We started off with chat about conferences – CA one on 15/16th April – 15th is online and 16th in person in Birmingham – info on agenda to follow we gather. Ours is on 11/12th June in Nottingham – more info coming soon on this website – HURRAH…

Language line- have you had probs with this one? Tracey (Wharvell) has had some rudeness from an interpreter and some straying off appropriate track – some of us had also had probs so we will keep watching this and do something to sort it if a general problem.

HtC – so CA has a 2 year extension but have offered 1 year sub contracts to us. Left a bid of disappointment in the air. We gather that final sign off on it all by the DWP is waited as there is kerffuffle and go slow due to the general election – but not clear why a contract covering the potential for it not being confirmed wasn’t offered. We shared ideas on how we keep staff when short term contracts lead to lack of retention etc.

MOJ portal for bidding is complex – Angela ( Kerr) asked if there is any help to get onto it? Yes – James (Sandbach ) from London will help we are sure – contact details given

Inflationary rises – what are we all offering – seemed to range from 2-6% generally. We will check with Sue Theo if this is covered in the salary survey info and/or do one ourselves to check out what’s happening …