November 22, 2006
Helen Edwards NOM
Helen Edwards, head of the National Offender Manager Service, addressed AGM on how she envisages the Service developing. To read her remarks download her speech Download file here.
Posted by jhaley at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2006
TUC speaks out at Napo AGM
Frances O'Grady, Deputy General Secretary of the TUC, attended our AGM and made a speech Download file
strongly supportive of the work of the public sector in general and Napo in particular.
Posted by jhaley at 05:56 PM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2006
Martin Wargent at AGM 2006
Don't miss the opportunity to read Download file
a very well received speech by Martin Wargent, now in his final months as Chief Executive of the Probation Boards Association.
Posted by jhaley at 06:39 PM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2006
Address by Mike McClelland to Conference
Mike McClelland, Napo's Chair, spoke at the AGM of our hopes and fears for the future for Cafcass which is still in its early years and for Probation now at the beginning of its second century of service. Download Chair's remarks here Download file
.
Posted by jhaley at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)
October 08, 2006
On the Fringe (2)
A feature of this year's Conference has been the range of meetings held outside formal AGM business.
There has been plenty of interest in meetings about health and safety, professional judgement, TUPe, pensions, and disability equality. Additionally, there have been meetings for PSOs, Managers, and Women in Napo.
ABPO and LAGIP have also held meetings for members.
Posted by jledger at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)
Judy's speech
You can download Judy's annual report presentation here:
Posted by jledger at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2006
Annual Report
Judy McKnight presented the annual report with a rousing speech proclaiming the high level achievements of public service workers in the NPS and Cafcass. She also warned the government that further attempts to privatise members' jobs would be resisted to the last by Napo and our allies. We plan to attach a copy of Judy's speech here soon.
Conference bid a fond farewell to Vicky Boroughs who has worked so hard and effectively as Vice Chair for the past 3 years. And it welcomed Tim Wilson as Vicky's replacement.
There was another forthright speech by Brian Caton, General Secretary of the POA, who pledged the POA's solidarity with Napo in our campaign against criminal justice privatisation. He made some sparky remarks about the performance and attitude of the Home Secretary!
Posted by jledger at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
Cafcass debate
The Saturday morning session for the Cafcass Section was addressed by Jane Booth, Operational Director for Cafcass, and Sian Griffiths, Napo Vice Chair. Also in attendance was Anita Davies, Cafcass HR Manager.
This was a full and frank discussion which covered partnership issues, in particular restructuring, recruitment, diversity, and equal opportunities. Jane was left in no doubt of the strength of members' feelings on the treatment of staff of all grades in the context of the constant threat of change and reorganisation.
This was a useful session and the involvement of senior Cafcass Managers was appreciated. They can be in no doubt that Napo members expect a positive response to the points they have raised.
Posted by jledger at 04:49 PM | Comments (0)
Debate on Future direction of the Probation Service
Speakers:
Helen Edwards
Roger Hill
Martin Wargent
Helen Edwards confirms that there will be a Bill on Probation and NOMS and contestability will be a key feature of that. She also stated that Civil Servants cannot speak to the media, (for example in defence of probation) if they have not been given permission by the Home Secretary.
Roger Hill stated that he will not defend a service that is not competent, he will however defend a competent Probation Service. He gave example of speaking to the media, about managing risks and the recall of parolees and is quite clear that the media and general public have no idea about the complexity involved in deciding whether or not to recall an individual who has re-offended/breach conditions of his/her parole licence. He told members that more needed to be done to ensure that public understands the work of the Probation Service.
Martin Wargent made his final speech at Napo's AGM. He gave his personal view on Public Value Partnership prospectus. He argued that the Probation Service is being set up to fail and in concluding
quoted Churchill's famous speech on not giving into the enemy and no retreat.
Posted by jledger at 04:03 PM | Comments (0)
Conference in motion(s)
AGM business has progressed speedily. Motions passed so far include those on Cafcass' failure to negotiate, unpaid work, diversity training, and children's rights.
Also passed, following debate and rejection of an amendment, was motion 22 on workload protection. The slow progress of the roll out and implementation of the workload measurement tool has caused increasing frustration for many members. The resolution, as agreed, provides that in the absence of a significant increase in workload protection by 1st December Napo will move to ballot for industrial action.
Posted by jledger at 12:31 PM | Comments (0)