Prison Service: Pay

Question

The payment of RHA is not claimed by individuals, but is automatically paid as a separate salaried allowance (pensionable) on taking up duty in a qualifying role (both operational and non-operational). RHA is pensionable and is paid to recognise that a role regularly requires the incumbent to work unsocial and unpredictable hours as part of their normal duties. An individual retains payment of the addition while they remain in a qualifying role, but will cease if at any time they move to a non-qualifying role. The information is not readily available as for each year all staff movements will need to be checked to ensure the continued entitlement each year and to check whether the allowance has been reinstated. As such the exact information requested can only be obtained at disproportionate cost for the number of prison governors in receipt of RHA in each financial year since 2010 and what the rate and average amount paid in Required Hours Addition allowance was to prison governors.

Due to the protections given towards pay after the introduction of the Fair and Sustainable structures in April 2012, there are two different rates of RHA payable. Those given protection to remain in the closed world pay and grading structures receive a flat rate value of £5,696 per annum. Operational managers within the Fair and Sustainable structures receive an amount calculated at 17% of the rate of base pay they receive.

The pay ranges for the operational manager roles (Bands 7 to 11) under F&S are open ranges, and individuals may be on a rate base pay at any point between the minimum and maximum within the open range. As payroll is undertaken by a third party provider, there would be an additional charge of around £1500 to prepare the report and confirm the average. As such, an average amount paid as RHA to operational managers is not available due to disproportionate costs.