E3 Job Evaluation outcomes - our work from here

There will not have been anyone (except perhaps the architects of the E3 programme) who was not hoping that the outcome of the three appealed jobs (AP Manager, AP Residential Worker and Victim Liaison Officer) that were the subject of fresh evaluation panels would have come out with the results that we were hoping for. We issued news at precisely the time we had previously agreed with NOMS and Unison but the NOMS intranet went down in one of their 'can go wrong will go wrong' scenarios, so I decided to press on and issue.

That the results were ultimately not to our liking is in no way attributable to the efforts that Napo members, officers and staff put in to the process of examining and challenging the job descriptions and job questionnaires, and neither does it reflect on the ability and integrity of the evaluation panel members. In N26/2016 we explained the complex processes involved in the appeal arrangements and the incredible support we received from Napo members who were prepared to step up to the plate and offer their expertise. We outlined our pledge to continue working with members to monitor the post-implementation position and we explain how much the whole of the leadership group share the deep disappointment that members will be experiencing about the outcomes.

Our position going forward has been made very clear to senior NOMS management in that we do not expect our members in the three grades involved to do anything more than the exact range of duties in the new E3 job descriptions that they will be expected to work under. It will be the responsibility of NOMS and NPS if they are called to account for any deterioration in service or serious cases of harm that occur as a result of them removing tasks from these jobs.

We have been asked by members in these roles as to when the final versions of the job descriptions will be on the intranet and NOMS confirm that this is imminent,  and that your line manager should provide one to you as part of the E3 1:1 process.

Family Court Update

The Family Court Section are in final preparations for their AGM in Cardiff which starts immediately before the full Napo AGM, and is then followed by their professional session on the Friday. I’m looking forward to some excellent debates and discussions around a number of professional issues as well as around the pressures staff are facing in an ever more pressing and stretched environment. The results of our recent TOIL survey amplify the workload pressures facing Cafcass. The reality, publicly acknowledged by senior Cafcass management there, is a service only continuing to deliver because of excess levels of good will,  which are unsustainable if workloads continue to rise faster than resourcing levels. More details of the TOIL survey findings will be shared with FCS members over the coming weeks but to see such a critical service supporting our most vulnerable children surviving by ignoring contracted hours, and frontline staff averaging a working week at or beyond the legal limits, is not only downright dangerous but unsustainable.  Napo will be looking to highlight this reality to politicians and Ministers as we campaign for solutions over the coming weeks and months.

Truss in the spotlight

Another busy week for the new SoSfJ saw the Minister make two parliamentary appearances. The first in the House of Commons for Parliamentary Questions on Justice where Shadow Minister Richard Burgon MP pressed her on our supplied question about the impact of reduced numbers of cases in the CRC's and the effect on the payments mechanism, and the following day at the Justice Select Committee, where it was expected that Ms Truss would articulate her teams plans for the next few years.

All in all the exchanges were not very illuminating, with a series of deft deflections combined with a genuine lack of knowledge which suggests that the new Secretary of State has some way to go on the learning curve. That may not be a bad thing in the long term of course and may indicate a willingness to think more flexibly, but the potential funding crisis in many CRC's means time is a luxury that our members do not have. We heard that this is one of a list of issues that her Ministers will be commenting on in 'due course' but we will keep pushing to remind the Minister that some things need doing now, actually.

Meanwhile, I am hopeful of receiving more news soon about the activities going on within the Probations Systems Review and I will come back to this as soon as I can.

We need a fully functioning NEC and sub-committees. Can you help?

Congratulations to those National Executive Committee nominees who will be forming part of the new NEC with effect from AGM 2016 to AGM 2018.

There are still vacancies as detailed below and further news on how to fill these will follow shortly:

Branch                                       No of Vacancies                         Gender Required

Cumbria & Lancashire                           1                                      Male or Female

Durham Tees Valley                              2                                      1 Male and 1 Female

East Midlands                                       1                                      Female

Family Court                                         1                                      Male or Female

Merseyside                                           1                                      Female

Napo Cymru                                         2                                      1 Male and 1Female

Northern Ireland                                    1                                      Male or Female

Thames Valley                                      1                                      Male or Female

Western                                                1                                      Male or Female

If any member is thinking about standing for an NEC position or a vacancy on Napo's sub-committees why not give me a call (via Annoesjka Valent) here at Chivalry Road? I will be pleased to spend a few minutes explaining what's involved and the importance of your contribution.

TUC and more

This Sunday sees the start of the 2016 Trade Union Congress in Brighton. We have two motions tabled for debate covering Criminal Justice reform and the need for better central support for Cafcass vital services, on which Yvonne Pattison and I will be seeking endorsement from Congress.  I also have at least one speaking engagement at one of the TUC fringes on electoral reform.

More news to follow next week then on the TUC, along with an update on our work on the E3 engagement agenda going forward and Napo's priorities as phase 2 is launched, and how we are using the Engagement meetings with NOMS to take your issues directly to those who can sometimes make a difference. I will also be summarising some of the key aspects of a detailed Branch Circular on potential NEC Reform that I will shortly be issuing.

Meanwhile have a good weekend.