Received from: NAPO
Congress notes the serious position in relation to the workload crisis in the Probation Service.
Government ministers agree that the Probation Service does the ‘heavy lifting’ in terms of trying to supervise an increased number of clients in our communities yet has failed to recognise the imperative of stemming the loss of both highly experienced staff and newer workers.
This situation threatens to undermine the broadly welcomed initiatives in the Sentencing Review to reduce the reliance on short term prison sentences and break the cycle of recidivism. Moreover, it presents a serious threat to public safety and requires bold spending decisions to boost the morale of a beleaguered workforce and attract, and better retain, new employees.
Congress therefore commits to explore opportunities to publicise the crucial role that probation workers have in our communities and supports the campaign objectives of their recognised trade unions to:
i. secure a realistic pay increase for Probation Service staff, which properly recognises these exceptional circumstances
ii. achieve safe and sustainable workloads
iii. achieve these objectives a campaign of industrial action maybe required.
Napo