Saturday 19 November 2016

CRC Dispute Latest 13

18th November 2016

Branch request for information - Urgent

Dear Members,

The ACAS talks continue much to my own feelings that there is absolutely nothing in it for our members at this time. That said we are part of the wider group and although I have not agreed to continued ACAS activity for our branch is because there is just not enough reassurance for the protections on your terms that should be required by all the representatives involved.

That obvious question aside and we have continued to press for some required indicators there may be some talks attended for on Wednesday next week that will potentially look to address the concerns the unions have on the operational plans for the delivery of services.

It is matter of record that the Joint Unions are concerned that the Innovation Wessex are not an independent assessment certification group that could legitimately offer Aurelius and Working Links a genuine endorsement to provide services under the design they have already signalled fit for purpose.

The Trade unions are on record that we do not believe the model is in fact fit for purpose and the growing and yet denied significant increases in SFOs is enough reason alone, you would want to encourage the employers to halt their break neck speed plans. To stop look and work more in a collaborative way to manage the changes over a staged and trialled period.

Not a chance of that under their own decisions yet through ACAS there has been some acceptance they need to have a review of the concerns for the safety of the Public that only the unions are obviously exposing at the moment.

Before we enter into the current mire any further and facing their continued delay tactics this employer seems well adept it would help the negotiators of the SSW branch to hear of all of your current crisis situations.

The way you are being treated
The fears and anxieties over the case working workloads and staffing numbers
First hand accounts of sickness and the gaps in both team and team location travelling and cover arrangements
The wider risks that you genuinely perceive in the way the work is devolved to staff
The IT and the general matters that are now all but impossible to manage effectively as we used to
The upscaling and downgrading of risk cases to PSO
Duty cover arrangements
Case oversight risk management
SFO Numbers especially and locations
Changes to your role current and planned
How you see the operational changes and whether anything positive can be drawn to our attention

We in Napo branch appreciate this is short notice but you will understand that the ACAS talks are all but live and events are moving daily if not weekly. I am not certain that we will get to the outcomes that we require before talks but we would like as much support as is possible please to make the case based on the facts from members not just the claims made by management. Please circulate this to Non members who may want to contribute and of course please join NAPO if you are not a member. Also examples from all the linked union areas.

Please e mail me direct your views or Denice James on the email or directly to Napo HQ For Ian Lawrence General Secretary and dinop@blueyonder.co.uk Or your regional NAPO representative for Wales and BGSW.

Thank You


Dino Peros Napo Branch Chair SSW

52 comments:

  1. Is Dino or anyone else involved able to clarify what is meant by "there is just not enough reassurance for the protections on your terms that should be required by all the representatives involved.... there may be some talks attended for on Wednesday next week that will potentially look to address the concerns the unions have on the operational plans for the delivery of services."

    In the early morning gloom it sounds like the battle for EVR has been lost (or sacrificed?) and the focus is elsewhere. I hope I am mis-reading the meaning.

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    1. I know Dino and others are working very hard to keep the focus where it should be. It will be very convenient for WL to be distracted into minutiae and thereby sidestep the EVR/contractual questions that have been raised.

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  2. I guess that's what the employers want us to think. There must be more than one way of skinning this cat.

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  3. Hi.will our names remain confidential if we contact Dino?

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    1. Can't see any reason why not. Ask him.

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    2. I have and he re-assured me it would be confidential.

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  4. "The upscaling and downgrading of risk cases to PSO"


    This is happening in the NPS too and PSO's are being actively recruited to replaced PO's. What is Napo doing about this?

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    1. Are you directly asking your Reps to take this forward?

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    2. Good response 9:10 I bet 8:59 is not even a Napo member!

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    3. How can you work out whether someone is a Napo member from a blog post!? For the record I also have this concern. I am a Napo member. I have told my rep. The response is that Napo are well aware of PSO's set to take NPS work and jobs from PO's and are doing nothing about it as they have limited bargaining power with the MoJ and civil service. In fact Napo was involved in the E3 consultation that paved the way and already failed to challenge this point. It is rather shocking the same concern is being raised and challenged for the CRC but apparently ok and ignored for the NPS.

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    4. Out of curiosity what is Unison and GMB response to this issue?

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    5. E3 definitely agreed and supported by K Lomas vice chair NAPO, her advice is collusive with NPS at the very least, ambition above ability here. This reflects the G.S and 2 anonymous, lazy chairs. There has got to be something better for our Union when election of the G.S comes soon. Campaign to find someone worthy of £70 k salary Jim et al

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    6. 10:39 A Napo member would surely know to contact their local rep in the first instance don't you think? What's the point asking the Q here?

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    7. I am an employee of DDCCRC and a Napo member. From what I can see it is the local reps who have pushed for the matter to be addressed by Napo and in particular the SSW Branch. Who is the branch Chair - DINO. Reading through Branch Reports it states that NOMS Contract people were not available for the Joint Secs meeting. I can't see that they have yet contributed their view. It seems to me that Napo should be providing some legal advise in this matter to reps and members alike. I would urge Napo and Unison members to go to the Branch Meetings and request their Branches to take up local matters otherwise nothing will happen.

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    8. In response to 13.17 - I would be very worried about Katie Lomas in case she fancies herself as the Next Napo Chair. She doesn't want National Collective Bargaining and so is essentially backing the job cuts and devastation to the CRC's, let alone the equivalent concerns in NPS. I agree Jim - we need to get a campaign going for the next Chair and also suitable candidate for GS too.

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    9. Agreed we need new arm chairs but not like the current spring less and shabby pair. Any from the current field will not be a nice new sofa A useless performance because of complicit complacency over the failure to support properly the VLOs and more lately the E3 sell off. No protections for us and there will be none for them when the time comes.

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  5. Just a reminder that moronic contributions, together with gratuitous abuse are deleted at my sole discretion. I will not allow such disappointing behaviour to distract this blog from some very important work in trying to save what's left of our profession.

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    1. Probably last chance for CRC staff to voice concerns?

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    2. I assume moronic comments involve anything dino related. The guy is not our man. Clown

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    3. Why make that assumption. What do you know to say such a thing.

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    4. 13.17 - Dino may appear to be a clown to you but I can tell you he has the members interests at heart here.

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    5. Judging by his prompt response to my e mail and a lengthy response at that I would agree with 13.17. I have never met Dino but I can say I am not looking for a perfect individual, just someone doing their best to reprasent us. So let's give him our backing.

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    6. What does this mean exactly not very clear?

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  6. Dean Rogers for GS

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    1. who is dean?

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    2. He wouldn't get my vote at all. I would like to see someone from another Union who has a very strong track record in negotiating with MOJ.

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    3. Haha is that Dean Rogers who has been away on personal development training for the last 2 years paid for entirely by NAPO. Check up if sounds unbelievable

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    4. No to Dean. We need someone new to Napo with some good all round Union experience. I can sleep at night knowing I didn't vote for Ian Lawrence.

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    5. Nor did many of us yet blindly they put that opportunist in and yes some of us warned you.

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    6. Yes training on NAPO Time and money yet not at the coal face facing sodexo .

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    7. 19:31 Napo members did vote him in many decided not to bother and that it why he was elected . Members apathy and yet annoyed at our choice. He hasn't lived up to expectations and if JL hadn't behaved the way he did he would still be our GS and we wouldn't be where we are. Ian Lawrence, Dean Rogers, Sarah Friday, Tania Bassett, what are you doing for your members? You are non existent ,you do not respond to local reps queries you are not serving your membership! Review Napo's recruitment and redundancy policy as a matter of urgency . The only one worth keeping his job is Ranjit.

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  7. To anon 12:37 You must be joking promoting Dean!He was co-author of that bizarre One Voice One Probation plan which was rejected by members at AGM. Hardly a defender of Probation standards.

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    1. Not alone either that Press and PR absentee made a showing in support yet as an ex PO shows total disloyalty to our profession. Treachery .

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  8. What about Jim and Harry Fletcher for GS job share? Haven't heard anything about HF in a while what's going on with him?

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    1. Harry Fletcher always has irons in the fire, including being a Parliamentary adviser to Plaid Cymru. I'm not qualified or experienced enough and don't live near London. I do know someone though and will sound them out. This is serious guys - we've got to find someone before it's too late.

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    2. Jim I agree. Lets open a debate on who may be suitable for next Chair and GS. Last time Ian was voted in I am sure it was due to laziness. I was an NEC rep at the time and went to members for views but no one could be bothered to research or even ask any proper questions. Members were prepared to let NEC make the decision. There is always an assumption by members that those on the Exec know best and we know that isn't the case. There are of course many excellent local reps but that is because they do their best to get involved and attend training etc. Many times reps are there because they want to do their bit and no branch members cam be bothered to get involved. They do their best but it doesn't mean they become experts overnight.

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  9. So typical of Napo to be urgently calling for more information from members. Didn't they do their homework? This is evidence they should have already. The ACAS is going nowhere - except through the motions and there is no Plan B. Like the Sodexo debacle, it's going to end with a whimper.

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    1. Why should they ? From what has been laid out so far the issues are about a lack of appropriate disclosures you do not sound to understand the overall dynamics. Or you have not followed this situation properly.

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    2. Time will tell who understands the situation

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    3. You must be a senior manager !

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    4. Dino's message could be seen to imply that the concrete issues of terms & conditions of employment, EVR & a nationally agreed position are being sidelined to allow for the vagaries & distractions of re-examining "risk to the public" vis-a-vis "operational plans for delivery of service".
      1. Is 'risk' really an issue for ACAS in respect of EVR?
      2. Time is not on the side of those wanting a resolution to EVR.
      3. Where is the NOMS contract manager?
      4. What about the SoS's "golden share"?

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    5. Yes, risk is most definitely an issue! These cuts are not justified and will increase the risks to staff, offenders and public alike. Staff will be at risk of burnout/ stress etc. Offenders will be at increased risk of offending and all the consequences that go with that ( including ending up in custody = increased risk of death. Public will be at increased risk of harm through being inadequately protected by experienced staff who understand risk management. This is everyones responsibility so why should ACAS not see it as an issue?

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    6. Fair enough Tonto, but... the bids were invited, designed around & awarded on the basis of significant reductions in staffing costs, hence the Modernisation Fund sweetener to cover the cost of paying off staff. I can't see ACAS having any impact upon that aspect of the CRC operational design because they will say that's what Mo?j asked them to do. However, I don't think the greedy globals should be allowed to misappropriate the monies allocated for EVR.

      No, I do NOT agree with the sale of probation, the staff shrinkage or the ideology and I do NOT believe the business model was ever going to work (beyond adding to offshore corporate bank balances), but... let the fuckers fail. Get the EVR for the staff, don't give them the oxygen of co-operation and let the fuckers publicly & spectacularly fall from grace.

      Just watching the BET HipHop awards on MurdochVision & heard this from an award wining crew: "Look after each other, don't let them divide & rule."

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    7. Hey, Tonto. Probation was always wanting to be the boy with his finger plugging the hole in the dam. How about making those who commissioned or constructed the dam take some responsibility? 'Cos when you get tired and your finger goes limp, everyone will blame you for the subsequent disaster. This is how SFOs work, & this is how Probation got shafted.

      Maybe its time to step away from the dam. Let the cracks show, let the blame for cutting corners, shoddy workmanship & utter incompetence rest where it belongs.

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  10. i'm tired of it all - just let me go, you can stick your money as the longer we fight over it the longer before I can go.

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    1. It is not just about you though. It is also about protecting those who stay and ensuring they continue to have their terms and conditions protected for whatever may come next. I do not think it will all come to an end on March 31st 2017.

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  11. Resign anytime the employers wont stop they will profit further from your pocket. They make thousands for doing nothing. Fagin characters.

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  12. Aurelius's financial year ends 31 Dec, so they need to get their financial planning sorted asap!

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  13. Got pick a pocket or twoooo got to picket a pocket or twooo Aurelius' Modern day Dick Turpin lets rob the public contracts. Scandal

    •Acquisition of Working Links, a leading provider of welfare and rehabilitation services, that generates revenues of £125m

    Leading provider of employability and rehabilitation services
    •Operations in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and the Middle East
    •Annual revenues of around €160m in 2015
    •Already three acquisitions in the second quarter of 2016
    •No negative effects expected due to Brexit


    Munich/London, 29 June 2016 – The AURELIUS Group (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) has acquired Working Links, a leading provider of welfare and rehabilitation services with operations in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and the Middle East. In the 2015 financial year, Working Links recorded revenues of around €160m. The acquisition was made for an undisclosed sum.

    Working Links delivers employability consulting and rehabilitation services across three markets: The aim of the employability services is to improve living conditions through employment, training, and personal skills development. The rehabilitation services aim to reduce reoffending and thus protect the public. The international specialist services include employability consulting services for domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and also delivery of Job Path, the Irish Government’s flagship programme to support bringing long-term unemployed people back to work in six regions of the Republic of Ireland

    EBITDA of the combined group rises to EUR 101.2 million (+ 541% vs. Q1 2015)
    Income of EUR 57.6 million from the sale of fidelis HR
    Dividend proposal of EUR 2.45 per share (prior year: EUR 2.00 per share)
    Net Asset Value rises to EUR 1,282.5 million
    Positive outlook for the current 2016 fiscal year

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  14. SFO cases in are on the rise yet CRC staff are treated like mushrooms ( kept in the dark and fed on shit!) Managers out there..hello...you expect us to keep you informed of what is going on but fail to return the favour! Do we need to put in a freedom of information request to get the figures?

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  15. Just a suggestion, but what about taking WL (or whoever runs things) to a small claims Court? They signed a contract to pay X amount to departing staff. If they fail to pay, it's breach of contract. Simplistic summary but the premise is the same. A signed contract is bloody difficult to argue against in Court!

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