Judy McKnight's Napolog

Web log of Napo's general secretary

May 26, 2007

Probation Boards to Trusts

Probation Boards are now being asked to decide if they want to become Trusts, even though no information is yet available on what Trusts will look like, what freedoms they will have etc, etc.

NOMS have now published:

• a letter from Jonathan Slater to Chairs and Chiefs
• The Response to the Consultation on Probation Trusts
• The Selection Process for First Wave Probation Trusts.

Each is available below.

The timetable is very tight with Boards being invited to show “an expression of interest” after a workshop for Chairs and Chiefs being organised on 4 June, with the “first wave” of Boards selected by late July.

Boards are promised more information on what freedoms, regulation etc Trusts might expect at the 4 June workshop, but at the moment Boards are being expected to “express interest” with no information being available.

It is understood that Chairs and Chiefs told Roger Hill and Richard Cullen what they thought of this mess, in no uncertain terms, at a Chairs and Chiefs meeting on 11 May.

Boards are also being expected to press on as if the legislation were in place, when there may still a possibility at least, that the legislation could face difficulties in achieving royal assent before the summer.

Napo also remains particularly concerned about the lack of information to date on the freedoms that Trusts will have. We know for example, that some Board Chairs want to see the end of national collective bargaining. Although we have had verbal assurances on this point from Gerry Sutcliffe and Helen Edwards, we are yet to get them in writing. This is also one of the House of Lords amendments that we need to see agreed.

Branches are being asked to hold urgent discussions with their Chairs and/or Chiefs, to discuss their plans on the attached paper on the Selection Process, and to seek assurances that they will be fully involved and consulted at every stage.

Usefully, good relations with unions are specified as one of the factors that will be taken into account in the selection process.