Information Vacuum

Funny thing. Have you noticed how all the Twitter accounts belonging to NPS senior managers seem to have fallen silent recently? None of the usual inconsequential upbeat puff just at the very moment staff are worried sick, desperate for information and in need of leadership. 

The question being asked repeatedly on social media platforms now is 'are probation staff key workers or not? This is important because with schools now closing tomorrow, many probation staff with children have some urgent decisions to make regarding childcare, just as the suspicion grows that the MoJ will be considering significant emergency release of low risk prisoners next week. Staff are getting increasingly angry at being kept in the dark and  many Napo members are feeling similarly disenchanted following the latest extraordinary mailout from HQ:-

Dear Colleagues,

C19 – Napo in communication with NPS, CRC, HMPPS and Cafcass senior leaders

As you would expect, Napo is currently engaged with senior leaders across the above employers to ascertain their advice in response to yesterday’s Government statement on Social Distancing in the campaign to combat the Coronavirus.

Clearly this has caused concern amongst our membership and that of our sister unions, with whom we are also in regular communication. Our members valuable work within Probation and Cafcass involves a proportionately higher requirement for face to face contact with clients than just about any other profession. We wanted to let you know that we acknowledge your concerns, and that the Napo team are working flat out at the moment in analysing information and we will issue any additional advice to members once we are in a position to do so. The Napo leadership team are also in regular discussion with the General Secretary to ensure that everything is being done to ensure business continuity for Napo HQ.

Whilst we fully appreciate that members have a range of legitimate questions we must ask that you refrain from sending e-mail or making telephone calls into Napo HQ as this is taking up valuable time as we seek to secure answers.

Yours in solidarity

Ian

Ian Lawrence General Secretary     Siobhan Foreman National Vice-Chair

--oo00oo--

Business meetings are now to be held via Skype but we still have to sit in groups of up to 10 men, often elderly, delivering Horizon, which is still to be run until MoJ says different. No real cleaning of offices, pubs are wiping door handles etc continuously, no wipes to wipe down desks and phones in interview rooms, no separate bins to “use it, bin it, kill it”, no soap in kitchen, no alcohol rich sanitiser etc and now no pay increase, but “business as usual”.

Those in the highest risk categories should be self isolating and following the guidance. I am almost certain that there will be a significantly reduced office presence, probably with those who have less concern re: particular vulnerabilities either themselves or in their immediate families taking a lead role in enabling offices to remain operational, because that's what we do. Locally we have had offers from those already home working to take on additional report writing etc, to support those who are taking on more of the office cover. 

News from NE. Actually heard that they have cancelled all their local training so it just felt like one place was taking action and not others. Agree that is so unpredictable and unclear how to progress. I’m half expecting several of my delegates not to turn up this week but feels like we will know more by Friday.

That advice came out this afternoon about face to face training etc. I think today's announcement will trigger a fairly rapid avalanche of guidance, where I'd imagine all events like that will be suspended while social distancing is the advice.

Interserve have cancelled UPW and programmes with immediate effect for 48 hours this afternoon, think it may be to check legality re sentences.

Hopefully something will come out tomorrow, but for the moment, it's a case of keep calm and carry on working. We are already being advised to bring laptops home every night  along with phones, so in the case of a short notice lockdown we can at least attempt to work from home.

Not being in contact with people! Keeping your distance avoiding social contact and staying vigilant! Well we are vigilant. Anyone who rings in saying they can’t attend we are giving them the advice we were given but when people walk into the office to be seen - seen they will be - so how is that being in line with what was said tonight! It’s bizarre and rightly or wrongly direction is needed. I’m happy to go to work every day and will cover for colleges who can’t but if advice from the top is keep your distance what else is there to do!

I am waiting for further guidance tomorrow. I am confident those at the centre of probation are working very hard to work out the guidance for all staff. I will continue to work with staff on the front line for the time being whilst not in a risk group etc. In these times it is our public sectors which are leaned on most. I wish the guidance today was a bit clearer but it’s not so will wait for further interpretation.

I am expecting the usual updating email tomorrow. I would expect any group activities to be stopped & an increase in telephone reporting. Many staff members will need to self isolate. I will see what the advice to us says. I worry for predictable increase in domestic violence as well as people getting really ill or worse.

The guidance received late this afternoon was not at all specific. Basically staff & SUs with symptoms should not come into the office & we should also follow NHS guidance on who should self isolate. Other than that it is business as usual here!

I think the situation is very complex and not a simple choice. I agree there should be policy & resources about limitting the risks for frontline staff. I am not going to comment on the guidance which came out this afternoon. Where is the line between being vulnerable enough to self isolate for staff & service users? If you have mild asthma do you self isolate, possibly for weeks / months. You could end your isolation and then catch it anyway. 

We are equivalent to an emergency service, especially in regard to high risk & very high risk cases. With this there are responsibilities not involved in other employment. There should, however, be specific clear guidelines from our employer stating when staff & SUs should not come into the office. This is an evolving situation and who know what exactly will happen.  We are getting no support at all. The civil service have not got a clue what we do and the lack of practical guidance to front line staff just highlights this. 

All the yes managers don't offer any support because they just refer to what is coming out centrally. We are expected to sit in tiny rooms no more than 9ft by 9ft to deliver interventions only feet from someone with no ventilation in the room for up to an hour. The highest risk of contracting Covid 19. We are not prioritising who should report, we are asking over 70s to still report, even though the government are saying they should isolate and getting nothing from the centre about what really affects us. We have no hand sanitizers no protective equipment, absolutely nothing. Staff are having to provide it themselves. It's absolutely shameful.