I have worked inside the public sector for over 30 years and am aghast on the target-led regime which has now totally permeated the NHS, education and social services, at great cost to people. The league tables and endless inspections have swept away any respect for or acknowledgement of the human qualities people bring to their work. i’ve stood back bewildered while wonderful colleagues and friends who’ve committed themselves to helping people over a long time, whether pupils, patients or other service users, are being bullied. Managers mercilessly pursue their tick-box targets, often showing indifference to the particular quality of the work being achieved by the true people behind these targets.
Some colleagues have given up. “You simply ought to play the sport,” they are saying. But i think we won’t allow this to continue without an open debate. Those people with years of expertise should cleared the path, instead of cowering. A social work colleague before she left (defeated by soulless statistics) knitted a headband for each child she were working with. This act of care doesn’t be registered on any target sheet.
People of my age must be enjoying the satisfaction that includes knowing you’re doing all your job well after a few years of expertise. They’re instead distraught and furious that their achievements are being reduced as to if targets was met. Many younger people beginning their working lives have only ever known this target culture, so would possibly not see that the workplace may be very different. We have to speak out and interact to realign our work values in order that quality of labor is what’s cherished and nurtured, not number-crunching.
Catherine Hopewell
London
