Prisons Recruiting African Staff
Discussion
Is our benefit system too generous when we have high unemployment but jobs with a £33-40K starting salary can't be filled by UK residents?
". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting ‘what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system?’ "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting ‘what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system?’ "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
irc said:
Is our benefit system too generous when we have high unemployment but jobs with a £33-40K starting salary can't be filled by UK residents?
". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
When did the UK suddenly get high unemployment. It's up to 4.8% but that not high.". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
Panamax said:
Mrr T said:
It's up to 4.8% but that not high.
It's about 2 million people. Sounds a lot to me and certainly enough to fill available jobs.The full employment rate is the theoretical level of employment where all available labor resources are being used, but it does not mean a 0% unemployment rate. Instead, it corresponds to the "natural rate of unemployment," which is typically considered to be between 4% and 5% of the labor force. This remaining unemployment is due to "frictional" (people between jobs) and "structural" (mismatch between job skills and available jobs) unemployment, which are natural and unavoidable in a healthy economy.
Mrr T said:
Panamax said:
Mrr T said:
It's up to 4.8% but that not high.
It's about 2 million people. Sounds a lot to me and certainly enough to fill available jobs.The full employment rate is the theoretical level of employment where all available labor resources are being used, but it does not mean a 0% unemployment rate. Instead, it corresponds to the "natural rate of unemployment," which is typically considered to be between 4% and 5% of the labor force. This remaining unemployment is due to "frictional" (people between jobs) and "structural" (mismatch between job skills and available jobs) unemployment, which are natural and unavoidable in a healthy economy.
Mrr T said:
Panamax said:
Mrr T said:
It's up to 4.8% but that not high.
It's about 2 million people. Sounds a lot to me and certainly enough to fill available jobs.The full employment rate is the theoretical level of employment where all available labor resources are being used, but it does not mean a 0% unemployment rate. Instead, it corresponds to the "natural rate of unemployment," which is typically considered to be between 4% and 5% of the labor force. This remaining unemployment is due to "frictional" (people between jobs) and "structural" (mismatch between job skills and available jobs) unemployment, which are natural and unavoidable in a healthy economy.
around 8.7 million people have a work-limiting health condition, and there are over 4 million working-age adults claiming some form of sickness benefit. A growing trend is long-term sickness, with an additional 800,000 working-age people signed off sick since 2019
My experience of African staff is locked NHS mental health wards. I guess that's about as close to the prison system as you can get without being the prison system
Without them we wouldn't have a service or would have a very dangerous service. Without wanting to stereotype, Africans are more likely than British NHS recruits to have strong religious convictions, have fairly traditional views and maybe that's why they are more likely to respect authority. This cuts both ways, they can be loyal and hard working but maybe less likely to question bad practice (asking how large a bribe is acceptable) and certainly tolerate a lot of abuse without complaint. They are generally the ones getting stuck into the more unpleasant aspects of care whilst their British colleagues are able to climb the slippery pole into management and start driving a desk.
Agency staff are another story but that's probably as much to do with the system as the individual.
Without them we wouldn't have a service or would have a very dangerous service. Without wanting to stereotype, Africans are more likely than British NHS recruits to have strong religious convictions, have fairly traditional views and maybe that's why they are more likely to respect authority. This cuts both ways, they can be loyal and hard working but maybe less likely to question bad practice (asking how large a bribe is acceptable) and certainly tolerate a lot of abuse without complaint. They are generally the ones getting stuck into the more unpleasant aspects of care whilst their British colleagues are able to climb the slippery pole into management and start driving a desk.
Agency staff are another story but that's probably as much to do with the system as the individual.
Panamax said:
Mrr T said:
It's up to 4.8% but that not high.
It's about 2 million people. Sounds a lot to me and certainly enough to fill available jobs.Firstly, the rate isn't high It was well over 10% in the early 80s and, prior to 2016, actually hasn't been below 5% consistently since the mid 70s.
Secondly, 2 million sounds a lot because the population is higher. In the 80s, there was decry at '3 million unemployed' This was on a population of 55 million, it's now 68 million.
Thirdly, it's not a case of 1 person to 1 available job. There's geography to consider, ability and skillset, not to mention things like health conditions and commitments such as childcare.
There'll always be an element of unemployment in the country. Sub 5% is a reasonable target.
irc said:
Is our benefit system too generous when we have high unemployment but jobs with a £33-40K starting salary can't be filled by UK residents?
". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
I suspect if you cut benefits by 50% it wouldn't end up in many more applications. ". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
borcy said:
irc said:
Is our benefit system too generous when we have high unemployment but jobs with a £33-40K starting salary can't be filled by UK residents?
". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
I suspect if you cut benefits by 50% it wouldn't end up in many more applications. ". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
andymc said:
borcy said:
irc said:
Is our benefit system too generous when we have high unemployment but jobs with a £33-40K starting salary can't be filled by UK residents?
". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
I suspect if you cut benefits by 50% it wouldn't end up in many more applications. ". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
irc said:
Is our benefit system too generous when we have high unemployment but jobs with a £33-40K starting salary can't be filled by UK residents?
". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
A friend of our family applied for a post as a prison officer he had no criminal past and was fit as a fiddle and built very well, he didn't get past the 1st interview, everyone who knows him found it very strange indeed. ". I regularly hear stories of officers being hired whose spoken and written English is so limited they are functionally unable to perform much of the job."
"There are cases of extreme culture clash, such as the West African officer at Swaleside who apparently asked in a meeting what is an acceptable level of bribe to take in this prison system? "
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/our-prisons-sh...
brake fader said:
A friend of our family applied for a post as a prison officer he had no criminal past and was fit as a fiddle and built very well, he didn't get past the 1st interview, everyone who knows him found it very strange indeed.
Did he ask the interview panel for any feedback?Sometimes people's opinion of their own capabilities doesn't tally with what other people think.
brake fader said:
A friend of our family applied for a post as a prison officer he had no criminal past and was fit as a fiddle and built very well, he didn't get past the 1st interview, everyone who knows him found it very strange indeed.
Were they the only 2 essential criteria? No criminal convictions and fit as a fiddle? Maybe he doesnt communicate very well, hence not passing the 1st interview stageGassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff