Ian Lawrence and Tony Perkins report….
Understandably, Napo continues to field enquiries about the need for urgency in respect of security improvements to the Probation Estate in the wake of the appalling incidents in Preston and Oxford last year.
This update provides news about our ongoing discussions with senior HMPPS management through our regular meetings with the National HMPPS Health Safety, Fire and Litigation team, and the newly formed Probation Security Group, where we are monitoring the implementation programme for the intended pilot initiatives that are to be trialled across parts of the probation estate.
At the same time as we receive regular reports from our Link Officers and Officials about Health and Safety issues, we also hold monthly meetings with Napo’s network of Health and Safety Representatives. Here, we receive vital feedback about the quality of reporting of the various types of incidents and ‘near misses’ that occur across the network, and the dialogue that takes place between regional management and the unions on Health and Safety.
The Napo H&S Network meeting this week was especially helpful, and confirmed what we have been told by members that the cause of the increases in violence and verbal abuse that many of you face has a lot to do with the fact that the service is seeing more people, some of whom become especially angry at the lack of available support. Probation is losing sight of its traditional values and clients often see us as just another punitive and unhelpful organisation, especially in light of ‘reset’ and programme prioritisation, as people just aren’t getting the time to sit down with people who are on probation in the way they used to. We continue to urge senior management that extending ‘best practice’ (such as the types of supervision available within Women’s Centres), presents a more constructive climate.
As we have said before, it’s important that Napo builds on its local network of health and safety reps, and it’s good to be able to report that places on our training courses are being taken up very quickly. That said, there are plenty of opportunities for new reps to step forward and help ensure that members voices are heard on this vitally important issue. Please contact Tony Perkins aperkins@napo.org.uk or ilawrence@napo.org.uk if you want to know more.
Read here about Probation Safety Pilots