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Youth Offending Services (YOS) at risk in the face of more job cuts

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The Youth Offending Service (YOS) in Lambeth Council is facing another restructure and more job losses. Currently there are 32 people in the service, only a short while ago it used to be 52, but staff report that the work load means it needs to be more like 70.

Lambeth has a serious problem with child poverty and gang violence. The YOS is on the front line dealing with children with complex needs. The cuts are further damaging the ability to provide the service that is so urgently needed.

In addition the number of agency workers has sky rocketed. Many members of staff only stay for brief periods meaning that vulnerable young people can be seen by as many as six different case workers in the space of a year.

Depleted staff teams has led to casework overload, with too many cases falling on fewer shoulders.

Now YOS faces yet another reorganisation with potentially eight members of staff at risk. This is happening even though there are job vacancies in the teams.

Staff are also concerned that the new structure means there is little chance to job or career progression and won’t make best use of the many skills on the team to deliver the right service. The Council haven’t listened to staff about how to improve the service, ignoring their suggestions and forging ahead with a damaging restructure that is impacting on an already underfunded and over stretched service.

UNISON is arguing for no compulsory redundancies and to ensure the service can not only survive but improve its important provision for young people.

As one UNISON member in YOS explained; “It’s very demoralising. There is work to be done, but these cuts and restructures are making it hard to do it. The Council is not bringing in skilled people to engage with the kids to help them take responsibility for themselves. In seems that some people are being forced out because their faces don’t fit.”

 

Support for a pay increase from Lambeth Councillors

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Lambeth Labour councillors have passed a motion in support of the local govenment pay claim put in by UNISON and other unions.  It is an excellent motion that puts the demand fair and square on the government to lift the pay cap and give workers a decent pay increase. We have lost around 14% of our pay since 2010 and our members are fed up. Job cuts, decimated services, constant reorganisations and low pay to boot – we have our work cut out to give local government the boost it needs to get back on its feet.

 

Council management still failing Welfare, Employment and Skills staff

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The staff in the Welfare, Employment and Skills (WES) Team are again fighting to be treated fairly and with equality.

Since the January 2017 restructure proposals which put the jobs of the majority of WES staff at risk, while saving the jobs of senior managers, the staff together with UNISON have fought against bullying, victimisation and racism. Despite petitions, demonstrations, collective and individual grievances and direct appeals to WES managers, to directors, to strategic directors and to the Chief Executive for urgent intervention, the Council have systematically backed the conduct of WES managers.

In February UNISON wrote to the Chief executive in support of WES staff. This is an excerpt – ‘UNISON  strongly supports the positive work which you yourself initiated to increase BME representation at senior levels in the organisation. However, that positive work can all too easily be undermined when management disregard serious concerns expressed on behalf of a majority BME workforce about a restructure threatening most of that workforce with redundancy under the direction of (white) managers not themselves at risk. Lambeth has much to be proud of in its approach to the implementation of the Council’s public sector equality duty, but in this case that duty is being treated with disregard and staff and the trade union with disrespect.’

Since then things have deteriorated resulting in a further six staff leaving the WES and others with work related stress citing bullying and racism.

In June UNISON again appealed to the Chief Executive to intervene. We pointed out that managers in WES are abusing their positions by –

  1. Micromanaging staff – asking that they explain where they are going if they simply walk away from their desks; asking who they are speaking to on the telephone; not permitting staff to go to the shop for water in the hot weather etc.
  2. Giving staff reports to write or tasks to do within unreasonably short timefames.
  3. Refusing staff to work flexibly although managers do.
  4. Showing no compassion or support from their managers when staff have urgent family matters.
  5. Using review meetings to ‘manage staff out of employment’.

The weak response from the Council is evidence of their steadfast support of WES senior managers.

UNISON are equally steadfast in standing together with WES staff. We will continue to demand they are treated with respect.
If you would like to find out what you can do to support these staff or would like to send messages of support, please contact Hassina Malik  Hmalik@lambeth.gov.uk