Probation Job Evaluation Scheme (JES) – One Year On
Probation Job Evaluation Scheme (JES) – One Year On
A year ago, in July 2021, a review of the Probation Job Evaluation Scheme process was carried out jointly with trade unions. The review identified a number of recommendations and a central Job Evaluation Management Group (JEMG) was established to oversee the implementation of these recommendations.
A short-term recommendation of the review was a mapping exercise, which identified roles that were a high priority for job evaluation. Roles most urgently needing to go through the job evaluation process were placed in the Priority 1 group.
You can find out more about the Job Evaluation Scheme and the JES Review 2021 on the Probation Hub.
The job evaluations for roles within this first category are now complete and the PWP Job Evaluation project team would like to use this opportunity to share their thanks with those involved; we know it hasn’t always been a straightforward process.
Our priority as we reach this milestone is to look at how we can make improvements to the JES process. We are going to be working with the Strategy and Improvement team within PWP to look at the lessons learnt over the past year and the insight we can gain from the experience of stakeholders who have been involved with JES so far. If you would like to support and contribute to the lessons learned exercise, please contact Sheridan Percival (sheridan.percival@justice.gov.uk).
Work on Priority 2 roles has commenced; these are roles where an urgent business need for job evaluation has been identified – there are 13 roles in this group. Steady progress is being made and focus groups for some roles have already started. We expect work on P2 roles to progress throughout the remainder of this year and we will be implementing feedback and lessons learnt from the P1 group on an ongoing basis.
zARCHIVED: Joint Statement on Harmonisation – June 2022
Joint Statement on Harmonisation – June 2022
We are now very close to reaching the end of the negotiations on a proposal for harmonisation of terms and conditions, both for staff remaining in the Probation Service and those due to transfer on to HMPPS or MOJ, and we are now planning for trade union ballots on the offer. This has been a lengthy and complex process but one in which HMPPS and the TUs have remained determined in achieving the best deal for everyone impacted by harmonisation.
We know it is frustrating and stressful waiting for confirmation of the proposal on offer – and together, we want to thank everyone for their patience and resilience during the negotiations.
Once the proposed Harmonisation Agreement is in its final draft, members of the three recognised Trade Unions will be asked to accept or reject it in a ballot. Staff will receive details of the Harmonisation Agreement and Trade Unions members will receive details of the ballot process along with information and advice from the lead for their TU.
As you know, only members of the three recognised Probation Trade Unions can participate in the ballot. Each trade union will shortly be e-mailing all members who they have listed as being eligible to vote in the forthcoming ballot. All staff in the harmonisation group will be notified of the date that trade union members among them can expect to receive the e-mail. Members who do not receive the e-mail, and who are therefore not on the respective unions’ ballot registers, should contact their union after they know that the e-mail has been sent. If you have attempted to join one of the recognised trade unions recently, but have not heard back with confirmation of your membership, please contact the following named leads as soon as possible:
- Napo: Katie Lomas klomas@napo.org.uk
- GMBScoop: Peter Brandt peter.brandt@justice.gov.uk
For colleagues within Functional Leadership, we aim to commence consultation on Secondary Transfer activity towards HMPPS or MoJ alignment of terms following the ballot outcome and once again we thank you for your patience. We are discussing the best approach to achieving this and will provide impacted staff with a further update as soon as we can.
In the meantime, enquiries about both harmonisation and secondary transfer can be directed to the functional mailbox: HandSTenquiries@justice.gov.uk.
Thank you.
Approved Suite of Probation Practitioner Toolkits – Changes to Chemsex Toolkit
Approved Suite of Probation Practitioner Toolkits – Changes to Chemsex Toolkit
From immediate effect the Chemsex toolkit is now no longer available for delivery with new cases. It has been removed from the EPF Tool and no new NSIs within NDelius will be able to be opened.
For cases where delivery of materials from this toolkit is part way through, all delivery must be concluded ahead of 29 of July 2022, and PPs will need to close the Chemsex NSIs for existing, inflight cases no later than this date. The toolkits NSI will automatically closed by the NDelius team after this time.
A note alerting PPs to the date of removal for the NSI will be added onto the ‘maintenance banner’ within NDelius.
The decision was taken at the National Effective Interventions Panel and endorsed by the governance Board for toolkits – The Accredited Programmes and Interventions Delivery Strategy Board in 2022, not to approve the Chemsex toolkit for continued inclusion as part of the Approved Suite of Probation Practitioner Toolkits.
The materials content was recognised as having merit for re-purposing as a Probation Practitioner resource pack. It will provide practitioners with information and hints and tips to support work they undertake with people on probation where there is an offending related need linked to the use of chemsex drugs.
The resource pack will be made available on EQuiP for national use and more details will follow ahead of launch planned for Autumn 2022.
London region action
Ahead of the 29 July, London region should identify any existing cases where the chemsex toolkit is being delivered and finish this work and/or switch over to delivery from materials within the ASPPT.
Where work cannot be finalised ahead of 29th July, practitioners should liaise with Stephen Morris Chemsex Lead in London (Stephen.Morris@justice.gov.uk) to discuss what alternative materials from approved toolkits or other main menu intervention offers might best support finishing any outstanding work on areas of assessed need.
For further information on Toolkits visit the Toolkits page on the Probation Hub
Pre-Intervention
Pre-Intervention Module
Pre-Intervention Module Explained
What’s happening?
A tool is now available (6 June) to help practitioners structure conversations with people on probation about taking part in Structured Interventions.
What’s the benefit?
People on probation
When people on probation are referred to interventions, they might be experiencing a range of practical, social, emotional and psychological challenges that can affect their readiness to participate. This brief module will help people on probation get ‘group room ready’.
The module encourages participants to think about: how they might overcome barriers to engagement, changes they might want to make and how interventions might support change.
Probation Practitioners
The module enables practitioners to use their motivational skills to help people on probation prepare for Structured Interventions.
When can I use it?
It’s available from 6 June.
Who needs to know?
Whilst the module is designed to be delivered by the Probation Practitioner, regions have flexibility in how they choose to implement it and the interventions team will support and promote its use. The way that participants are supported in completing the module will be tailored to the way interventions are coordinated and resourced in that region. Support can be provided by:
- Another Probation Practitioner
- A facilitator appointed by the Programme Manager
- A peer mentor appointed by the Programme Manager
How to use it
The booklet has an interactive online format that can also be printed out to let participants record their thoughts in writing and share them with supporters.
The module is generic, but it is currently only mandated as a prerequisite for Structured Interventions. The module is designed to only need completing once, but it can be revisited throughout the sentence if this is deemed to be beneficial by the Probation Practitioner. Completion of the module is counted as a single Rehabilitative Activity Requirement day (no matter how many times it is revisited).
More information
Here’s the module in the SI workbook
Here’s guidance on how to complete the pre-intervention module
Guidance on how to complete the pre-intervention module can also be found can by clicking on the paper clip in the first step of the Structured Intervention EQUIP process map.
Video 1 A walkthrough how to use the tool (7mins 15secs)
Video 2 An account from a probation practitioner who has used it (3mins 49secs)
If you have any or any questions about the pre-intervention module, contact a treatment manager for Structured Interventions.
CRS deliver services to support resettlement for individuals in prison
Services that can be delivered via Commissioned Rehabilitative Services to individuals whilst in prison to support resettlement
Guidance for Probation Practitioners
Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) are a range of services delivered by specialist providers to meet key areas of rehabilitative need including: Accommodation; Employment, Training and Education; Personal Wellbeing; and Women’s Services.
Additional CRS are currently being commissioned and further updates will be provided in due course.
The following services can be delivered to individuals whilst in prison to support resettlement:
Accommodation – starts pre-release and continues after release to support sentenced people in prison to maintain tenancies or move into suitable accommodation.
Women can also be supported into accommodation by CRS Women’s Services.
Social Inclusion – One part of the Personal Wellbeing (PWB) service). This is a pre and post-release mentoring service to support transition from prison to the community and can help those who struggle or cannot cope with returning to the community after being released from prison. Social Inclusion services can help to reduce anxiety for those coming up to release and those who may have little or no support in the community. It can include a meet at the gate service.
Women can also access pre- and post-release mentors through the CRS Women’s Services.
Guidance and what’s new
Wherever possible, referrals should be made pre-release as this allows the Person in Prison to prepare for release.
However, for some men and women it is in effect not possible to make a pre-release referral. With effect from 4th May 2022, Probation Practitioners (via the CORRE for Wales) can now make post-release referrals to the Social Inclusion Service in a limited number of circumstances. These are:
- Men and women, unsentenced and held in custody, who are subsequently released ‘time served’, following sentence, direct from the sentencing court or from the prison where they have been held.
- Men and women approved under the Parole Board Executive Release process, where release is directed to take place within 3 working days of the instruction being made.
- Men and women sentenced to very short periods in custody of 1 day to potentially 7 days, by exception and where there is insufficient time, whilst in custody, for Probation Practitioners to make a referral to the CRS provider using the Urgent Timescale process. (The current ‘Urgent’ timescale captures Provider obligations for those with 14 days or less to serve but there is still concerns that a Probation Practitioner may not have capacity to make a referral on behalf of people on probation with a 1-7 days sentence.)
- Men and women who are released with a robust reintegration plan including sources of support during the period of transition from custody to community who, experience a sudden and unexpected breakdown of the plan and would benefit from the support offered within the SI service to reduce risk of reoffending / for stabilisation.
Post-release referrals can be made up to 6 calendar weeks after the date of release. After this time, people on probation should be referred to other pathways within the Personal Well-Being services.
This is a change in practice to how we have asked CRS Providers to deliver the Social Inclusion service. If you require further information or have any questions, please contact your CRS Provider.
Action and Top Tips
| Assess all people on probation who are close to release to see if they would benefit from this support. If so, make a pre-release referral to Social Inclusion via Refer and Monitor. |
| Only in cases where it is not possible to refer pre-release, make a post-release referral within 6 calendar weeks of the release date via Refer and Monitor.
If a person on probation has an urgent need for support, contact the CRS Provider to see if the Assessment Appointment can be arranged quickly. |
| For people on probation who – were released more than 6 calendar weeks ago or who are subject to a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement And who have emotional well-being needs or needs in relation to social isolation or poor relationships with family or peers which is linked to re-offending or overall stability – make a referral to one of the other pathways available in Personal Well-being. |
This a change in practice to how we have asked CRS Providers to deliver the Social Inclusion service. If you require further information or have any questions, please contact your CRS Personal Well-Being Provider.
zArchivedMay Statement on Harmonisation – May 2022
May Statement on Harmonisation – May 2022
This note provides a further update on the progress of the harmonisation negotiations currently underway between HMPPS and the 3 recognised Trade Unions; NAPO, UNISON and GMB SCOOP.
We have now held 9 negotiation sessions thus far which continue to be both positive and constructive in arriving at an agreed harmonisation package to align the pay, terms and conditions of former Parent Organisation and Supply Chain colleagues to those of the Probation Service – subject to union members approving that package via staff ballots.
All parties have engaged well in this process and remain highly motivated to arrive at a deal which represents the best harmonisation package for all -but we are not quite there yet. As such, we cancelled the scheduled staff update sessions to enable us to focus the time on concluding the negotiations.
We are now in the process of working through the final draft of the agreement, ensuring that all parties are satisfied with the content prior to sign off. We aim to conclude negotiations as soon as possible so that preparations can soon begin for the staff ballot, which we anticipate will now take place in June.
We will want to ensure there is sufficient time for you to fully understand the terms on offer prior to a ballot commencing. We will confirm actual ballot dates and time frames to you as soon as we can.
For those of you who have already signed up with a Trade Union, the TUs will be contacting everyone that has signed up and who they believe are in scope for the ballot directly. The TUs are also planning meetings with members to go through the agreement document once finalised. To help the TUs contact you, please do confirm your details to your harmonisation representative as soon as possible:
- NAPO: klomas@napo.org.uk
- UNISON: neil.richardson@justice.gov.uk
- GMB SCOOP: Peter.Brandt@justice.gov.uk
If you have joined a union and don’t hear from your representative soon, then contact the named TU rep above for the TU you have joined.
If you haven’t yet joined a union, remember that you need to be a TU member in order to have a vote. Participating in the staff ballot is the only way you can have your say and your views be formally recognised.
In the interim, if you have any questions about your own situation, then please contact your Trade Union representative (details above). General queries about the harmonisation or secondary transfer process can be submitted to the harmonisation functional mailbox; HandSTenquiries@justice.gov.uk.
MoJ Leadership School 2022: applications now open
The closing date for applications is 5pm, 29 April 2022.
Refer and Monitor Digital Round Up
All the latest Refer and Monitor (R&M) fixes, improvements and developments.