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27 AUG 2021

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Most relevant to colleagues in CRCs, Parent and Supply Chain Organisations

Role alignment

UPDATE MAY 2021: Read Jim Barton and Sonia Flynn’s recent role alignment letter, aimed at people who don’t have an agreed role match.

UPDATE JUNE 2021: Read Jim Barton’s update on Job Evaluation. 

The role alignment process is an important part of your transition to the new probation service. Whilst the vast majority of you will be doing the same role, in the same location and with the same manager on day 1, some people will experience a change in role, team, job title or job description – the role alignment process will clarify this.

Role alignment is what enables us to begin the pay assimilation process, for those in scope for the National Agreement, which in turn ensures that you are paid correctly and on time when you transfer.

The role alignment process is relevant for everyone who is transferring in to the new probation service, but the process will be different for different groups, depending on their role.

  • Most roles will align easily with roles in the NPS.
  • Some roles will need to be reviewed to determine where they align.
Read the full role alignment fact sheet

Click the + to learn more about the role alignment process.

  • The programme are currently finalising the list of roles that will align on an accepted basis.
  • Once this list is finalised, current employers will be informed and they can begin to communicate to staff. This is expected to happen in March.
  • For some people, your job title will stay the same. Others May experience a change in job title or description, this is because work is described differently by different employers.
  • The role in this category are the ones that map easily to NPS roles, such as SPO, PO or PSO (and many more).
  • Roles in this group will be reviewed using role information provided by current employers. This review is done by a panel. Panels are likely to happen in March and April.
  • The panel will be made up of people from the organisation (NPS, HMPPS, MOJ)  who understand the specific area of work. You will not be asked to attend the panel. 
  • When a panel is complete, current employers will be told the outcome and will communicate to you.
    If your role was aligned by a panel, then you can appeal the decision if the right criteria are met.  Your union is available to assist and represent you at your matching appeal.
  • If there are roles that don’t align to the NPS then we will look to see if those roles align to roles in the wider organisation.
  • All roles that fall in to this group will be handled on a case by case basis.
  • Read more about corporate and support services role alignment here.

Role alignment is an important step in the transfer journey.

  • Role Alignment

    We expect the majority of role alignment outcomes to have been confirmed by late April / early May. This may take longer for some roles that don’t align as easily to existing roles.

  • Pay assimilation

    If the National agreement applies to you, your role will be aligned to an NPS pay band and your pay will be assimilated to the NPS pay scales. The process uses information from the role alignment process.

  • Data given to payroll

    The data from the pay assimilation process or data from current employers is given to our payroll provider who will ensure you are paid correctly and on time.

  • Transfer letter

    In June, you will receive a transfer letter that outlines your role, pay and other key employment information. You will then transfer to the new probation service on 26th June.

If you have questions about role alignment or another part of the transfer process, please read the FAQs and if your question isn’t addressed, contact your current employer.