100 / 181
5
Resolution 8
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.
Conference notes that the government’s ill thought out plans to “reform” probation
(3)
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.
Resolution 9
Oppose the Privatisation of Children’s Services
(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.
(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.
Implementation
Solidarity has been given to NAP
throughout this struggle and the
General Secretary attended their
Conference as a speaker.
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.