The Popular Front for the Liberation of the C.P.S.A

DRAFT

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

1. This agreement provides the basis on which Jobcentre Plus will be taken forward in both the Pathfinder areas and nationally. The arrangements contained within it detail the manner in which Jobcentre Plus will see clients in a safe environment and the way in which these arrangements will be kept under review. They are also the basis of the agreement which resolves the current dispute over safety between management and PCS.

2. In recognition of an end to the dispute it is:

(a) agreed that within each Pathfinder cluster there will be a separate screened area or building (listed at Annex 1) for handling transactions that cannot safely be delivered in an unscreened environment Such transactions are outlined in the attached Annex 2. Management also confirms that, an individual member of staff will have the discretion not to see a particular customer in an unscreened area where he or she has good reason to believe that this could compromise their safety. Our expectation is that this discretion will be used infrequently and its exercise will be subject to review as part of the review process set out later in this agreement.

(b) agreed to start again the Risk Assessment process in the Brent Pathfinder, from first principles, as part of the forthcoming full national and local review of Risk Assessments. A revised start date for the Brent Pathfinder will be agreed with PCS as part of that review. In addition, management agrees to use the Pathfinder sites in Brent as a testing ground for trialling alternative furniture for Reception areas including, for example, "pop up" screening.

(c) agreed that the start of the Streatham pathfinder will be put back to 19 November. In the interim a further risk assessment will be carried out locally in consultation with PCS. Management will implement the recommendations which arise.

(d) agreed that the Generic Risk Assessment for Pathfinders is a living document and will be developed to reflect changes to design and delivery methods and in the light of experience of early live running. The Generic Risk Assessment will be revised during November 2001 to reflect any emerging issues following Pathfinders going live on 22 October. This version will also reflect recent decisions on the handling of Social Fund decisions, and the agreements set out in Annex 2 about the handling of work to be undertaken behind security screens, and on the availability and specification for security guards. The revised Generic Risk Assessment, which will be undertaken in partnership with PCS, will form the basis of a briefing for Risk Assessors early in November who are scheduled to undertake specific site Risk Assessments in November (except for South West Birmingham).

(e) agreed that the arrangements for identifying and handling potentially violent customers will be those currently existing in BA and ES and will ensure benefit delivery work for these customers can take place in a screened environment;

(f) agreed that management will increase the previously proposed level of security offered by security guards where appropriate through the provision of an enhanced service as shown at Annex 3. The specification for this service has been sent to Trade Unions and is also being discussed with our Service Providers (WS Atkins/Drivers Jonas/Trillium). This is being used by service providers to draw up requirements for each office and will be incorporated into the assignment instructions issued to security guards. Instructions will spell out their role and how they interface with Jobcentre Plus staff and will be incorporated into the health and safety documentation of each office. Discussions with TUs will be held as soon as possible to ensure that any immediate comments can be taken into account. Further discussions and comments will be undertaken as part of the review of the generic Risk Assessment in November. Our aim will be to introduce the enhanced service by the end of November,

(g) agreed to enter into negotiations in good faith about the framework for national and local industrial relations arrangements in Jobcentre Plus. For the immediate future, the arrangements for consultation put in place for implementing the Jobcentre Plus Pathfinders will continue, pending agreement of arrangements with PCS for consultation locally and nationally on Pathfinder issues. In the longer term, the employee relations arrangements for Jobcentre Plus from 1 April 2002 will also need to be agreed, within the wider context of the Department for Work and Pensions and its constituent businesses.

(h) noted that Management have been able to staff all of the new public facing posts in Jobcentre Plus Pathfinders on a voluntary basis;

(i) agreed that, for the longer term, management wish to staff any new posts requiring face to face contact with the public in Jobcentre Plus offices on a voluntary basis. Management will enter into discussions with Trade Unions about the voluntary staffing of these posts within the context of discussions about HR manpower planning for DWP as a whole;

(j) agreed that there will be a review of the Jobcentre Plus Pathfinders as part of the process of assessing their actual operation. Health and safety arrangements for the Pathfinders will be an important part of that review. Management and PCS will agree arrangements for the fullest possible involvement of PCS as partners in the review of Jobcentre Plus Pathfinders:
specifically in the review of Operational Effectiveness (including health and safety) including agreement to its terms of reference and timetable. All reviews will be fully evaluated and discussed with PCS. The reviews in question are:

Policy/operational review

Operational effectiveness (including health and safety)

Project reviews

Resources

(k) agreed that there will be a shared commitment to the delivery of Jobcentre Plus services in a safe environment which carries the confidence of staff and will encourage an open climate within which individuals can make choices between options for employment within DWP, including Jobcentre Plus.

3. In the event that any problems in respect of matters covered by this agreement cannot be resolved at local level after full consultation has taken place local management and local PCS representatives will refer the matter to Departmental management/PCS Group level for urgent resolution. This includes issues arising as a result of local risk assessments which raise matters of wider national importance.

ANNEX 1

screened environments in Pathfinder clusters updated 5.10.2001

ANNEX 2

JOBCENTRE PLUS PROCESS AND OFFICE ENVIRONMENT

The following table has been created for the purpose of clarity in negotiations between TUS and Management side.

The standards in this table do not replace the recommendations of local risk assessments, where they go further in defining the use of screened environments. Jobcentre Plus remains firmly committed to ensuring all recommendations of all local risk assessments are implemented before go-live.