A SPA point is a spine point awarded through a system called Structured Professional Assessment (SPA) for pay progression, specifically for Soulbury officers.
Understanding SPA Points
Based on the provided reference, a "SPA point" refers to a unit of pay progression available to Soulbury officers via the Structured Professional Assessment (SPA) system. This system allows these officers to potentially advance their pay scale by earning additional "spine points."
Key Aspects of the Structured Professional Assessment (SPA) System
The reference highlights several important characteristics of this system:
- Name: Structured Professional Assessment (SPA)
- Purpose: Additional pay progression
- Who it Applies To: All Soulbury officers
- Mechanism: Progression by adding "spine points"
- Potential Gain: Up to three further spine points
- Award Basis: Local assessment against nationally prescribed criteria
Essentially, instead of standard pay progression based purely on length of service or standard performance, the SPA system offers a structured way for Soulbury officers to earn higher pay levels (represented by additional spine points) through a specific assessment process.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Term | SPA Point |
| Full Name | Structured Professional Assessment (SPA) Point |
| Related System | Structured Professional Assessment (SPA) |
| Type of Point | Spine Point |
| Purpose | Pay Progression |
| Eligible Staff | Soulbury Officers |
| Max Points (SPA) | Up to 3 additional spine points |
| Award Criteria | Local assessment vs. National criteria |
Source: Information derived from reference dated 10-Oct-2024.
Practical Insight
For a Soulbury officer, successfully undergoing the Structured Professional Assessment could result in moving up their pay scale by one, two, or potentially three spine points, depending on the assessment outcome. This directly translates to a higher salary, demonstrating recognition of professional development or performance based on the nationally prescribed criteria evaluated locally. The "SPA points" are the mechanism representing this specific type of progression beyond the standard pay scale structure.
