I start my new job on Monday with two days of corporate induction. Then it's straight in. At least half-term's coming up soon. I'm guessing this will be two full-on weeks.
I'm having to do some pre-employment online training as preparation. There's huge amounts of the online stuff. Over 30 courses, all of which have to be done in our own time. I'm just having to do two for now.
One is on the PREVENT strategy (part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act) which is about identifying the risk of exposure to extremism and radicalisation among vulnerable groups: the signs to look for in mood, behaviour, language, etc. To be honest, I find some of what I'm 'learning' to be quite worrying.
Here's an example, from my course, to illustrate why:
In the 'Feedback' form at the end of the course, I mentioned my concerns about the wording on this page and elsewhere (see red underlining).
How many of those feelings do you have? I'd like an adventure. I have mental health issues. I feel alienated. I'd like to be part of some cause that could change the world. I'd like a sense of identity.
Don't people in our situation have enough of this stuff to put up with? Stigmatisation. Stereotyping. Suspicion. Misunderstanding.
Is that a knock at the door?
