Probation Officers (Hansard, 3 March 1972)

§ Mr. Bryan

The inquiry into the work of probation officers and social workers in local authorities and the National Health Service is being undertaken by Mr. J. B. Butterworth, M.A., D.L., J.P., Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick. He is being assisted by Professor Margot Jefferys, B.Sc. (Econ.) Professor of Medical Sociology at the University of London, who has been appointed as assessor. The secretariat of the inquiry is being provided by the Office of Manpower Economics.

The terms of reference are:

1. To carry out a fact-finding inquiry into the work of basic and senior grade probation officers and that of grades of social worker on broadly comparable salary levels employed by local authorities and hospital authorities in England, Wales and Scotland; to evaluate and compare the work of these groups with a view to making recommendations concerning the appropriate relationship between the pay of the services concerned, taking account of the range, content and circumstances of the work, the degree of responsibility exercised by the various grades, the qualities, qualifications and training required, the differences in grading, con- 196W ditions of service and career opportunities, problems of recruitment and wastage in general and in London in particular, and any other relevant factors, including other cognate fields of work.

2. To carry out a fact-finding inquiry comparing the work of principal, deputy principal and assistant principal probation officers with that of grades above the level referred to in Part 1 concerned with social work duties in local authorities and hospital authorities in England, Wales and Scotland, with a view to making recommendations concerning the appropriate salary relationship between these officers and grades.

3. To make recommendations in respect of the probation service in time for the negotiations for a pay settlement operative from 1st July, 1972.