Changes at Napo

Further from the announcement made at this year's Napo AGM, I notice the following has been published today on the Society of Radiographers website:- 

Dean Rogers is the Society's Director of Industrial Strategy

The Society of Radiographers has recruited a senior official from the probation officers' union to be the Director of Industrial Strategy and Member Relations. Dean Rogers takes up the post from Warren Town, who has retired after almost 40 years at the SoR.

Dean was assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo), which he says "is a union with a professional arm that has more in common with the Society than may at first be obvious."

His six years with Napo coincided with a turbulent period that saw deep cuts to family courts and criminal justice services, as well as Chris Grayling's disastrous decision when justice secretary to hand the supervision of low-risk and medium offenders to 21 private companies. Dean describes it as a 'time of utter chaos'.

"Consequently, I've learnt a lot and despite having to make fundamental changes to the union's internal structures, we had big successes from ground-breaking pay reforms to changing how Napo operates to make it more engaged with activists and members," he says. "No two organisations are the same but I'm looking forward to seeing how I can use and further develop the ideas at the Society."

Dean adds, "The SoR rightfully has a strong reputation for offering effective, credible leadership in the health sector and I'm proud to be joining the organisation. I've spent almost 30 years' representing and negotiating across most areas of the public sector and this is my opportunity to extend my experience into healthcare. To get a chance to challenge myself in this new arena is really exciting."

Originally from south Wales, Dean moved to London to be a teacher and was active regionally and nationally in the then National Union of Teachers. He joined the Managerial and Professional Officers union (now part of the GMB) as a full-time research and policy officer. He became the MPO's lead national negotiator covering senior public managers in local authorities and probation.

In 2001, Dean joined the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), where he lead negotiation and representation across almost 50 government departments, agencies and contractors, including the MoD, Treasury and Cabinet Office, and culture sectors. In 2013, he joined Napo.

Dean is proud of several successes in his most recent role, including comprehensive pay reform during the height of the government's pay freeze, securing contractual rights for members who transferred into the civil service, and helping to raise the profile and understanding of family court advisors.

He is a trustee of the London Sustainability Exchange, a keen sports fan, and he has completed London's Great River Race seven times.

--oo00oo--

The following has circulated on Facebook:- 

For all my trade union, Napo and probation friends on here I am now able to formally confirm that I will be leaving Napo on the 22nd November to take up a new post at the Society of Radiographers in early December. It will be strange moving on from the weird world of the Justice Sector after 6 years with Napo. 

I will always be grateful to this special little union for giving me the chance. I will also be incredibly proud of the work we've done together and some of the huge things we've achieved - externally with things like probation pay reform - and internally, steering through some really important strategic changes. 

As I said at the AGM in October, when first announcing I was leaving without being able to say where I was going, when I joined Napo everyone I spoke to asked who we'd be merging with - not if but who and when. We've not only survived but we are growing again and I'm confident the changes we've made, anchored to and re-enforcing core values, will help make sure Napo's about for a long time to come. 

I won't be though - I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead in a new organisation and the only part of the public sector I've not worked in. As ever, positive and exciting times ahead.

Dean Rogers