Current Issues - 2001
23 October 2001
Year Three Voluntary Severance
Introduction
The Chief Constable has directed that year 3 of the Voluntary Severance Scheme will commence its pre-decision phase, with effect from 1 November 2001.
Officers who achieve 73 POINTS OR MORE under the eligibility criteria for the Scheme may apply. Officers may nominate a date on which they wish to leave but the VSSU reserve the right to vary that date for operational or other reasons. In any event, officers will not be permitted to leave before they have actually accumulated sufficient points for eligibility.
Year 3
Year 3 commences on 1 April 2002 and ends on 31 March 2003.
Closing Date and Applications
The closing date for applications will be 31 January 2002 and no applications will be accepted after that date.
Only officers eligible in Year 3 who have not previously attended for pre-decision support will be invited to attend the support programme.
Invitations to roadshows will be automatically sent to officers by the VSSU. Any officer who believes she/he is eligible and does not receive an invitation should contact the VSSU.
Eligible officers can only submit formal applications to avail of voluntary severance from 1st December 2001 onwards. However, once they have done so, the VSSU will notify relevant departments accordingly.
Withdrawals
If an officer subsequently wishes to withdraw from the scheme then the policy on withdrawals as published in weekly order No 22/01, dated 6th June 2001, will apply.
Pre-Decision Phase
The pre decision phase involves ;
- Roadshows
- 1-1 interview with Pension Branch, Career Advisors and Financial advisors
officers who have previously attended pre-decision support may request a revised pension and severance lump sum estimate. Application forms will be sent to these officers.
Post-Decision Phase
The post-decision phase of Year 3 will not commence until after formal applications have been accepted.
Years 4 and 5
A review of the Scheme will take place during Year 3 to ensure it is meeting its objectives.
It is envisaged that there will be future years of the scheme but its operation, including the eligibility criteria, will be examined by senior management in consultation with the Staff Association, the Police Board and the NIO. This examination will take account of the findings of the Year 3 Review, including the impact of the Scheme on the capability and overall efficiency of the service.
Officers who were eligible in years 1 and 2 or who are eligible in year 3, will retain their eligibility for future years, should they not decide to leave in the first year of eligibility.
Further information on Years 4 and 5 will be given nearer the time of their commencement.
Extension Of Service
In Year 1 and 2, officers on extensions of service were allowed to apply to the Scheme. This provision ceases on 31 March 2002.
