Tuesday 9 June 2015

No Answers - Just Questions

It would seem that Napo have decided on a policy of asking questions, rather than answering any. The following has gone out to all members today:-

Dear Member,

We are writing to invite you to take part in an online survey about your experiences of TR and the probation split. The survey is being carried out by Professor Gill Kirton and Dr Cecile Guillaume of Queen Mary University of London as part of their research on the gender and union effects of TR.

To be clear, this research is about women and men, and seeks to encompass the full diversity of Napo membership across dimensions of race/ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, job grade, etc.

Gill and Cécile have conducted interviews with Napo officers in 18 branches and met members at branch events, and these conversations and observations have informed the content of the survey. Gill and Cécile will share the survey results with Napo, but the research is entirely independent and all responses will be anonymous.

This is a fantastic opportunity for all members to have your say about how you are affected by TR and the probation split. We anticipate that the survey will help Napo to achieve a fuller understanding of what is happening to members in probation workplaces so that we can move forward with an evidence-based strategy for organising our union.

The survey is online and should take around 10-15 minutes to complete. You can save your responses and return to the survey later if you don’t have time to complete it in one go.

We encourage you to take part – we want to hear from as many members as possible. Please note that the survey will close on 10th July 2015.


Strangely enough, only today Russell Webster has been highlighting the work recently published in the British Journal of Criminology that appears to cover similar ground:-
Criminal Justice Identities in Transition: The Case of Devolved Probation Services in England and Wales

Abstract

This article presents the findings of an ethnographic study of the formation of one CRC, with a specific focus on the construction and negotiation of identities. We identify a number of key themes, prominent among which is ‘liminality’: i.e. the experience of being betwixt and between the old and the new, the public and the outsourced. Other themes discussed in the article include separation and loss, status anxiety, loyalty and trust, liberation and innovation.

Now dare I venture to suggest that "Other themes discussed in the article include separation and loss, status anxiety, loyalty and trust, liberation and innovation." will be very familiar to regular readers of this blog. Indeed, it's been pointed out to me that a recent book entitled:- 
Privatising Probation: Is Transforming Rehabilitation the End of the Probation Ideal? also covers similar ground and what's more is another academic work that has kindly chosen to reference this blog. 

Synopsis

Over the past twenty years, England and Wales have witnessed many changes to probation governance aimed at shifting control to the central government. However, the changes introduced under the Coalition Government's 2013 Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) agenda are unprecedented: probation has been divided and partially privatized. This topical book looks at the attitudes of probation practitioners and managers toward the philosophy, values, and practicalities of TR. Based on a unique online survey of over 1,300 respondents that found practitioners were unequivocally opposed to TR's broad aims and objectives, "Privatising Probation" provides unique insights into the true beliefs of probation staff and how they deliver these services. Including broader discussion of the privatisation and marketisation debate and placing the privatization of criminal justice services and questions of legitimacy and governance in context, this book is essential reading for everyone interested in the future of probation.

Whilst academia can clearly see the worth of this blog in having provided several years worth of first-hand testimony during these unprecedented times for the probation profession, Napo steadfastly sticks to its policy of refusing engagement or even acknowledgement. 

Why, a dickie bird tells me that a forthcoming questionnaire being prepared at the behest of the Trade Union Organisation Committee (TUO) is going to skirt around difficult issues and will not be referencing the blog, or indeed even the moribund Napo forum! 

COMMUNICATION
If Napo set up online networks for different roles and grades to communicate and share experiences (eg a managers forum, an administrators forum, a forum for PQF trainees etc) would you take part?
Yes
No
Maybe

Do you vote in Napo elections for National Officers?
Always
Sometimes
Never

Would you vote if you could do so online?
Yes
No


Do you get enough info from your local branch?
Not enough
About the right amount
Too much

Do you get enough info from Napo HQ?
Not enough
About the right amount
Too much

Do you use Napo's website?
Yes
No

If yes, do you read Napo news online?
Yes
No

Do you read Gen Secs blog?
Yes
No

Do you read the Probation Journal? 
Yes
No

Would you use the website more if it was easier to access/navigate?
Yes
Wouldn't make a difference

CONFERENCES 
Have you ever attended any of the following?
AGM
Managers seminar
Women in Napo
PSO forum
Professional conference

Do you think these conferences should continue?
AGM
Manager conference
Women in Napo
PSO conference

Should AGM be:
Annual
Biannual

Should AGM:
Continue to be open to all members to attend
Become a delegate conference with branches electing reps to attend

I'm sometimes accused of being anti-Napo, but I would suggest they are sometimes their own worst enemy. I don't know who takes responsibility for the above draft, but to call it amateur would perhaps be being kind. At best the authors are ignorant of some basic law, or at worst just plain anti-democratic. An AGM that isn't annual? An AGM that isn't open to all members? If it wasn't so serious, it would be quite funny.  

77 comments:

  1. Unison have suspended strike action

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    1. UNISON’s Probation Committee has agreed to suspend the strike called for Thursday 11 June, and the action short of strike action due to have started on Friday 12 June, in order to allow further talks to take place to seek to resolve the 2014 pay dispute.

      This follows discussions with the employers at ACAS, the government’s Arbitration, Conciliation and Advisory Service, on 5 and 8 June.

      At these talks, the probation employers agreed to a request from UNISON to extend the period in which we can call further industrial action in order to allow pay negotiations to restart.

      As a result of the suspension of the industrial action, UNISON members in the NPS and CRCs should report for work normally on Thursday 11 June and also work normally from 12 June, because the action short of strike action (Don’t Work for Free) due to have started on 12 June has also been suspended.

      UNISON hopes that the restarted pay talks will lead to a positive outcome. UNISON’s Probation Committee will meet to review the outcome of these talks and will make a decision on how to go forward. If necessary, the industrial action could be re-scheduled in July.

      UNISON gives a commitment to all our probation members to continue working as hard as we can to settle the 2014 pay dispute.

      Thank you to all members for their support in the industrial action ballot and industrial action preparations so far. Your support has been instrumental in getting the pay talks restarted. Now let’s see where those talks take us.

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    2. Please see below joint statement issued following talks between Napo, UNISON, NOMS, NNC employers and ACAS, as a result the UNISON strike planned for 11th June has been suspended.

      'As a result of talks at ACAS on 5th and 8th June 2015, the two sides of the National Negotiating Council (NNC) for the Probation Service have committed to meet with a view to resolving the 2014 pay dispute.

      These talks will include discussion on the future structure of collective bargaining and pay reform.

      In view of this, the Employers Side of the NNC agree that the period within which UNISON may make a call for industrial action be extended by 28 days, and the UNISON industrial action, which was due to have started on 11 June, has been suspended.’

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    3. We live in interesting times - structure of collective bargaining and pay reform. I am sure the employers would prefer a regional/CRC structure.

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    4. And I was so looking forward to it!

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  2. I don't know why Napo needs an academic study to get 'a fuller understanding of what is happening to members in probation workplaces'. You'd think they would know already. But they apparently want this information so they can move forward with an evidence-based strategy for organising the union. This is verbiage. I always get the sense with Napo that they are always waiting to move ahead, but not just yet.
    Real-life chess players are timed.

    It's a positive that the pay negotiations are going to resume and maybe Napo was too quick to conclude that we were in pay permafrost and therefore there was nothing to be done. And although the strike action is suspended Unison can still use the existing mandate to call a later strike if the resumed pay talks get nowhere.

    As for their survey, Napo should really acknowledge that these days probation staff get their information from various online sources, so why not at least ask members what sources of information they use, especially if they truly want a fuller understanding. And it's not the end of the world for Napo if some respondents actually refer to On Probation Blog. We don't have to agree on everything to be on the same side and, of course, there is life on planets other than the probation forum.

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  3. Reads like napo are to be sorting to get rid of the crc links. They don't say who is behind this crock. The look like they want to Reduce committees shift to less and cheaper NEC for delegates in the reduced places. That means goodbye members involvement tata to wider activity and inclusion. See you later activists\ members Napo want your money just not you.

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  4. I am completely fed up with NAPO. They have failed me and many more members. The best they can come up with is a survey. Everyone in our office was laughing. NAPO has absolutely no shame. It's fucking unbelievable.
    I have been a member for the past 9 years.I have never needed to call upon their help regarding disputes, thankfully. However, what I do expect is NAPO to represent my interest as a UNION. So far their whole strategy around TR has failed. NAPO are rapped up in secrecy i.e. Jonathan Ledger and we have a fucking union that is getting into bed with the Probation Institute. Has NAPO got any self respect or what. disgraceful.
    Come Sept I have no intention of signing my direct debit mandate. I have paid them enough for what .... NOTHING.

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    Replies
    1. What's that saying about Rome burning? Think it applies here!

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  5. How do these people come up with crap. https://twitter.com/sbilliald/status/608356540547014656

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    1. Collaborate is an independent CIC focusing on the thinking, culture and practice of cross-sector collaboration in public services.

      We believe that an increasingly complex operating environment needs an outcomes-focused and more collaborative approach – and we work with government, business and civil society to make this happen in practice. Our partners and clients range from the Cabinet Office and Local Government Association to the Clore Social Leadership Programme and UNDP.

      We are a place for creative thinking, policy development, and a ‘shared space’ for insight, debate and problem-solving. Our mission is to make a real difference to social outcomes – through equipping leaders to deliver radically better services to the public.

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    2. Sarah Billiald has a long career in the public sector in a variety of guises: regulatory, policy and delivery. She is a collaborative leader with significant experience of strategy, finance and delivery of public services in national and local settings.

      Prior to joining Collaborate, Sarah was the Chief Executive of Kent Probation (2008 - 2014) a £20m organisation with 500 staff delivering Probation services across the county of Kent. During her time there she restructured the service in line with new delivery requirements and 25% budget reduction by involving staff and service users in the development of strategies and approaches to increase engagement, improve outcomes and deliver savings. Whilst Chair of the Kent Criminal Justice Board (2011 – 2014) she led innovative work to co commission domestic abuse services across the county and introduced an integrated approach to restorative justice, a multiagency board ensuring the delivery of justice and prevention of offending in Kent. During her time at Kent Probation, it won a variety of national and local awards for delivery of innovative services and staff/service user achievements including Butler Trust, Howard League and No Offence.

      Most recently (2013 - 2014), Sarah led the development of a multi stakeholder mutual (Co:here) to bid for Ministry of Justice probation contracts. Developing a joint venture with a private sector partner and a social investor; the three organisations created a groundbreaking solution to leverage funding to address reoffending. They went on to co produce an operating solution with staff, service users, community members and partners from across the sectors.

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    3. However much we might find the stench of bullshit overpowering, someone else evidently finds it an alluring scent as SB is no doubt generously lining her pockets in her new role. Wonder if she has a "personalised" registration too - BU11 SHT, perhaps?

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    4. Promoted to CPO non qualified from some government department. A grace and favour alternative when the trusts vacancies came about. Ruthless and a real nasty piece of work loves herself nothing else a game player.

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    5. I don't know her but there were a fair few like that about at the time of the Trusts and I hear a LOT of dodgy stuff was going on. Trouble is, people just get moved out or more often promoted out to get rid of the nastiness. Hate to think where some of them have ended up.

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  6. I agree with some comments made here, however I am anxious that all this NAPO bashing is doing us no favours. National NAPO are far from perfect. I'm a Vice-Chair on my local branch exec and we are all frustrated with NAPO nationally but slagging them off on a forum like this isn't helpful. We are the members, if we aren't happy with them lets do something about it and take back our union. We need to keep NAPO alive, I don't want to become part of PCS or god forbid Unison!! I want to be in a probation specific union. If we don't like how things are being run, lets get together and do something about it. As they say-talk is cheap! Our members in CRC and NPS are struggling, we need to be strong and unified. I can't carry on with this job the way it is, NAPO is the only way we can make improvements locally and nationally.

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    Replies
    1. Why do we need to keep the union that Ballsed up the opposition to TR?. Also, do you have any regard for admin colleagues (god forbid Unison!)?. 'Not helpful' is usually PC shorthand for 'you are telling the truth and it isn't what I want to hear'. Go back to the censored and manipulated Napo forums. This blog is not for the likes of you. God forbid!.

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    2. NAPO is not the only way and we don't need to keep NAPO alive. Don't flog a dead horse. Let's merge with Unison or PCS and be part of a proper union. Probation isn't big enough or important enough to stand alone. It's time to stand together as the wider public sector.

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    3. Oh yes Unison and Ben Priestley - only too happy to sell us down the river over TR and reputedly help 'manage our decline' and PCS, the union only too happy to part company with Napo's current General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary.

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  7. Just lately there are lots of references in the media to 'banker bashing' and I am sure this is not accidental but the outcome of a PR strategy to argue that the banks have suffered enough and to continue pummelling them is gratuitous bullying. I don't think they have suffered much for consequences of fraudulent lending (mis-selling), manipulating trading rates and over-paying themselves. And while you can go to prison for benefit fraud, banking fraud simply results in bigger pension pots.

    Seems whether it's a union, the PI, a bank, or ex-senior probation managers popping up in new places, they are all very sensitive about being bashed. I hope the bashing continues.

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  8. 7.07 what are you talking about? You make no sense.

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    Replies
    1. Read the rest of the comments, there are earlier comments about union bashing.

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    2. "there are earlier comments about union bashing"

      ..you mean critique of NAPO

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  9. Ironic that a CRC named "ARCC" would limit peoples access to ...water. NPS staff from the old Durham Tees Valley area have been told today by their assistant director to keep their hands off the CRC water coolers.

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    1. That is a good point when you link it to the union bashing staff bashing client bashing and banker bash we all seem to be reading. What worries me is what will happen to the staff at NAPO if the membership leave in droves by Septembers end and reduction in monies in will see the staff at huge personal risk . It is a reason to stay in napo support those staff. What rankles is by definition we have to fund the failings of the napo leadership further.

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    2. Nothing free in private companies

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    3. No. But the talk is cheap.

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    4. My bro in law worked for G4s in cash in transit. They were all sweltering in their RoboCop gear in the heat of summer, when they got a memo telling them not to use the vans aircon, to save money. The CEOs don't get their 7 figure bonuses by worrying about the dispensable minions.

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    5. The NPS v CRC divide widens more everyday but it is not the foot soldiers doing this or wanting it. Its Failing Grayling and the JFDI regime

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  10. Today Sodexo and the Probation Trade Unions had a full and frank discussion covering a number of key issues including the consultation process around proposed job cuts. Sodexo will consult with their Executive and CRC Chief Executives and it is hoped that a further joint statement can be issued tomorrow.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, meanwhile the foot soldiers Wii dredge on

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    2. oh look - a squirrel!! "A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join Sodexo within our Prestige Sport, Leisure and Travel business and to be involved in building a team for a key sporting event. Sodexo provide a range of hospitality to venues and events from the Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Ascot, Open Golf and Henley Royal Regatta."

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  11. PSO conference cancelled due to lack of interest. Whilst I have no doubt the fault will be placed on Ian Lawrence, I think that most people are done with investing in their careers until they are absolutely sure that they have one.

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    1. Dear Colleagues,

      I am writing to inform you that following a Napo Officers and Officials meeting today, due to the low number of registrations, we have taken the decision to cancel the PSO Conference which was due to be held on 3rd July 2015 in Birmingham. However, we are hoping to re-schedule in the new year and further information on this will go out to Branches once this has been arranged.

      All those who registered for the event will be notified individually and any registration fees already paid will be reimbursed.

      We had planned to use some of the time at the conference to discuss and agree a possible Motion at this year’s AGM in October. Next week we will decide whether to use 3rd July (at the same venue), to hold a PSO Forum meeting to do this. We will let you know next week if this will happen.

      On behalf of the PSO Conference Planning Group, I would like to apologies for any inconvenience the cancellation of the conference has caused.

      Kind Regards,

      Cynthia Griffith for

      Iqbal Bhogal (Chair of PSO Forum) and Ranjit Singh (Napo National Official)

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    2. Is it any wonder that PSOs feel so marginalised, would any P.O conference ever be cancelled without any consultation? NAPO take our money and give no respect. It is not surprising that PSOs haven't rushed forward to attend, we have had to pay £30, then the discussion matters were not relevant as should have been retraining and future employment options, pension issues and PQ training implications at least. Who has decided the irrelevant agenda - clearly someone who hasn't grasped the impact of T.R on PSOs, that'll be Mr Lawrence and his team then, another failure to add to the growing list then ...

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    3. Is there a Conference specifically for PO's pray tell?

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  12. As I understand it, branches should be approached for the £30 registration .Doesn't PSO Forum decide on content of the conference?

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  13. Stupid time of year to hold it when itcis the start of silly season and holidays. We are so short staffed now in so many areas and across so many fuctions, it is impossible to take the time out

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  14. The problem with a conference for pso is dominated by a PO agenda and what they think. This leaves the so called forum in a mess with weak central aims. Repressed by professional issues yet doing the same job nowadays and without any campaign for equal pay for equal work. Napo is lost in grade status and fails on levels to be an equality based trade union. It is a clique as mentioned before with nods and winks and those on the in. It will change as Napo falters and if the current group take what is left to ruin or clear-out as soon as possible and lets see a new direction and people representing fairly and equally all the members.

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    1. Here here, well said, in a nutshell. Reform is urgently needed or it'll be too late for NAPO

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    2. Once CRCs are running new model, the title of Responsible Officer will see both PO and PSO grades changing - job evaluation will happen and we'll all be financially worse off - it would seem the role of RO will be to co-ordinate sentencing delivery and record outcomes.

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  15. FROM FACEBOOK: -

    "Keep Probation Public, not Private
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    We have made aware that in one CRC information was given to staff that under the new model caseloads for Probation Officers will be between 40 and 50 and Probation Service Officers between 60 and 70. The problem, the same staff are currently beyond that before redundancies! Can people indicate caseloads in their CRC. If you wish to post privately use the message facility. We need to ' get onto this now'.

    https://www.facebook.com/SaveProbation/posts/866223140092515 "

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  16. We've already had 2 conferences and im glad pso conference has been cancelled because my couldn't afford to send me. I'm sure it will run next year. And yes I'm sure a PO conference would have been in the same boat. The problem with a conference for pso is dominated by a PO agenda - no it isn't. This comment 23.07 appears to be a pso manager. I attended some forum meetings they're not weak it's a shame pso's don't take interest to attend. The forum has helped me

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    1. Thanks for this (very early am!!) Reply02.34. I was puzzled how a PSO Conference with PSO Forum and PSO Chair had a PO dominated agenda.

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    2. I posted that comment I am a PSO in a court team. I am able to speak up for myself but as I am NPS now it is difficult. I worked for 4 years with a new PO transferred into the court role and while I largely trained him and shared the role breaches and oral reports he was paid considerably more than me for the same job. I took this up in confidence with the local Napo reps who were ok. They took credit for getting all the courts teams pay levels across the trust consistent which was ok. They said the pay issue was a national matter that had been dealt with in the AGM and they would not do anything. I left Napo soon after.

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    3. This is all very complicated and, simultaneously, quite simple. The distinctions between PO and PSO rolled used to be clear and in some areas of practice still are. But the constant blurring of role boundaries has created anomalies that can only be addressed using some form of job evaluation scheme. There was an established infrastructure in place to deal with this but it was another early victim of TR. Now role definitions are being compromised daily. PSOs doing the same work as POs is not the issue as a PO is contracted against their qualifications and, if the employer uses them to do work that a PSO can do, then that's the employer's problem. If a PSO is doing PO work, however, that is grounds for a grading dispute. The fact that the PSO is working alongside someone who is being paid more, whilst annoying and offensive, is peripheral to the issue of whether an employee is getting the rate for the job

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  17. By my calculation, Grayling's "Enlightened" reforms mean that those who persist in reoffending & sentenced to any amount of custody will remain "on the PSS" indefinitely because PSS can't be revoked, it just starts a new 12 month cycle keeping people under perpetual supervision, ad nauseaum, ensuring that caseloads can never reduce. And the TTG provision isn't anywhere near sufficient or suitably resourced, i.e. no housing, no mental health, no employment, nothing has changed other than its now impossible to find anyone to talk about anything without being told I have to "refer to the ratecard" In order to "purchase additional interventions". I've never seen a ratecard; I have no idea what they're talking about. The previously ailing system is now TOTALLY fucked.

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  18. The Post Supervision Sentence - is a breach of human rights. This desperately needs to be challenged. Why isn't anyone challenging this. Why is NAPO not coordinating a strategy with the BAR and solicitors. The number of PSS which are coming through is unbelievable and the number of community orders seems to have gone down. Magistrates seem to be loving this sentence. why? because there's a sharp short shock the sentence which in their view it's effective. disaster....

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    1. It's a sad fact that the only way to stop the PSS cycle will be to impose a sentence on those subjected to PSS of 2 years or more.

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    2. I have been told by an NPS Court Officer that we have Solicitors just waiting for a breach of PSS and then they intent to pounce with legal challenge

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    3. We've been doing PSS breaches for weeks now! It feels like nearly every PSS release has breached...

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    4. Admittedly my understanding of ORA is as good as vast amounts of email training but I thought PSS is unenforceable. What did I miss?

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  19. What's the topic of discussion for today as there been nowt for some time now. Jim, are you willing to Co-host this blog so more topics are posted otherwise the blog goes totally off topic. This feed stated with NAPO, went onto ST and is now on PSS. Come on Jim, get your mojo back :)

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    Replies
    1. surely Jim's blog is an open forum for anyone to get stuff related to Probation, off their chest, politely, and to support and discuss? Jim created it, and has a time consuming role managing it. I am now retired but still follow the blog daily and I find it hurtful when I read comments like 11.13, and others which are creeping in. The smiley tag at the end of 11 13 does not entirely compensate for the critical tone of your comment. Please - give the man a break. - you cannot assume what people's circumstances are - it takes me ages just reading it!

      And if the daily blog is no longer daily, is that not also partly to do with readers sending in less blogs for publishing? Jim has asked repeatedly for more guest blogs.

      Delete
    2. I recall a few weeks ago someone posting that they were due to launch a new blog soon with a big fanfare - since when things seem to have gone very quiet (probably when they realised how much work Jim actually puts into it!)...

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    3. I don't understand why some get frustrated when there isn't a brand new daily post. This fixation on spoon-feeding means that they can avoid actually adding something of their own to the debate cycle. One appeal of this blog is that it is moderated with a light touch and so anyone can say pretty much anything. Readers can take it or leave. It's a blog with life and if you look around at other probation-related blogs their comment sections tend to be running mostly on empty, whereas this blog is rich in comments and views. It's a lively blog and this is a rare thing.

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    4. Thanks Netnipper - much appreciated!

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  20. 11.35 I'm 11.13. I agree with your comments! Thanks for making me all the wiser :)

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  21. The Probation trade unions have met twice with senior Sodexo management within the last week to discuss the company’s plans to implement a staff reduction programme and the associated offer for an enhanced early retirement scheme (EVR).

    The statement which was presented to Sodexo last night by the trade unions, makes it clear that the unions believe that the proposals are unacceptable and that we expect the company to honour the terms of the National Staff Transfer Agreement .

    As indicated, Napo will be urgently consulting with our Napo representatives from the Sodexo owned CRCs and will be referring the issue to the National Negotiating Council NNC. It has been agreed at this stage that detailed information (on which we are awaiting a final version later today) will be shared initially on an 'in confidence basis' with the local CRC representatives from each of the unions.

    I fully appreciate the current uncertainty that our members within the Sodexo owned CRCs are trying to cope with and the wish to see more information. As you might expect, there are a number of hugely complex issues that have arisen from the discussions with Sodexo, and Napo has been working extremely hard to defend your interests. We are also insisting that the contractor should abide by the national agreements that were underwritten by the Secretary of State prior to TR Share sale.

    At this stage I am asking that enquiries about the contents of this circular be limited to Sodexo CRC members please via your Napo representative to: Ranjit Singh (rsingh@napo.org.uk).

    I will be issuing more news for all Napo members once we have consulted with our Sodexo CRC reps and at the same time as the proposals are released more widely to staff across the CRC's involved.

    Yours sincerely

    Ian Lawrence,

    General Secretary

    JTU 12-15
    10th June 2015


    Position Statement

    At today’s meeting between Sodexo, Napo, Unison and GMB the trade unions discussed the proposal from Sodexo to vary the terms for Enhanced Voluntary Redundancy (EVR) which is part of the company's plans to implement a staff reduction programme.

    The trade unions have made it clear that this offer is unacceptable and that we expect the CRCs under Sodexo's ownership to fully abide by the terms of the National Staff Transfer Agreement. The unions will now be urgently consulting with their representatives employed within the Sodexo owned Community Rehabilitation Companies.

    Additionally, and given the complexities of the issues under discussion the trade unions will be referring the situation to the National Negotiating Council and NNC SCCOG for urgent attention.

    Until such time as these issues are resolved the trade unions believe that the current pause on the staff reduction plans should continue.

    Ian Lawrence Ben Priestley David Walton

    General Secretary National Officer National Secretary
    Napo UNISON GMB/SCOOP

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  22. Any comment from Sodexo??? yet again our lives in everyone elses' hands but our own. Frustrated r us!

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  23. Most controversial thing in my crc? Unpaid work minibuses.

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    1. Which CRC are you?

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    2. What's the problem with your mini buses my friend?

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    3. We are all still arguing about how many seats and what sort of licences we need. It's madness.

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    4. That is easy, unless CRC put you through the test for the new driver card then you will be restricted to carrying only 8 passengers. If they fork out the money then you will carry 8 plus.

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    5. Except that in at least one CRC the seating arrangement in the minibus means that carrying 8 passengers results in the driver unable to change gear without inadvertantly brushing the leg of the immediate passenger. For the avoidance of indecent assault claims, only 7 passengers are being carried.

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    6. Yes see were you are coming from there. There really should not be anyone in the front with the driver. But they will not listen they know best. Does not matter how much we scream and shout they will not change a thing, our lives are in danger on a daily basis and the CRC are the ones that insist we carry out dangerous situations. I bet CEO will not sit next to offenders.

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  24. I'm trying to stay positive but what can NAPO, or anyone else, realistically do to mitigate against what Sodexo want to do? Can something be done. Honest responses please

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    1. 2017 I will try . Being positive it is argued that NAPO would rather engage in talks around attempted variations of the EVR than not.
      There will be mixed views on this however, what is obvious is the sodexo group will have one £££ motive. Cost reductions the saving of salaries and EVR.
      My problem, in a positive line, I hoped that having been burned at the alter of naivety over TR the general Secretary would be avoiding any talks that put adjustments on our limited and awful prospect of dismissal out of the question.
      Putting it another way If Bob Crow were alive today and if any negotiation offered him the same agenda it would be ignored and laughed at. Bob would most likely just politely indicate the rail networks busiest commuter summer day with a view to calling members for nice gentle day of picket. The other side will get a real lesson in tactics. What is more likely is that, no way would the employers have braved such a tactic with him. I wish I could say the same of our General Secretary but he not comparable to lost talents of BC. At best Sodexo might well think he is a lightweight and worst is demonstrating it by attending such meetings. I would expect him to claim we would want him to do just that but having never asked any of us except possibley the chaotic chairs he gets authority. It does not help that he seems unable to play any other able front line staff . A listening attendance with some indication that this will trigger full legal and industrial action. The only gestures he ought to be making is our members across both NPS and CRC will be united by these attacks as it affects all of them. Recognising all the other employers will follow the sodexo action. If the cuts are made can NAPO afford to fight and most likely be told from costly Lawyers we will lose. I would appreciate the GS more if he gets the courage to climb out of London and face every branch and see the mess. Learn and try to measure the resolve to get us all back in napo and show solidarity. Strike to protect the terms because once they are gone so are we. Finally so are napo because that is a lot of fee paying membership they are selling out again. I hope this felt positive I am sorry if it reads a little harsh. I expect there will be the need to establish a joint trade dispute but there is a way. The question is can the union simply, just, not be able to fund the battle? Keep in mind this is a year old organisation and if we are strong and supportive we might just collectively deliver infanticide to the privateers.

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    2. Interesting, informative post 00.30 - beautifully put. But is anybody listening ... Mr Lawrence?

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    3. Something worth bearing in mind is neither GS nor National Officials/Officers can't just attend Branch meetings 'cos they want to: they have to be asked. If members want to put Q's to any of them, trying to get 'em to a Branch meet is as good a way as anyother

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    4. Sorry, none of them "can" attend w/out invite

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  25. While we all are watching Sodexo the others are quietly building steam.

    London CRC/MTCNovo are announcing reductions in admin staff with those left to reapply for their jobs. Introduction of a customer service centre based outside of London. Overall caseload to be split into cohorts based on age, need, community, resettlement. OM's allocated to a specific cohort.

    What's happening in other areas?

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    1. No mention of risk in relation to these cohorts then?

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    2. Cohorts are not categoried by risk. OM's to be required to meet services users away from office base, more home visits, updating of case records using mobiles and tablets.

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  26. Apparently The government plans to place 350 psychologists in job centres by the end of the summer to help benefit claimants beat depression and get back into the jobs market.
    Claimants will also be offered online cognitive behavioural therapy to boost their "employability".

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    1. Offered or forced CBT? (get your benefits stopped if you don't agree to it). No doubt because claimants (like offenders) are dehumanised they will lose the right to medical confidentiality too, -as they do in probation. The enforced use of psychologists with no clear medical boundaries is unethical and in some instances amounts to glorified bullying.

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