National Probation Service for England and Wales: Pay

(asked on 27th April 2020) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 21 April 2020 to Question 33718 on National Probation Service for England and Wales: Pay, in what ways probation pay is linked to professional development.


Answered by
Lucy Frazer Portrait
Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This question was answered on 4th May 2020

In line with the NPS Pay Modernisation Agreement of 2018, the NPS is committed to working in partnership with Trade Union colleagues to develop a pay progression framework that is fair, fit for purpose and sustainable. Collectively, we have experienced delays due to the complex and detailed nature of the work, as we need to get any new framework right for our staff. We are continuing our work on proposals for the future strategy and framework with Trade Union colleagues to ensure that it is suitable for the entire workforce.

The NPS Pay Modernisation Agreement of 2018 outlines that the proposed competency-based framework is to, among other considerations, account for professional development as one of its design principles. It notes agreement to further talks recognising that HMPPS is committed to ensuring NPS pay modernisation reflects the probation profession and rewards continuous professional development. Professional development is intrinsically linked with competency. To build and demonstrate competence, staff will need to access learning and development opportunities throughout their careers. That is why we are improving our training and development offer to staff as part of the Probation Workforce Programme.

The consideration of professional development as part of a new pay progression scheme was outlined in the NPS Pay Modernisation Agreement of 2018, to be developed in partnership with Trade Unions. As part of the work to develop a new pay progression scheme, the NPS is considering the various constituent parts of what determines competency to best ensure that the scheme is fair, fit for purpose and sustainable. Professional development is a significant part of that consideration, which will help drive the development of a new strategy and framework to ensure that it is suitable for the entire workforce.

As per normal practices, MoJ and HM Treasury officials are aware of the issues faced by the NPS and trade unions partnership, and are supportive of the ongoing constructive engagement between colleagues.

I am extremely grateful for the hard working and committed staff across the National Probation Service, especially during this challenging time.

We appreciate that some National Probation Service staff were expecting their pay award on 1 April 2020 and it is with regret that this has not been possible. We are committed to commencing formal negotiations with our Trade Union colleagues once the Public Sector pay guidance has been published and unfortunately the impact of COVID-19 has delayed this process. We are committed to making sure that payments due to our staff are made as soon as is practicable and any pay award due will be backdated to 1 April 2020.

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