to
the
possibility
of
support/training
cotirses
for
colleagues
in
other
areas
who
may
wish
to
develop
this
facility.
(The
author
is
a
senior
probation
officer
in
Leicestershire)
Through
the
Eyes
of
the
Probationer
MARTIN
DAVIES
How
do
offenders
on
probation
view
their
probation
officers?
What
do
they
think
of
probation
supervision?
How
effective
are
probation
orders?
This
article
presents
some
interesting
opinions
from
clients
themselves.
THE
aim
of
the
investigation
was
to
obtain
information
about
the
pro-
bationer’s
perspectives
on
probation
and
the
probation
officer,.
The
study
was
carried
out
in
the
context
of
a
probation
staff
development
course
on
exploratory
research’
and
the
methods
employed
were
as
rigorous
as
could
be
achieved
in
the
circumstances.
Use
was
made
of
an
interview
schedule
which
had
been
designed
and
tested
by
Margaret
Carver
in
the
Home
Oihce
Research
Unit.’
To continue reading
Request your trial