INNER LONDON PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE - BULLDOG MANPOWER SERVICES LTD (SUPPORTED WORK PROJECT) - REPORT ON THE SECOND YEAR

• NCJ Number: 48336
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 26 pages
• Corporate Author: Inner London Probation and Aftercare Service
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

HIGHLIGHTS AND PROBLEMS OF THE SECOND YEAR ARE REPORTED, ALONG WITH A COST-EFFECTIVENESS STUDY AND A RESEARCHER'S OBSERVATIONS.

Abstract

BULLDOG MANPOWER SERVICES IS A NONPROFIT COMPANY FOUNDED BY THE INNER LONDON PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE TO PROVIDE WORK FOR YOUNG PROBATIONERS WHO ARE CONSIDERED UNEMPLOYABLE. THE COMPANY, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SUPERVISING PROBATION OFFICER, AIMS TO CONDITION BASIC WORK HABITS AND ATTITUDES IN THE EMPLOYEES WITH THE GOAL OF ENABLING THEM TO MOVE INTO THE OPEN LABOR MARKET AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS. WORK PROJECTS COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR ARE DESCRIBED, WITH PARTICULAR SUCCESSES AND PROBLEMS BEING NOTED ON EACH. IT IS INDICATED THAT THE FINDING OF SUITABLE WORK, WHICH INTERESTS AND MOTIVATES THE EMPLOYEES, IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM. PLEASING THE EMPLOYING ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL ON A GIVEN PROJECT WHILE GIVING ATTENTION TO DEVELOPING THE WORK HABITS OF PROBATIONER EMPLOYEES IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR TENSION ON MOST JOBS. WHILE WAGES PAID TO BULLDOG EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT ALTERED DURING THE FIRST 2 YEARS, AN 8 PERCENT TO 10 PERCENT INCREASE IS PROPOSED FOR THE THIRD YEAR. THIS INCREASE, ADDED TO INCREASED COSTS OF EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, AND TRAVEL, REQUIRES FINDING WORK WITH AN ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RETURN. WORK REQUIRING LITTLE OR NO NEW EQUIPMENT WITH A CONCENTRATION ON LABOR INVESTMENT WILL HAVE PRIORITY. THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE ECONOMIC PLANNING UNIT OF THE HOME OFFICE CONCLUDES THAT BULLDOG IS A COST-EFFECTIVE METHOD OF HELPING YOUNG, UNEMPLOYABLE PROBATIONERS. THE HOME OFFICE RESEARCHER WHO OBSERVED THE BULLDOG PROJECT MONITORED THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT, PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE RESEARCH REPORT FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, AND ALSO FOCUSED ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH BULLDOG IS CONSTRUED AS A REAL WORK SITUATION. THE RESEARCHER'S REPORT IS ACKNOWLEDGED NOT TO BE A SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE PROJECT, BUT RATHER INSIGHTS FROM A TRAINED OBSERVER WHO HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE PROJECT FROM ITS INCEPTION. THE RESEARCH CONCLUDES THAT BULLDOG IS APPARENTLY SUCCESSFUL IN OVERCOMING, THE PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING A BALANCE BETWEEN A SUPPORTIVE WORK SITUATION AND ONE THAT IS REALISTIC ENOUGH TO PREPARE EMPLOYEES FOR ENTRY TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD OF EMPLOYMENT. DATA ON OPERATING COSTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED.