On 11 January 2024, the PSA attended meetings at Long Bay Hospital and at Metropolitan Special Programs Centre to hear the presentation CSNSW gave the centres regarding the CSNSW Bed Consolidation that was announced on 10 January 2024..
Long Bay Hospital
Has been advised of the following
Inmates removed and beds placed offline
12 wing – 150
13 wing – 150
Seg Unit – 16
Total 316.
Outpatients will be facilitated via MSPC 7 and 9 wing with the escorts undertaken by the medical escort unit.
Staffing removed from P28.
Custodial
Governor or MOS
No loss
COVB
SAS 2
POVB
SCO – 11
CO – 51
Overseers
No loss
Non-Custodial
3 SAPO
2 Case Management
1 SAPTL
Total – 70
MSPC
Have been advised:
Inmates removed and beds placed offline:
Kevin Waller Unit – 26
10 wing – 82
Total 108.
Inmates from Kevin Waller will be transferred to MRRC.
Staff
Custodial
Governor or MOS
No loss
COVB
No loss
POVB
SCO – 2
CO – 7
Overseers
No loss
Non-Custodial
1 at this time we have not been informed what role it will be.
Other Information received:
- CSNSW did not provide staff with a HR plan.
- CSNSW did not provide staff with vacancies around the state.
- CSNSW did not provide staff with the what the current staffing profile in each centre looked like with vacancies.
- CSNSW stated custodial staff can remain at the centre surplus. The PSA is concerned about this and asked CSNSW what their intention is with the management of excess staff. This is an issue that we will continue to raise to get a resolution for the members.
- CSNSW did state that there is a EOI for SAPO’s in the community. CSNSW did not provide information regarding what happens to staff if they do not apply for these roles or if they are not successful if they apply. This is an issue that we will continue to raise to get a resolution for the members.
- CSNSW want to start consultation in both centres from 15.01.2024 by forming a committee and working through the P28. They expect this to be finalised in 1 week.
- The following week they expect to do the HR process.
- On the third week they expect to transition to the new P28 and the reduction of inmates/beds.
- The PSA raised that this timeframe is unacceptable to the PSA and asked why it had to take place so quickly. CSNSW could not give us a clear explanation.
- The PSA stated that without the change management plan no consultation will take place in any centre until the PSA had got it and had the time to go through the plan and ensure that it is fair and reasonable to the affected staff/members.
Yesterday the President Nicole Jess wrote to the Acting Commissioner informing CSNSW that as per the Premier & Cabinet guidelines CSNSW must give PSA a change management plan. It also stated that we will not consult with CSNSW on any changes to a centre until we get one.
At the time of this bulletin going out PSA has not received a change management plan or been advised that we will be getting one.
The PSA is aware that both centres management have sent out emails to all staff informing them of the intention to proceed with the above format and has asked for volunteers to be part of the committee process.
Next week CSNSW will be presenting to Cessnock on Monday 15th January, Goulburn on Wednesday 17th January and we have asked that the meeting for Bathurst be moved to next week, so staff do not have to be kept in a state of stress of what the proposed outcome is for the centre.
Direction
The PSA is directing all members, from all subbranches, in MSPC and LBH not to partake in any consultation until CSNSW has provided PSA with the change management plan for the CSNSW Bed Consolidation reform. The PSA will keep you updated as information becomes available.