ABSTRACT
This chapter has been written for the doers rather than for the commentators. Given that we represent an organisation prominent for its commentating on probation and youth offending practice generally, and commentating on matters of public protection specifically, this might seem a strange claim. Nevertheless our focus is on the people who have to carry out in practice what public money pays them to do, and we consider it vital that they know what they are being asked to do on behalf of the public, and that all should understand what is achievable. Accordingly our theme is not to criticise practitioners and managers for failing to do the impossible; instead it is about encouraging a belief in achieving the possible, and illustrating what that looks like in practice.
