Soothsayers, training officers and a threatened service

Abstract

There is a danger that the current government pressures on the Probation Service will result in training and staff development becoming merely mechanistic processes for ensuring conformity to centrally formulated policy. This paper whilst acknowledging the essential link between policy and staff development, argues for a broad definition of staff development which roots it firmly in practice and encompasses a concern with creativity, people's well-being, values and skills as essential prerequisites of effectiveness.