Sunday 19 July 2015

Redundancy Roundup

Many thanks to the readers who have sent me details of the Sodexo redundancy plans for their areas. With Napo clearly on holiday, I guess as usual we're left trying to piece things together ourselves. As an example, here's the breakdown for Northumbria CRC with a reduction from 267 to 160 FTE:- 

Northumbria CRC ‐ Staffing Numbers FTE

Operations

Accredited Facilitators 17.1
Accredited Treatment Managers 3.1

Authorised Officers ‐ VQ3 40.9
Authorised Officers ‐ VQ5 28.5
SAO/Case Administrators 19.9
Community Payback ‐ VQ3 17.5
Middle Managers 9.1
LDU Managers 2.0
Hub Manager 1.0
Head Of Business Dev 1.0
Receptionists 6.0
Other Admin 2.0

148.1

Management & Support

CEO 1.0
Director Of Operations 1.0
Director of Corporate Services 1.0
Finance Manager 1.0
Performance Manager 1.0
HR Support 1.0 

ICT & Performance Support 1.0
Health & Safety (FM) Mgr. 1.0
Other Admin 2.0
Receptionist 1.0

11.0

Regional TR IT 0.7
Regional HR BP 0.3
Regional L&D 0.3

1.3

TOTAL FTE 160.4


According to the local Napo press release, the figures for Norfolk and Suffolk CRC are a reduction from 215 to 133. Can people give us at least the headline count for the other four areas please?  

I thought these contributions regarding Cumbria and Lancashire CRC were interesting and I guess repeated in the other five areas?

Cumbria and Lancashire CRC - There are still a handful of corporate employees who applied for EVR last August 2014 was awarded it and are still working for CLCRC, three of them have had their contracts extended, and two of them don't go until December 2015, on 4.5 weeks and full pension for those over 55. The former CEO of CLCRC selected who he wanted to give EVR to. The majority of employees will be facing redundancy on a reduced package and probably exit before those who got 4.5 weeks. How can voluntary redundancy be offered and given to a select few members of staff when clearly their roles are still required even after Sodexo won the bid?

*****
All CRC CEOs were responsible for deciding which staff received EVR in the first wave. The problem was that, when these decisions were made, they had absolutely no idea what the operating model was going to be so did not know which staff they would need to keep and which were no longer needed. Some CEOs played safe, others went for it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the fault lies squarely with Grayling and his civil servants.

*****
EVR given to CLCRC staff on 4.5 weeks plus full pension for those over 55, their grades were band 4 and above. In the HR Department across Cumbria and Lancashire 5 members where given EVR that included 3 HR Officers who where on band 4, 1 HR manager on band 5 and the Head of HR/Training who is still working at CLCRC and has just had their contract extended. Two of the HR officers where replaced with 'Business Partners' but still doing the same role. Two Office Managers got EVR, they don't go till December 2015. The two lawyers for Cumbria and Lancashire where given EVR, one has gone the other goes in August 2015. Two PA's on band 3 got EVR. one has just gone, the other one has had their contract extended, and will probably still be working till January 2016. So in reality the EVR should not have been offered until after the share sale.

*****
In CLCRC they are getting rid of admin and POs, but have decided they need nearly 5 more middle managers than they did previously. This despite the numbers these Managers having to lead reducing or not changing. Whats that about? Looking after Managers as they are going to need them to bully the workers, or have they got a plan to shaft the middle managers at a later date?

*****
I think you're latter sentence right. At the moment they are using managers to make the operating model fit as it's miles away. They also know many middle managers opted to CRC for EVR but are now desperate to go so will settle for the reduced amount. I don't agree with them bullying, most are very concerned about staff but you always get a few bad apples.

*****
I agree, but I do think they are going to want Managers to be vigorous and to get ahead and survive they will need to be ruthless. I hear that not enough Managers want to stay so that means some who want to go may get turned down. They won't want to engage with it. However the deal is crap so some might sit it out.


I'll round this off with the following contributions that particularly struck me:-

I honestly cannot think of a CRC positive story. Having trained with POs who are now spread across 4 different CRCs and NPS, we meet up once a month. It is our friendship and solidarity that keeps us going. It is clear that not one of our group has a positive to note about CRCs with one exception, all agree at least they are getting paid. Far from the brave new world of privatisation with innovation, we just compare disasters. From the Very High Risk Offender (yes Very High) who arrived for duty from another area but being CRC we were unable to access his records, to the endless problems getting NPS to process not reject breaches, it just beggars belief.

You cannot get over the truth that the whole probation system has been ripped apart but not built up again. Probation for profit is the main aim of CRCs.....and it shows. It is sad that none of the CRCs are delivering innovation but are relying on bewildered staff to keep it limping along....that's the truth.

******
Well, I am a receptionist and it's business as usual, we have a laugh with our OM's our clients and watch with interest the ever unfolding story. We have people leaving in droves, fed up, but in reception it's like a little haven where we refuse to offer anything other than exceptional customer service. We laugh we take everything in our stride, accept all the extra work with a smile. Our clients are dreading the day when we leave (if we get one of the jobs on offer), as they are used to seeing our smiling faces and the fact we know their names and they like that. For us we dread the day when we need to leave as for us just to work for one company doesn't feel right. So until then, we will keep things are normal as we can and hope that the future holds as much fun as it has in the past.

******
As some of us have had 15 months in the CRC world and knew the likes of Sodexo et al are going to be sticking the knives in, a bit of blue sky thinking is now needed. Bills, rents, food and tv licence all need paying and it's time to think of yourselves. I have booked my first lesson in driving the buses. Not a job of choice but an interesting back up plan if all else fails. At least on a good day the most you would have to say is 'single or return'? On a bad day, 'can you keep moving down to the back of the bus please' or ' get your child out of the disabled seat, who do you think you are, can't you read!'' and on a really really bad day, 'oh yes, I remember you Norman, been behaving now you're out of that hostel? Hold tight everyone.......

47 comments:

  1. Interesting that Nicks (Northumbria) email includes an additional sentence in the standard letter sent to staff "Some CRCs, including Northumbria, will also include proposals to vary our existing policy.Some CRCs, including Northumbria, will also include proposals to vary our existing policy". Which policy would that be then? The one which clearly states that EVR would be given?

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    1. Nick made his name as an HR guy. And now he's running roughshod over properly negotiated policies.

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  2. Proposals! Not law. The NAPO rep in that area should be all over it.

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    1. Lets not forget Unison and perhaps also SCOOP/GMB both who seem to be publicly very 'quiet' by way of press releases and comments given to media in response to public events - like the Secretary of State's evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee or speech at the Prisoner Learning Alliance event it the last few days.

      It seems that at best Probation was an afterthought and he missed opportunities to state that the MOJ will hold CRC owner's to the contracts and not allow them to diminish agreed Redundancy Conditions by supplanting them with dubious Severance Schemes nor would he allow any to evade their NNC responsibility by making offers direct to their own employees.

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    2. NAPO "all over it!" That made me laugh.

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  3. C&LCRC have been told Sodexo intends to vary the redundancy agreement which currently is the same as evr to statutory redundancy

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    1. Where have you got this from? In fact over 55s would be better of with stat redundancy for they would get pension release AND minimum payout, about £13k, I think. The severance deal offers only pension release.

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  4. Napo have been on holiday for years

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    1. If Napo have been on holiday for years...so have the majority of its members. If Napo is weak that reflects its weak-willed members, the majority of whom never bothered to express their will through ballots. A union like the RMT regularly gets turnouts of 60-70%, Napo barely manages 40% and in electing its GS did not even manage 20%.

      It may have been a different TR storyline if there had been some resounding support for the union through the ballot box. No surprise that Napo was perceived to have a weak mandate by the MoJ and the CRCs who are out to smash collective bargaining and spurn collective agreements.

      Interesting to see the breakdown of the Sodexo workforce cuts; the re-badging of roles – Authorised Officers completes the divorce from any professional identity. The big cuts to programme facilitators, who just a few years ago, were in the vanguard of reducing offending, are becoming 'also rans'. Probation during the New Labour years was a massive job creation programme in itself as numbers swelled, role boundaries blurred and managerialism marginalised professionalism and new money flowed into union coffers.

      Post split I do not know how exactly how many members Napo has in each sector but dealing with the CRCs across the country is going to stretch resources. I do not see a future for the unions in the CRCs as real players. I don't think it will be long before we start to hear of staff councils and other ploys designed to end any semblance of national collective bargaining. Before the ink has dried, Sodexo have shown their indifference to the flagship collective agreement, such is their determination to manage without hindrance from the unions – who they know are weak and thus, in the absence of collective protections, they will knock individual workers into whatever shape takes their fancy.

      Will Napo have the resources to maintain a presence in the CRCs or would it be strategically wiser for a smaller Napo to focus on its NPD members?




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    2. Too bloody right netnipper. Members happy to moan on but won't turn out when it matters. Too many armchair critics here for my liking. Don't probation people spend their lives stopping people putting blame in the wrong place ?? Well they all do it here, this isn't napos fault

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    3. Much of it is napos fault and that of the members not being made properly and aggressively aware of what was coming. The staff in our organisation are too focused on conciliation and miss out on the confrontation that was need to protect themselves longer term. Now it feels like many think Probation officers are getting what they thoroughly deserve a levelling process. A proper job that involves work and no more of this snooty type of intellectual property nonsense coupled to being a reflective thinker who needs some analysis time to account in the report one of the many facets that the offending behaviour presents before making a qualified self opinionated recommendation. Total rubbish.

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    4. At the most important point in TR that is before it happened napo nationally was tied up with the industrial tribunal. The communication strategy from the centre is weaker since Harry Fletcher went. In the period post split nationally napo were concentrating on the harmonisation into civil service. Valuable stuff but theyve lost sight of the potential for publicity of the cock ups from the split and should have been on this from the start. As to members taking part ...members voted not to accept the pay offer but that appears to be not agreed by the Centre

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  5. I tired of reading everyday about EVR.. Take what your offered and be done with it. An extra grand or so under EVR will not be life changing. That's not even enough for a good night out.

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    1. It's not an 'extra grand or so' the difference for some people can be £15k or more, which when you're facing unemployment could mean the difference between losing your home and keeping your head above water while you find a new job on probably a much lesser wage!

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    2. How did you get to 15k. I think your calculator is wrong. Most will get a few Gs - at best?

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    3. Under EVR, as an example, someone who has 15+ years of service would be entitled to 4.5 weeks of pay per year employed (max 15 years) this equates to over a years salary (possibly at the top of their band). Under the proposed "severance package" its going to be less than half that amount, that's how I get the £15k figure!

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    4. anon 13:45 - based on a PO salary

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    5. @13:07 & 13:11 you have obviously never been unemployed trying to make ends meet on pennies, I sense you may be a Chief Sodexo troublemaker on an already over inflated salary who will no doubt have some golden handshake when it's time for you to go!

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    6. So because I'm bored of listening to people wanting more money, even though everyone appears to be against the CRC for wanting to make money, I'm a sodexo employee!! Classy comments on here!!!!

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    7. If we're going to be culled, it's about getting what we're entitled to! Not sure where the 'classy comments' come in but I do consider myself to be a classy Northerner so thanks for the compliment! If you're bored, don't read the blog! Quite simple really!

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    8. Proper EVR over 50% better than current offer.

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    9. For me the difference between evr and the offer is over £30000

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  6. Do you know what 13:07 you are totally right. I personally dont even need that much for a night out. I would rather take less and go.

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    1. I think we have some Sodexo staff on here causing mischief!

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    2. Definitely 14:20

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    3. As above to 17.30 to you two clowns 14.20 and 14.26

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  7. Sound but sad analysis Netnipper.As a former local rep I,along with my union colleagues at the time,tried to warn and prepare people collectively and individually for what we saw coming.Anyone reading about EVR at the time could see it was earmarked for a select few and no one else.Staff were up against a silent union and employer conspiracy with neither side wanting a staff exodus ahead of schedule.A schedule in the interests of future CRC owners.What did us local reps do?Took our own advice and planned our exit strategies and left to do other things.I did not want to leave the job I had done for decades but better to leave on your own terms and in your own time.What Grayling and NOMS have done to the Probation Service is an act of sheer idealogical vandalism.

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    1. What does ideological vandalism mean Jim? Idiotic terminology from the above is laughable. Surely TR is more than ideological at this stage

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    2. It means significant job losses for experienced, long serving & committed staff who have spent many years busting their bits in order to help ameliorate the damage & consequences of bullies, liars & cheats - and the service they work for has been handed on a gilt edged plate to bullies, liars & cheats. That's the ideological vandalism.

      17:35 is proof that insensitive fuckwits are programmed to embrace TR, and to see it as a cashcow.

      At such a grim time for many (e.g someone gave the example of losing 11 staff from one office, leaving only 6), the insensitive fuckwits are posting increasingly stupid & provocative comments which merely serve to reinforce their lack of humanity, insight or understanding.

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    3. we had an RMT rep speak to us at our NAPO local AGM. He was frothing at the mouth in anger at the evil characters that run Interserve - he left us with no doubt they are absolutely ruthless barstewards who will get rid of staff at the drop of a hat. New staff starting will never accrue more than 10yrs service at most as they will be gotten rid of or be so run down they will just quit.

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    4. You fool 20.30. Of course he / she would tell you that. After all, unions play on your fear to keep you a member !!

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    5. Great blog and I have done almost as much . The local reps had a real clue as to how this was going to unfold. Boy we had some real losers in the lead at Napo yet they are not held to account. there is no way Ian Lawrence should have had so much control straight after ledgergate. He was criticised for joining the TR agenda when he should have remained outside of it and would have been free quite rightly to object wholesale to all plans and take legal action. Instead I am clear from the blogs he was involved in the TR negotiations and therefore was not able to criticise plans because he had smoozed up to the producers of TR with new found fame and ego. . I am getting out soon as an opening comes up in McDonalds . The pay is going to be better after Sodexo sort our remaining terms and conditions out. I hear customer satisfaction is high because they know we are serving them food products which are bad for you. It is mass but for cheap money. There are the parreles in case you missed them. Low public protection = high risk paying staff who earn next to the minimum wage. Welcome your new cheap Union too as I heard Ian Lawrence was in talks to sell out CRC members to another union. All the NEC reps are keeping it a secret I had been told.

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  8. A DIFFERENT TOPIC: -

    From TWITTER

    " ExaroNews ‏@ExaroNews

    Australia’s 60 Minutes ‘special’ on ‘Westminster paedophile network’ – three parts embedded in one place on Exaro:

    http://www.exaronews.com/articles/5614/australia-s-60-minutes-makes-special-on-uk-s-vip-paedophiles …

    https://twitter.com/ExaroNews/status/622791267060219906 "

    I have seen the programme - it is interesting - I am not sure it takes us much further forward but there is an interview with Tom O'Carroll of the Paedophile Information Exchange - which I found interesting despite him seeming to STILL try to justify his belief that in some circumstances children can give valid consent for sexual activity with an adult - (which is obviously very wrong)

    However as a society we are unlikely to be able to minimise the amount of some types of paedophilia unless we can find a way to enable those who acknowledge they are sexually attracted to children to seek help and not be demonised - so they willingly come forward rather than evade attention and so remain more potentially dangerous than if they self declare.

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    1. ALSO FROM TWITTER: -

      " ExaroNews ‏@ExaroNews

      We are experiencing very heavy traffic again, so you may have trouble loading the site. If so, please try a little bit later. "

      https://twitter.com/ExaroNews/status/622807589001240576


      THE VIDEOS (3 of them) can also be accessed via You Tube: -

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDVbAD5QCrk

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flNywB5uMt4

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLoYyLkPu8A

      Delete
  9. My EVR would be £50k. My Severance £22,500. My local redundancy policy would offer me £18.5k. There is a massive difference depending on grade and length of service. Lots to play for.

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  10. Thank you 18.30.

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  11. Sodexo bake bread with yeast and things,
    predictable results,what joy it brings,
    now its baked alaska,it can only be a disaster,they wont take no for an answer...arrghhhh..

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  12. When our CRC was bought by Sodexo,
    My very first thought was 'oh no!'
    I'd read about 'punch a black week'
    And 'torture in prison' which made me weep
    I didn't know how much of it was true
    But there was only one thing that I could do
    I left as soon as I possibly could
    Not long after me, others too would
    But we have to remember with all the woe
    Not to forget the role of Nacro!!!
    They were the bid candy made it sweet
    And enabled Sodexo to compete
    Now they've gone rather quiet about probation
    Are they worried about their reputation?



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    1. These contracts are about getting paid. Cash money in the bank. of course NACRO went in and rightly so. There a business and need revenue. Has anyone complete the commercial awareness workshop yet as there doesn't seem to be many business minded people on her who understand the principles the business?

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    2. Well I had not heard about "punch a black week" AND Sodexo - in Colchester Essex - where I live.

      I found this - how dare the UK Gov deal with such an organisation - I am livid but know my rant is useless!

      http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/18/sodexo-military-contract-racism-allegations

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    3. " understand the principles the (sic) [ of ] business? "

      Maximise income - but deal with the customer fairly or they will take their trade elsewhere - that includes keep the staff happy or you will get a bad reputation which is not good for long term business - obviously some businesses are not in it for the long term or keep "re-imaging"

      1966 - Société d'Exploitation Hotelière's

      1995/2001 - Sodexho Alliance

      1998 - Sodexho Marriott Services

      2008 - Sodexo

      " The reason for removing the letter 'h' from Sodexho, cited in the group's 2007 annual report, is that "in certain languages an 'x' followed by an 'h' is difficult to pronounce". The company's corporate website also states that it draws emphasis away from the hotel services industry they were once associated with, as they now focus on many other directions "

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodexo#History

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    4. @Anon 22:29 Your post is illustrative of everything that's been wrong with this country for the last 30+ years - the privileging of 'business needs' over all else, the creation of false markets to support a dangerous ideology, and the erosion of anything of social value which didn't fit the template.

      I saw precious little evidence of any CRC owners trying to understand the values of the 'business' they'd just bought - and now they're running around in a panic because they had no idea of the scale of the task, having assumed it was just as easy as Grayling and his minions were making out.

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  13. Everyone understands the principles of business. This is why we are hostile to Sodexo et al; because the principles of business have no place in human services because the two things are incompatible. Need compromised by the drive for profit. Let us put to bed the idea that private business is some sort of mysterious cauldron of inspired wisdom. It is simple. If it doesn't generate income, don't do it. Fuck the services user or protecting the public. SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

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  14. It's severence and not EVR - NAPO haven't even tried to negotiate a better severance package, they've just stuck to the 4.5 weeks associated with EVR which Sodexo would
    never pay. Has this damn union ever won a fight.

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  15. @12:44 - Unions win fights by having the certain knowledge that their members stand up together, for what they believe in.
    You obviously didnt believe in your profession and now someone else has come to do it instead.
    It wasnt the union that let you down, its yourself. Go have a word .

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    Replies
    1. How could you possibly know what I believe in? Of course the union have let us down. Would you care to explain what good they have done? How have they made things better? If they can't negotiate they can use my money to pay someone who can. The time has gone for joining hands and singing "you can't get me I'm part of the union!"

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  16. Me thinks there are a lot of the dark side infiltrating the blog; the force is with those of honest disposition it is. Use the force and the dark side will be defeated it will, do not rise to the evil that surrounds us me says.....Master Yoda.

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