PODCAST

The POA podcast

POA Podcast

The podcast of the Prison Officers" Association UK

business non-profit

All Episodes

00:23:30

The POA and the Prison Service Pay Review Body

The POA podcast ·

2024/11/01

Following the removal, in 1994, of the right to strike in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Prison Service Pay Awards have been recommended to government by a Pay Reivew Body. In this episode GS Steve Gillan and AGS Andy Baxter look at whether this so-called "compensatory mechanism" is a fair alternative, how the POA interacts with it to try and get the best for members, and the union's continuing campaign for the restoration of the right to take industrial action as and when necessary.

00:21:38

The importance of reporting accidents and near-misses

The POA podcast ·

2024/10/01

The POA’s new health and safety structure has now beenaugmented by a refreshed reporting system for accidents and near misses. In this episode, Assistant General Secretary Mick Pimblett, NEC members Jackie Marshall and Health and Safety Consultative Committee member Paul Telford from HMP Frankland discuss the importance of good reporting and reflect on how the HSCC has marked a step change in this vital area of POSA activity. More information at poauk.org.uk. The retired members' survey is still

00:13:59

Retired Members go from strength to strength

The POA podcast ·

2024/09/10

The Committee recently hosted it’s first gathering for Retired Members at the Cassa Club in Liverpool. We hear from the national officials, committee members, retired members and guests who were there on the importance and value of such events, their hopes for the future and the importance of a just-launched retired members' survey - the QR code in the podcast logo will take you to the questionnaire. Original audio recording by Consequential Films. More information at

00:11:45

National Chair's briefing

The POA podcast ·

2024/08/23

National Chair Mark Fairhurst gives a key update on the POA members' survey and prison overcrowding. More information at poauk.org.uk. Running time 11.45s

00:15:45

New Government and Pay Review Body update

The POA podcast ·

2024/08/02

In this episode, recorded on the day the Government bothpublished and accepted all 14 recommendations from the Prison Service Pay Review Body, National Chair Mark Fairhurst and General Secretary Steve Gillan reflect on the first month of the new Labour Government. As you’ll hear, the verdict so far is one of cautious optimism, but no lessening of effort and focus from the union’s leadership in pursuit of a fair deal for members. More information at poauk.org.uk

00:23:02

POA conference review

The POA podcast ·

2024/06/25

The union’s annual conference is the most important fixedevent in the POA calendar. In this episode we look back at last month’s event with National Chair Mark Fairhurst and General Secretary Steve Gillan. We also hear from some first-time delegates and first time speakers at conference on their experiences. More information at poauk.org.uk. Delegates’ sound recordings by Greg McDonald of Consequential Films.

00:19:48

POA and the TUC Women's Conference

The POA podcast ·

2024/06/06

In this episode we look at the role of the union in theannual TUC’s Women’s Conference held recently. We ask what is the importance of the Conference? And how does it contribute to the drive for greater inclusivity and equality within the POA? The episode also talks about the campaign for greater recognition of fertility and baby death issues. You can get advice and support from Tommy’s, a charity that offers support to all women and couples through baby loss and fertility issues with expert

00:17:32

Prison overcrowding, the General Election and...

The POA podcast ·

2024/05/30

In this special episode, National Chair Mark Fairhurst andGeneral Secretary Steve Gillan share the background to the latest overcrowding crisis, the forceful response from both the union and senior HMPPS management - and the potential risks of the current period of political “purdah” between now and the General Election on 4 July. Mark and Steve also set out the union’s priorities and hopes for the post-election period and discussions with whichever government follows the one that is currently

00:25:31

Getting it right on Health and Safety

The POA podcast ·

2024/05/08

The union has recently reviewed and renewed it’s Health and Safety Consultative Committee and already the changes are having a positive effect. In this episode, National vice-chair Dave Todd, NEC member Jackie Marshall and lay committee members Paul, Zaz and Jade talk about how the committee works hard to deliver for members, the current key health and safety challenges, and what drives the committee members to get involved in this area of the union’s work. More information from

00:16:12

Women's Networking event take 2!

The POA podcast ·

2024/04/12

As part of the union’s campaign to support and empower women members, a second Women’s Networking Event was held earlier in the year. In this episode, Amy Crook from HMP Long Lartin and NEC member Jackie Marshall talk about why this event has become such a popular feature in the union’s calendar – ranging from what participants like Amy get out of bringing women members together in a mixture of formal and informal sessions, to all the work that takes place behind the scenes to make the events

00:13:00

Time to banish blades from prisons!

The POA podcast ·

2024/03/25

Weapon related assaults of prison staff have increased from10% of all assaults in 2010 to 25% in 2022 – and knife and blade attacks have increased by 16% in the most recent year that statistics are available for. Despite awful assaults with life-changing consequences, the response of the employer and of government has been slow. The union is awaiting the outcome of pilot exercises on the removal of razors. This is expected imminently but the union has persistently said that this over

00:13:47

The POA Welfare Fund and Firefighters' Charity

The POA podcast ·

2024/02/28

The POA Welfare fund is one of the union’s “jewels in thecrown.” Funded by and for members, £1 of each month’s union subscription is ring-fenced for the Welfare Fund, whose objectives are “the relief of the poor and sickness.” In this toolkit podcast, POA General Secretary Steve Gillan talks about the origins and workings of the Fund and of the amazing rehabilitation work done by the Firefighters’ Charity, which POA members can naccess through the Welfare Fund. These are two important and

00:18:45

Private Sector membership and organisation

The POA podcast ·

2024/02/14

For better or worse, the private sector is now part of the landscape in the prison and custodial sector. The POA has a fast growing private sector membership and local officers who have to engage with a different breed of managers and employers. In this episode we look at the work of the union’s Private Sector Consultative Committee and talk to reps about their experiences of dealing with Sodexo, Mitie, G4s and Serco. More information at www.poauk.org.uk

00:17:56

The POA at Manston

The POA podcast ·

2023/12/19

In this episode we meet the newly formed POA Committee at Manston Short-Term Holding facility and discuss the unique work of POA members at the juxtaposed sites in France.

00:16:28

The challenges of working in the Youth Custody...

The POA podcast ·

2023/11/16

Terry McCarthy is the member of the POA’s National Executive Committee who has lead responsibility for the union’s members who work in the YCS. What he has to report may surprise or even shock POA members who have only worked in the adult sector. www.poauk.org.uk

00:14:08

New First Aid/Emergency First Aid standards explained

The POA podcast ·

2023/11/09

HMPPS have recently issued mandatory new standards for First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work. In this Toolkit podcast, Deputy General Secretary Joe Simpson explains the background to the new standards, and the practical consequences of them. POA circular 078 of 2023 refers - you can access that here.

00:10:55

Union victory on Fitness Tests, and what's happening...

The POA podcast ·

2023/10/17

National Chair Mark Fairhurst on seeing the union's persistence on Fitness Tests yielding results, and the truth behind the HMP Wandsworth Independent Monitoring Board report. For information on all POA activity, visit www.poauk.org.uk

00:39:50

The POA and political activity

The POA podcast ·

2023/10/10

The union’s political activity is at the heart of this episode. General Secretary Steve Gillan and Parliamentary Researcher Charley Allan discuss why political activity is unavoidable, how the union makes sure its voice is heard loudly in Parliament, and the importance of the union’s Political Fund. More information at poauk.org.uk . Follow the union on Facebook and X

00:30:39

Behind These Doors - in conversation with Alex South

The POA podcast ·

2023/09/10

In this episode we are joined by former Prison Officer and POA rep, author Alex South. Her book Behind These Doors detailing Alex’s 10 years in the prison service was published earlier this year to great acclaim from critics and readers. Extracts were serialised in the Sunday Times and it was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Alex’s writing journey was kick started when she entered and won the Beachmore Life Writing Competition with a piece that eventually became her book. She also received the

00:11:30

Transferring to F&S? Here are the facts

The POA podcast ·

2023/08/22

Members in closed grades are being urged to seriously consider opting-in to the F&S structure. In this special episode, DGS Joe Simpson, AGS Andy Baxter and NEC member Sarah Rigby (herself in an F&S grade) look at the facts of the matter, and dispel some of the misunderstandings that have surfaced. There is a real decision for closed grade members to make and this podcast gives the facts members need to choose what is right for them. More information from your branch committee or area NEC

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