Workforce Planning

The POVB and Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) have recently commenced discussions regarding Workforce Planning. We belive policy has been ignored for the past four years, and POVB inclusion of Workforce Planning has not been undertaken.

It is clear we are unable to adequately staff locations daily. However, positive consultation is currently under way, including a meeting with the new Commissioner next week. CSNSW has agreed to ongoing consultation as per policy.

This outcome was achieved due to all POVB sub branches providing motions of support to the state executive.

195/209 Formula

Once again, this formula clearly not working and needs to be reduced. We will continue to decline on the frontline if we remain at 195 as today’s challenges were not present when this figure was initially put in place. The PSA knows urgent talks must commence on this subject, and has meetings scheduled with the New Commissioner on this topic.

Variable Operating Routines/Safe staffing

The POVB will not be compromising on staff safety. We understand lock-ins are inevitable when we are unable to fully staff a location. However, CSNSW has a duty of care to its staff and inmates by exhausting all options to ensure a location is fully staffed, preventing the need for lock-ins.

Sick Leave Reviews

Frontline members are continually under pressure. These are due to staff shortages and new policy changes, including COVID directions.

Members will take Sick Leave more often under such conditions. Therefore the POVB is requesting that Sick Leave Reviews are put on hold whilst we are under the pressure of trying to cover an inadequate workforce. This pause in the reviews can be reviewed every six months, with the inclusion of the POVB in the review.

Staff association 

POVB members have real concerns that staff members are being moved rather than inmates.

Not only do we believe this is morally wrong but, in most cases, it increases workers’ compensation claims.

In some centres, staff are finding it difficult to perform their duties as per policy for fear of false accusations and either suspension or being directed to move from the centre. This will no doubt lead to industrial action, as refenced in Motion 24/56 POVB Delegates To Management (DTM) November 2024:

We the members of the POVB management committee demand CSNSW immediately move an inmate from a centre when a staff association is reported.

If the movement of the inmate is not facilitated within 72 hours industrial action may occur.

The interim measure to be adopted during this 72 hour period is as follows:-

1. Inmate to be placed on a Section 78A care in placement status.
2. The affected staff member to be rostered in another area ensuring no inmate contact pending the inmates removal from the centre.

Bed crisis backlog into courts

The POVB has asked CSNSW what strategy it has moving forward on the growing issue of remand inmate numbers.

There is a need to re-open beds to enable the remand and 24-hour court location to function.

Statement of Duties

The POVB is positive with the way Mid North Coast Correctional Centre is progressing and believes the centre will be finalised within coming weeks.

There may be one or two teething problems initially, but the POVB is confident resolutions will be found.

A number of items were identified requiring further discussion with COVB Executive and CSNSW which will need to be addressed.

Both POVB and COVB Executive will need a date to meet with CSNSW on.

• Threat risk assessment, which is currently in dispute with the COVB.
• POVB members will not complete the Assessment tool – inmates under threat form.
• Work as directed is used too freely by CSNSW management.
• Completion of Segregation, Special Manager Accommodation Placements (SMAP) or Protection orders: CSNSW agreed the OIC of the centre after hours only needs to facilitate a report and email to the relevant Functional Manager (FM), Manager of Security or Governor and house appropriately overnight.
• Review of cell placement decision. Ongoing dispute statewide.

This means SCOs and below do not do the following responsibilities, in medium and large centres unless previous agreements/Local Operating Procedures/Statement of Duties are in place:

• Inmate discharges on an A watch.
• Case management interviews.
• Intel, unless your centre has a Senior Correctional Officer (SCO) Intel Assistant.
• RITs, unless your centre has a stand-alone SCO Risk Intervention Team position.
• Supervisor reports on an A watch.
• Segregation, SMAP or Protection paperwork and reviews.
• Checking officer
• Will not complete the Assessment tool – inmates under threat form on A, C or B Watch.
• POVB members do not complete Applications/Grievances
• Rostering on an A Watch.
• Inmate discipline package; SCO and below does the misconduct only.
• Urinalysis; we take the inmate to the room and supervise the sample being taken.
• Tablets; we do not issue or assign tablets to inmates. This is classed as new business and we received no new staff for this responsibility.
• Journal validations; the SCO can sign that they have checked to see that the Journal is being completed.
• Targeted staff bag searches; Gate staff will monitor the X-ray machine and question staff and ask to look at an object if it shows up on the X-ray and ask to remove if it is not acceptable for entry, then report it to FM Security. We have a long-standing motion of more than 15 years that we do not do targeted searches on staff in a private room. The SCO Gate is to accompany a FM when this process is taking place and the FM is to conduct the search where staff are asked to empty the contents of their bags and pockets.
• Section 24: To be completed by FM on A watch. To be completed by OIC after hours.

Inmate tablets

The State Executive reaffirms the position it has held for more than two years. Tablets are new business and until such time as CSNSW provides additional resources, POVB members will not be participating with the new duties associated with tablets. This includes issuing, assigning, collecting, audits, record keeping and serviceability inspections. We will facilitate Trusted Sweeper access only.

The POVB endorses in-cell charging due to prolonged lock-ins.

The POVB supports the like-for-like replacement of paper-based requests for eforms requests moving forward. POVB members do not complete grievances (applications).

Transparency in Temporary Appointments.

The POVB State Executive has asked for business rules on the subject.

Higher Duties

The POVB State Executive continues to raise concerns that Higher Duties are not being shared equally.

Professional Standards and Investigation

PSA is still running a matter in the Industrial Relations Commission with Justice Chinn. The matter is ongoing, and the PSA will provide updates on the outcomes.

Justice Health coverage

This is an ongoing issue. Justice Health (JH) is unable to perform the basic needs of inmates due to their own staffing issues. We have locations with more than 1000 inmates and no nurse available after certain hours to attend to inmate needs.

It has become common practice for JH to direct that the inmate must be sent to hospital for minor medical issues. Justice Health has now become a pill packer and only able to take basic medical observations.

Body-worn cameras

As a cost-savings measure, CSNSW has allocated a body-worn camera (BWC) to each post. It has implemented a system where BWC users are reliant on an Officer who is issued an evidence.com Pro-License, which enables the license holder to log into all Officers’ BWC footage within the centre.

The POVB states CSNSW should purchase a BWC for every Officer in NSW and issue them the standard evidence.com license. Therefore each Officer can view and tag their own footage and the chain of evidence cannot be compromised. We raise concerns about the way CSNSW has implemented the licensing on evidence.com in order to save money, which may put the licensed Officer at risk of misconduct as it breaches 13.09 of the Custodial Operations Policy and Procedures (COPP). Basically, it is a breach of the COPP to log into your computer to enable other staff to have access.

Furthermore, if the Pro-license user was to log on and witness perceived misconduct, they would be obliged to write a witness report. The POVB is opposed to placing POVB members in such a position.

Officers are reminded that being a Pro-Licence user is voluntary.

Uniform update

New load-bearing IAT vests are available for use, if desired, through the Admin Manager. The option to use the old IAT vests remains as per General Manager Security Operations Group.

New type cargo pants will be available on the uniform portal in coming months. if not sooner.

Concerns have been raised regarding the currently issued belt utilised by all CSNSW staff due to excessive equipment overloading the weight on employees’ hips.

Body scanner

It is still the individual Officer’s choice if they would like to perform body scanning. It is voluntary, not mandatory,  to hold a body scanner license.

Firearms

The E band trial has finished, and it has not been supported by JH or CSNSW. Therefore the E Band has been withdrawn as a non-lethal option with CSNSW.

Non-lethal options that are currently under testing and review can be seem HERE. A promotional video for the Byrna option can be seen HERE.

OC spray has been trialed and is under review for use on hospital escorts as a non-lethal option.

Corrective Services Industries Delegates

A POVB Facilities Maintenance sub branch has been formed. Please contact Chair Paul Friend for any issues.

State Executive membership

There has been a change to the leadership within the State Executive.

Jason Charlton has stood down as Chair of the POVB and is now a PSA Industrial Officer. Keith Smith has stepped up to POVB Chair, a move endorsed at the last DTM.

Trevor Clark is standing down due to a workplace injury and is unavailable to perform State Executive duties.

Nadina Avenell has been brought in as Country Vice Chair to stand in for Trevor Clark until he is fit to return to work.

Chair
Keith Smith
0407 935 039

Vice Chair
Cameron Kennedy
0448 962 961

Secretary
Andrew Brown
0422 890 159

Vice secretary
Gregory Clark
0415 929 105

Country Vice chair
Darren King
0407 935 039

Country Vice chair
Nadina Avenell
0413 427 690

Overseer Delegate
Gareth Ballard
0422 883 400