EC Meeting March 2017

5

Resolution 8

Implementation Solidarity has been given to NAP throughout this struggle and the General Secretary attended their Conference as a speaker.

Outsourcing and Accountability

(1) On the 1st June 2014 the Probation Service was split into 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies, and a National Probation Service. On 18th December 2014 the 10 year contracts for the CRC’s were signed off with the new providers with a view that the contracts are mobilised in February 2015. (2) Since the split last year the probation service has been in chaos. There are significant staff shortages which are resulting in high workloads, impacting on service delivery and causing significant levels of stress for staff. ICT failures have resulted in staff having to duplicate work up to four times before assessments and reports can be saved successfully on the IT systems. None of the IT is Assistive Technology friendly having a disproportionate impact on disabled staff. Sickness absence has doubled in both organisations in just four months with 46% of members reporting stress related problems due to their work. In some cases, when members tried to raise concerns about public safety and staff welfare with clients, MPs and other stakeholders they were threatened and criticised. This Biennial Conference calls on all unions to work together to fight stress at work by sharing and promoting best practice; and championing managers and staff who raise these concerns internally and when necessary externally. has had a serious impact on Napo members with little or no consideration for their wellbeing. This in turn has had an impact on service delivery which in our view places a direct risk to the public as it undermines public protection and risk management. We call on this GFTU Biennial conference to support all public sector workers who are being asked to do more for less. We acknowledge the impact the outsourcing of probation has had on staff, communities and offenders. Conference supports Napo’s campaign to hold all probation providers accountable to deliver quality services, a duty of care to employees and provide ongoing support for our members in relation to health and safety, good practice and good industrial relations. Conference notes that the government’s ill thought out plans to “reform” probation (3) (1) Government have planned for the marketization and privatisation of children’s social services, including child protection investigations and assessments, since early 2014. After huge public opposition to initial proposals, Government moderated regulations to limit transfers to not-for-profit mutual or charities. (2) This U-turn is a sham. Similar rhetoric was constant throughout the part- privatisation of probation, with the Cabinet Office spending around £2.5 M promoting not-for-profit and mutual bids. The outcome saw the 3rd Sector excluded apart from a few minor partners in for profit multi-national consortia - Interserve and Sodexo winning over half of all probation contracts between them. (3) The DfE are actively encouraging big corporates to set-up “charitable not-for-profit fronts”, who they control, direct and ‘sell’ their support services to, justifying their corporate investment. Privatisation fails to deliver what’s promised for users and taxpayers. Expected savings are unrealistic and user interests become secondary to reducing costs and maximising profits. Services become less accountable as local, regional and national politicians shift the blame when things go wrong and the companies blame poor contract design and management when they get caught ripping off the public (e.g. Serco and G4S in prison and tagging contracts). For these profiteers negotiating with Government is like playing cards with a drunk. Resolution 9 Oppose the Privatisation of Children’s Services

The GFTU supported a letter from play work campaigners in The Guardian end May 2015 protesting against the decline in London services. The General Secretary acted as Chair of the Chooseyouth Campaign throughout the period and had many articles on the decline of children’s and youth service published. A special campaign meeting of Chooseyouth was held in April 2016 and good national publicity was achieved.

(4) But most importantly, morally some things should just never be sold for a profit. Support and help to our most vulnerable young people should never be for sale.