On Thursday 16 March 2023, your PSA Industrial Officer, along with Court Logistics Classifications and Placements (CLCP) PSA Workplace Delegates met with CLCP management. Some of the main issues discussed at the meeting were:
Review of Quarantine Processes
CLCP Management raised this issue but at the time Cobham YJC had returned to daily Rapid Antigen Testing.
The issue is currently on hold.
Handcuff allowance
The handcuff allowance for CLCP members was brought to the attention of the Departmental Committee (DC) on 15 February. It was then discussed the following day at the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) and has been approved.
Members should see the allowance as the code YOAL on their pay slips.
Thanks to the frontline members and the Workplace Delegates for giving momentum and advice to this issue and bringing to the attention of the Department.
Update on Frank Baxter AVLs
Constructing of new AVL suites is moving along. New suites in the admission area will be renovated to include toilets.
OT issues/entitlements
Members’ concerns are that there is a perception that overtime (OT) is being allocated unfairly and would like a fair and transparent system, as is used within the centres.
Management reported that staff are asked every Monday to submit their availability for the weekend and that some staff will preference certain days, times or locations, which may lead to the appearance of inequity in that some areas may require more shifts to fill then others. This is regularly audited, and management has now shared this with the PSA and delegates.
If members have a concern or question, please contact your local delegate who will facilitate to CLCP management. This should be done in a timely manner so records can be readily accessed.
Acting-up opportunities
Members are concerned that it appears there is not a fair, transparent, and equitable system in place.
PSA Industrial Officer Gino DiCandilo will be given access to the OT Approvals and Acting Up Register to evaluate. Staff confidentiality will be maintained.
If members have a concern or question, please contact your local delegate who will facilitate to CLCP Management. As with OT concerns, this should be done in a timely manner so records can be readily accessed.
Staffing levels
It was noted by Delegates that some locations occasionally work short-staffed and the Court Supervisor is absent and not replaced.
Management reported that sometimes it just can’t fill positions as there are not enough staff to cover. In some circumstances management reports that the Court will work like a Remote Court, but this is the exception not the rule.
Within this item is also the issue of Youth Officers not being given the opportunity to assume the role of Acting Court Supervisor in the Youth Justice Court Custodial Units at these times.
Training was identified as a necessary for front-line staff in accepting fresh custodies if a Court Supervisor is not replaced. A new recruitment group is being trained and this should be help alleviate this issue.
PMES outcomes
It was reported the CLCP Unit specific results had not yet been released but when they are received, an action plan will be developed.
These issues will be followed up with examples and more in depth information over the coming weeks, please add to the conversation by providing any further information/evidence to your Workplace Delegate.
Current workplace Delegates
PSA Industrial staff