MoJ Answers 5

Another helping of non-answers from the MoJ.

30. POs in prison
When will the number of PO's in prison establishments be published?

Further planning is under way to finalise the implementation plan for the new model for probation staff in custody. Our aim is to publish the numbers required in each establishment once that work has been completed.

31. Probation Institute
Why are there currently only 35 members of the probation institute?

I support the creation of an independent probation institute and expect it to attract a high level of membership.  This is an important opportunity to create a centre of excellence for probation, and to support professional development. 

32. EVR

How much money has been allocated for VR?

There is a lot of anger that enhanced redundancy schemes are being targeted at certain areas of staff when enhanced redundancy schemes have never been mentioned before TR in Probation and we are also led to believe that there is the possibility that CRC people will lose their continuity of service when as it seemingly always happens when public sector work goes to private companies, costs are reduced by job cuts.  What can you say to ameliorate this?

As part of the National Agreement on Staff Transfer, agreed with the Trade Unions in January 2014, the Ministry of Justice has agreed to fund an enhanced Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for the period to 31 March 2015. The Scheme has been targeted at corporate services and senior grades as this is where we anticipate a potential oversupply in the number of staff.

The VR scheme is a very good deal for staff and whilst there may be those in untargeted roles who are looking to leave, there continues to be a business need for these roles and the scheme can only be used for where there is a potential oversupply of roles – specifically corporate services and senior grades.  

The National Agreement also includes a series of protections for continuity of service that go beyond what is legally required. Continuity of service for staff in CRCs will not be affected when ownership transfers.

33. Staff skills

I am 10 years post qualification & have substantial experience of working in a female prison with lifers & ISPP and women who sexually offend - I am allocated to a CRC.  In what way will my skills & knowledge be utilised as I no longer work with high risk women?

Employment as a Probation Officer does not limit you to working with a specific group of offenders. Both the NPS and the CRC have complex caseloads to manage that require the experience and professional skills that Probation Officers have developed over time.

34. ICT changes

Why was more planning not put in place regarding the failing IT systems?

It has taken me nearly 50 minutes to access this web chat - the IT systems we use are in my view not fit for purpose e.g.  to save work in EOasys you have to scroll BACK to the top of each of the screen to save data you have completed at the bottom, NDelius insists on my office location – every time I put in an entry.  A real opportunity to improve these systems, so we spend more of our time face to face with offenders, has been missed.

In the Activities Team (CRC) we work with High Risk (NPS) service users - the IT system currently prevents us from reading the records/previous history/risk assessments on people we have never met before. Nor can we record our own contacts/assessments. This is putting both ourselves and the public at risk of harm. How do you explain this?

I do of course appreciate that in any complex reform programme there are challenges as new systems and ways of working bed down. The changes we have made are designed to support the new operational processes and data sharing across the new system. Testing of key systems, including ICT, is well advanced and will continue at every stage, and where issues arise we will deal with them as quickly as possible.

35. Contract signature 

When is the formal date of the TR/CRC split when the private company will take over the CRC?

The contract winners for each Community Rehabilitation Company are expected to be announced by the end of 2014.  We are on track to award and mobilise contracts by 2015. 

36. High Risk allocation

Were the government aware that the high risk Tier 4 cases I held last week are now managed by PSO and Trainee Probation officers in the CRC?

Protecting the public remains our top priority. The NPS manages all cases where there is high risk of harm – not all Tier 4 cases fall into that category. If there is a concern that a case has not been allocated correctly to the CRC, the NPS should liaise with the CRC to address the issue.  I know that all Probation Officers have regular one-to-one supervision with a senior probation officer, where they can raise issues such as obtaining support and guidance regarding any particular case that raises concern.

All CRCs (or Trusts prior to 1 June) had the freedom to postpone transfer of any cases where they considered there may be a risk to the public until they were satisfied it is absolutely safe to do so. 

37. Benchmarking

You mention New Ways of Working (NWOW); this seems dead in the water due to lack of staff.

Benchmarking, which is fundamental to New Ways of Working, remains at the heart of our plans to develop public sector prisons and we are addressing current staffing issues by recruiting 1,700 permanent staff and creating a flexible ‘reserve’ of former staff who have agreed to return on short term contracts to provide additional support where it is needed.

38. Ministerial visits

Do you have any intention of visiting any of the offices to see the damage that you have caused?

Is there a reason Mr Grayling has not visited his local Probation Office in Surrey?

Mr Grayling needs to make unplanned visits to the small Probation offices to see the real impact of TR. Not pre-planned brief visits to head offices. He needs to see his mess on the real shop floor!

My Ministerial colleagues and I, along with senior officials from the MoJ, have been keen to talk to staff all over the country about Transforming Rehabilitation and visited Trusts regularly. These visits have made it very clear to us that we have a highly skilled and experienced probation workforce, carrying out demanding roles for the justice system every day.  

39. Costs/savings

How much savings will TR bring to the public purse?

Could you please explain how much the TR process has cost so far, taking into account redundancy payments, support to bidders, creating dual organisations etc and illustrate how this is value for money for the taxpayer?

Is the TR process actually saving money as it appears to be costing a lot to implement this or is this more of a projected cost-saving exercise over a number of years?

Our proposals will be affordable within the context of the MoJ commitment to deliver annual savings of over £2 billion by the end of 2014/15. We plan to make considerable efficiency savings through the use of competition, the introduction of private and voluntary sector providers, and by consolidating back-office functions within the public sector. These efficiency savings enable us extend provision to this most prolific group. These are very important reforms, and I am clear that the programme will deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

40. Through the Gate

What are the current plans for developing 'through the gate' work as it all appears to have gone quiet, nothing more has been heard recently. Is it going the same way as custody plus?

Through the Gate remains an integral part of Transforming Rehabilitation, which CRCs will take responsibility for post contract signature. Bidders have visited resettlement prisons and consulted with Governors and other stakeholders to develop their Through the Gate offer and we look forward to seeing their proposed solutions.

Postscript - I've been asked to share the donation page for the usual AGM charity swim for the benefit of the Edridge Fund. It can be found here.