Preston and the aftermath
So today I want to focus on the journey that we have all been on since that terrible day back in July after the incident when a probation worker was stabbed in Preston.
I am sure we are all aware of how much of an impact this had on the whole of the probation community. For our colleagues in our probation offices, approved premises, court buildings and on our unpaid work sites throughout England and Wales.
And how long we have all been waiting for a meaningful response to the questions and answers to explain both the Preston incident and sadly the incident later in Oxford.
After months of discussion with the employer and a long, drawn-out police investigation, a number of recommendations, along with the constant pressure from you our members to address the growing number of violent incident and nonviolent incidents that have been reported on sphere with numbers gradually growing daily throughout probation.
Enhanced security in piloted areas
In December, it was announced that several security measures were to be piloted across the regions.
A working party was going to keep up with Napo health and safety leads along with our sister unions Unison and GMB Scoop for the purpose establishing a framework to design and implement a number of safety pilots in seven designated areas to address the issue of violence and aggression and at the same time to increase staff safety and confidence .
National health and safety leads have been regularly attending these working party probation safety meetings to address your concerns by scrutinising the process and also exploring the potential impact of the proposed changes on both probation workers and the people on probation. With particular importance on the completion of fit for purpose equality impact assessments for all the pilot areas.
And now following consultation with the employer these measures including the introduction of lockers universally are now being rolled out in all areas selected.
Over the coming weeks you will see the introduction of, a number of measures to include the presence of security guards, knife arches, electronic hand-held wands, body worn video camera surveillance equipment and a number of probation workers will have the opportunity to undertake personal safety training. Which you will be aware is a significant shift from the way you previously operated as probation workers within the PDUs and on unpaid work sites, and changes the whole dynamic of a working day for those working in the probation community including our reception staff, probation practitioners, probation workers and our supervisors on unpaid work sites throughout the regions where those pilots are introduced.
Because there is not and cannot be a blueprint when it comes to health and safety.
Your help is needed.
We want our health and safety reps to provide us with your observations reports because your diligence and feedback will be useful to assess this process going forwards.
What we really need throughout probation is national minimum standards for everyone when it comes to health and safety in probation. A demonstration of a duty of care under the health and safety at work act 1974 and working regulations not only where the pilots are being introduced, nationally.
Health and safety cannot be viewed as a postcode lottery, nor must it ever be regarded as a tick box exercise, regardless of where you work your safety must be paramount.
What has changed in probation?
Whilst Napo welcome the pilots as a response to address the growing presence of violence and aggression within the probation community we are daily reminded that along with the growth in violence and aggression there is also the need to address the issue that all those who work in probation in our offices, court buildings, approved premises and on unpaid work which are chronically understaffed, overwhelmed with unmanageable workloads, a growing number dealing with work related stress, occupational health referrals and sickness absence at an all-time high and the growing number of high risk cases are members are expected to manage which is a real contributory factor to the growth in violence and aggression.
In an organisation which has struggled to recruit, adequately train and retain the experienced staff needed for the process, we have been told that the employer is working hard to reduce the pressure on our members by April 2027 with the promise of a 25% workload reduction under our future probation however given that staff are already working way beyond capacity what happens in the meantime.
A message for all our health and safety reps working in Probation in the Pilot areas.
How is this change impacting on your everyday roll as practitioners and unpaid work supervisors’ reception staff for those who are working in sentence management, Napo want to hear your experiences and get your observations on the changing face of Probation. We are aware that there was particular focus on Diadem house in Preston and the Macmillan House, which were two of the areas that highlighted the significant failings in risk management, and we would be interested to hear your experiences.
We need a consistent approach to this change.
We need clear consistent communication.
We need the ability to question and review this process and could welcome further meaningful engagement with members at branch level.
Continue to record incidents on Spera
Raise your concerns at branch level.
And escalate your concerns through your local JCC.
Health and safety cannot be a tick box exercise we need to get this right.
Napo want you to continue reporting your incidents on Sphera including work related stress and we also want you to raise any issues you have through your local branch and escalate your concerns via the regional health and safety meetings and the JCC.
Also remember to raise issues that affect your members where the pilots are not being introduced. Ensure risk all GRAS are completed including GRA11 to be completed by Business managers and that that FM issues are addressed to include CCTV and panic alarms and that all safe working practice documents are updated and insist they are on the agenda at every JCC meetings as a health and safety agenda item. By doing this we can reduce risk and ensure those we represent our members are protected.
