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News from London:-

Member Newsletter February 2017

PAY UPDATE:

2016-17 Award - Members’ in the NPS should have already received their 1% annual increment or a one-off pensionable non-consolidated payment for 2016-17, arising from national discussions with NOMS and the trade unions. Members working for the CRC should receive the same payments in either February or March, depending upon how long it takes MTCnovo to calculate and process the awards. These are contractual and must be paid.

Members who have left during 2016-17 will receive a proportionate payment depending upon when they left. This will also, in all cases be, pensionable. If you have any questions or concerns please contact your local Napo representatives.

Napo’s 5 Key Pay Principles Campaign – In December, Napo launched our national pay campaign, to secure awards across the NPS and CRCs that address probation’s broken pay system. Our key principles are fairness, transparency, competitiveness and sustainability, allied to professionalism.

We are now asking members to lobby their MP’s highlighting the importance of providing the funding needed to support pay reform and highlighting how urgent this is, especially in expensive areas such as Thames Valley. Further information and support materials for the campaign are available on Napo’s website via www.napo.org.uk/campaigns

Napo will also be visiting large workplaces over the coming months to talk to staff about our pay and workloads campaigns (see below). Look out for announcements and emails from your local Napo representatives.

NNC BALLOT UPDATE:

Elected National Officers have met to decide how to respond to the indicative ballot on possible industrial action to defend existing national collective bargaining arrangements. The Elected Officers had assessed responses and agreed that there was not yet evidence of enough support to formally ballot for industrial action. Consequently, given all employers had now announced plans to end the NNC they had to decide whether or not to engage in negotiations with the NPS and owners like MTCnovo, or refuse to participate in local collective bargaining. By a majority they had agreed to engage in local collective bargaining, with full-time Napo Officials directly leading any negotiations around potential contractual changes. In such talks, Napo would argue for nationally agreed positions. For example, in 2017-18 pay negotiations Napo will produce a single national claim across all owners, before judging any offers against their local and national impact.

Since the AGM, local Napo representatives led by David Raho, supported by Assistant General Secretary Dean Rogers, have been discussing with MTCnovo possible arrangements for negotiations and consultation if the NNC were to cease. We are confident the structures proposed, which ensure contractual issues are negotiated jointly across London and Thames Valley, adequately protect existing contractual guarantees encompassed in the national Staff Transfer and Protections Agreement before the split. Consultation about non-contractual local policies and practices will continue to happen locally, as under the NNC structures, with Napo putting more resources into training and support for local Representatives than ever before. This is in reaction to the scale of local challenges, such as workloads, and because of the strain of negotiating with multiple owners. We are also encouraged by MTCnovo wanting to join a new national Probation Professional Partnership Forum which will discuss professional standards and practice.

WORKLOADS CAMPAIGN:

Napo are also about to launch our new 3C’s workload campaign. The key elements are:

• Confront high workloads
• Challenge employers to address them

Champion professional standards
To achieve these aims Napo will be arguing for appropriate workload measurement tools that work for all roles in all workplaces, including time for professional reflection, supported by the resources to maintain safe workloads and access professional training and development for all staff.

As a professional association as well as a union these themes are critical to Napo. To find out more about the campaign and what you can do to support and promote it go to www.napo.org.uk/campaigns

NAPO ENGAGED WITH MTCnovo TO IMPROVE STANDARDS IN LONDON:

Members in London were briefed in December about Napo’s proactive engagement with MTCnovo and the NPS about how they respond to the critical HMIP inspection report. This has continued, with regular briefings between local and national Napo representatives and senior CRC management. High on the priority list are monitoring practice and support around members having to address record keeping gaps arising from unsustainable workloads; monitoring workloads going forward and developing an accurate local workload management tool; and supporting recruitment. At national level Napo are pushing for more resources for probation to meet post TR expectations; greater clarity around the CRC contracts; and progress on national professional standards for all grades. To find out more and get engaged in these campaigns contact info@napo.org.uk

MANAGERS’ NETWORK:

An example of our continued engagement with MTCnovo is our involvement throughout consultations regarding restructuring of ACO roles and numbers, working closely with colleagues in SCOOP GMB. Napo recognise that pressures on all managers are extreme presently, giving rise to unique challenges and pressures. We also recognise managers at all levels can be caught in the middle and need somewhere safe to go to ask colleagues questions and raise concerns. This is why Napo have launched a new national Managers’ Network. If you’re a manager, or aspiring to be a manager, in any part of the probation service think about joining up. You can find out more via tburke@napo.org.uk

PLEASE SHARE THIS NOTE WITH COLLEAGUES WHO MAY NOT BE MEMBERS OF NAPO.

Remember you can get cheaper subs by paying directly through Direct Debit and can also access our extensive new Napo members’ Benefits Package and save the cost of membership in full.

Patricia Johnson (NPS) David Raho (CRC)
Terry Wilson (NPS) Karen Malan (CRC)