Latest From Napo 98

BR 16/2016
IL/AV

9th March 2016
To: Branch Chairs, Vice Chairs, Secretaries & Convenors - Probation
Cc: Napo Officers and Staff

Please ensure that this Briefing which provides you with important news on Napo’s response to the recent NPS E3 Job Evaluation process is circulated to members at the earliest opportunity.

Dear Colleague,

Job Evaluation and E3 - Napo expresses its concern over outcomes and subsequent communications

As previously reported, Napo has been engaged in regular dialogue with senior NOMS management over the intended implementation programme for the E3 project.

Unfortunately the communications that NOMS have issued in respect of the outcomes of recent Job Evaluation (JE) exercises which are being held to help inform negotiations have caused substantial confusion among some members especially those relating to the established appeals process within the National Negotiating Council (NNC) agreement.

This week Napo issued advice to members on the key aspects of the appeals process. At the same time we have made it clear to NOMS that we have a fundamental difficulty with the results of the JE exercises covering AP Area Managers, AP Managers, AP Residential Workers and Victim Liaison Officers (VLOs).

In light of the above the attached letter was sent to NOMS this morning which, as can be seen, makes it clear that Napo expects to be given an opportunity to explore how we, and the individual members fulfilling these roles, can most effectively challenge the outcomes.

We have asked that the normal period for lodging appeals be suspended while we engage in further talks with NOMS and we have asked that the issue be included for discussion at tomorrow’s scheduled NNC meeting.

Appreciation to Napo members

While we try to find common ground with the employer on these issues, it is appreciated that many members are angry and disappointed at the results of the JE process and we have tried to reflect that during our regular engagement meetings with NOMS.

Napo’s National Vice-Chair Katie Lomas has been working hard to field the many individual and collective enquiries that we have been receiving and both of us appreciate the efforts that many of you have made to convey the views of your colleagues.

Time to stick together

More news will follow as soon as possible but meanwhile we would want to take this opportunity to ask that all our members recognise that Napo and especially those individual members who have taken part in the JE panels and who have done so in accordance with the agreed processes (after having received appropriate training) are working to ensure that your interests are protected and that it is unreasonable to blame individuals for the disappointing outcomes which have been made on Job Descriptions that themselves are a continuing bone of contention. In addition, Napo members are facing a continuing Government inspired agenda to further erode professional standards and secure more for less from the NPS workforce.

This is why it is as good a time as any for probation staff to consider joining a trade union or maintaining your existing Napo membership by making the easy switch to paying your subscriptions by Direct Debit. Increased membership gives Napo a stronger voice in our negotiations on these and all the other major challenges that you face in the workplace.

Yours sincerely

IAN LAWRENCE      KATIE LOMAS
General Secretary    National Vice-Chair

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IL/AV 29-16
Colin Allars, Director, National Probation Service (By e-mail)

9th March 2016
Dear Colin,

Job Evaluation and the E3 programme =Conflicting advice from NOMS on the appeals process

As you are aware, Napo, along with our sister trade unions have been in regular engagement with your Senior Management colleagues in NOMS about the intended direction of travel on the wider E3 programme which is meant to be informed by the current Job Evaluation (JE) exercise. My understanding is that the JE scheme is expected to be conducted in accordance with the agreed NNC process which allows for individual appeals and a route for requesting reviews of outcomes.

The probation unions have already expressed our rejection of the recently published results for the AP Area Managers, AP Managers, AP Residential workers and the VLO roles respectively and, as you would expect, we have been inundated with requests for assistance from members wishing to appeal and have issued preliminary advice on the appeals process based on the above NNC agreement.

The trade unions will be urgently discussing our collective approach to these JE outcomes and will make the necessary representations, but the purpose of this letter is firstly to request that the JE issue is included on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting of the National Negotiating Council and prioritised for early discussion. Secondly, I have to express my serious disappointment at the advice which I am informed has been issued by NOMS to the effect that Divisional Directors are to soon be contacted about the possibility of a collective appeals process.

Given that the unions were advised at last week’s Engagement Meeting that there was no scope for such a remedy, I hope you will appreciate that the problems around the JE outcomes have now been exacerbated by a failure to advise the unions of your intentions which are directly contrary to our understanding.

Without wishing to pre-empt the wider discussion that we need to have at the NNC, I believe it is vital that an immediate halt is announced to the JE implementation programme and the 20 day appeal period until we have agreed a solution to this worrying situation.

I am, as always, available for a telephone discussion on the above if you are available today.

Yours sincerely,

IAN LAWRENCE
General Secretary

Cc: Michael Spurr, Jim Barton,
Jude Gray, Francis Stuart, Nick Jones