Helga Wields The Axe

We may now be living under a zombie government and a zombie opposition, have no chance of prison reform any time soon, have a vacancy at the top of NOMS and the guy in charge at the MoJ very much pre-occupied elsewhere, but the TR omnishambles carries on regardless. My thanks go out to two seperate readers for the following news from London:- 

My vision for London CRC is to be the number one CRC in the country, committed to reducing reoffending, and we recognise that quality service user engagement plays a key role in achieving that aim.

While we appreciate the importance of service user engagement, we are making some changes to our approach that I would like to share with you.

Probation Engagement Workers’ consultation

We have made the difficult decision to end the Probation Engagement Worker (PEW) role in London CRC. We recognise the valued contribution that our PEWs have made to our organisation, and regret not being in a position to extend their contracts or to make them permanent.

We will begin a six week consultation period with the PEWs from 28 June. During this period, we will work with them to look at ways of avoiding potential redundancy including exploring job opportunities internally and with our partner organisations.

The PEWs will also be able to get advice and support on topics such as CV writing, interview practice and networking skills from staff at specialist outplacement company Penna.

I’d like to extend a personal thank you from myself and the senior management team for the positive impact that the PEWs have had on service user engagement while they have been in post, and wish them all the very best for the future.

User Voice

Over the last five years, we have worked closely with User Voice and have valued their input and work in helping us to achieve our goals. It’s with regret that I announce we were unable to agree new contractual terms and conditions with them. As a consequence, we have both decided not to continue our relationship going forward and held our penultimate Service User Council meeting last week.

I would like to emphasise our ongoing commitment to service user engagement and confirm that we will be exploring new and fresh approaches. We will share these with you as soon as we can.

Please speak to your ACO if you have any questions about this announcement.

Helga Swidenbank
Director of Probation

London Community Rehabilitation Company
Floor 9, Hannibal House, New Kent Road, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6TE

--oo00oo--

TO: NAPO MEMBERS

The CRC in consultation with the NPS have decided to remove existing security guards from most offices in order to reduce costs. We are currently raising concerns in respect of this decision.

We had been advised that a pro-forma had been sent out to managers so that a review and risk assessment of every office could be done.

BUT the process of withdrawing security staff has already begun.

In order for NAPO to try and ensure that management are meeting their obligations on staff safety we need you to become actively involved in raising concerns so that security staff are either retained where needed or appropriate alternative arrangements are made.

• Are you aware of the current safety procedures in your office? 
• Do you feel safe with the current arrangements? 
• Have you been consulted by senior management on whether or not you feel safe with the current arrangements? 

If your answer to any of the above is no then raise the matter urgently at a staff meeting. A full risk assessment should be carried out immediately.

1. Ask to see the risk assessments in relation to your place of work. These should be reviewed annually by all those concerned i.e. staff and management. They should also be reviewed when there is a significant change in circumstances that might either increase or decrease risks to staff e.g. removal of security staff.

2. Look at the risk assessments with others in your workplace and decide if whether they are accurate, if they are suitable and if they are sufficient. Try to agree what risks you are most concerned about. What changes are likely to increase risk and decrease safe working. If they are not up to date, and you consider they are not suitable and sufficient to address the risks, then you should alert your manager.

3. Write to your line managers copying in their line manager with a recommendation that your concerns are addressed urgently and reviewed at the next local health and safety meeting. Ask for a report back of all actions taken.

4. Copy in Ian Lander (NPS) and Paul Fairbrass (CRC) Senior H&S managers especially when you have serious concerns. Copy us in. We will try to support members in resolving local issues regarding safety concerns.

5. AND Remember to complete an A&I Form every time something happens that compromises your safety or the safety of anyone else.

Terry Wilson (H&S Convenor NPS)
David Raho (H&S Convenor CRC)