There's a bit of news today which provides no comfort for A4e. Big reforms to pensions come in next year, and the government has recognised that people will need advice and guidance. It was expected that the Money Advice Service (MAS) would be the outfit to deliver that; but no. The Pensions Advisory Service will deliver the non-face to face guidance, while Citizens Advice will handle the face to face service. What has that got to do with A4e? Well, it's A4e which has the contract from MAS to do the face to face money advice, a fact which is still nowhere mentioned on the MAS website. So what might have been a new source of work for A4e won't be.
The "no news" refers to the silence over the Slough fraud case. If you need a reminder, there's this from the Daily Mail. Five A4e employees were convicted of fraud early this year, having pleaded guilty to using forged paperwork to make false claims. Sentencing was delayed, presumably until the trial of the remaining 8 accused, who were, we were told, due to go on trial in October. I assumed that these ex-employees had pleaded not guilty, hence the delay. Okay, there are two weeks of October still to go, but will we hear any more of this case? I know it's small beer compared to the massive frauds by G4S and Serco, apparently forgiven by the government. But we need to hear the full story.
A4e's exclusion from the pensions advice could be accounted for in one of two ways:
ReplyDelete1.) Someone has decided that A4e are NOT too big too fail (unlike Serco and G4s). So to let A4e whither on the vine would not be detrimental and may even be used to demonstrate that outsourcing isn't the gravy train it really is.
2.) Pensions is a complicated subject (I have 30+ years experience and various professional qualifications so you can take my word for this). Every individual case is different. There is no one simple answer or formula which can be applied to every case. I suspect that the level of advice which should be available is well beyond the ability of A4e/MAS personnel. This really is far more complicated than the current sort of advice provided by A4e (spend less than your income and don't use the Wongas of this world). Proficiency in pension advice takes a lot more than a couple of basic training sessions. It's just as well that A4e have not been given this contract!
On the other point raised, I am sure we will hear more about the trial(s). The wheels of justice do grind exceedingly slowly but hey get there in the end.
Off subject but advice needed,I have been informed by JCP+ that I must attend a course 2 days a week for 6 Months consisting of basic English and Maths(Mandatory) I requested what the DWP requirements are,in other words I have a degree in Electrical Engineering,my A&P (Airframe and Power Plant,fixed and rotary) I obviously have a grasp of both English and Maths..What is the point? I have been accused of being difficult,because I want the JCP to justify why I am doing this course,according to them it will be beneficial to me..How? And as usual? It is a Provider that gets paid!
ReplyDeleteThey will very likely test you before the course starts. Ask to see your results. There would be no justification for withholding them. If the course turns out to be well below your level lodge an official complaint.
DeleteI thought the same thing,day 1 consisted of filling out forms,I refused(I believe this was so the Provider could get paid) the course consisted of modules,starting with very basic questions,60 in all,took about 15 minutes,I turned in the paper and asked to leave after he graded it,grading was not his job and I was required to stay an additional 6 hours,I was asked to tutor others that were having difficulties,although I would willingly help others it is not my JOB,sorry to sound obnoxious,but was the instructor there to help or just a guard?
ReplyDeletefubar, sounds typical. When I attended A4e some years ago now, I was asked to help people with IT issues including compiling other client's CV's for them in MS Word.
DeleteOn one hand I did not mind as I was happy to help others. Plus it passed the time. On the other, as you say I was not being paid by A4e for this. Where were the members of staff employed by A4e? That's right I forgot, there were too few staff members available for all the clients they had crammed into the building.
The mind boggles at the cost of having people attend pointless 'courses' an having them effectively 'locked' in a room for six hours. People who complain about benefits are usually ignorant about just how the DWP scandalously wastes money.
@iMatt,very true I was sent on MWA at a local Charity,they were unaware that A4E was paid to arrange this,I have convinced them to not participate in this scheme,I still volunteer(at my own cost) but the difference is that it is my choice,most of the people that volunteer do so for the self esteem that it brings,if the JCP/DWP just had asked I would of willingly volunteered,which brings to mind "Is this just another way to enrich the Providers?"
ReplyDeleteIn court this week - you can search the court lists at http://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/crown-court-lists-results.php and the case numbers are;
ReplyDeleteT20130595
T20147015
T20137362
They're part-heard and look like they'll probably resume this week. You can always call the court direct and they are usually happy to give you the status/sentences over the phone.
Those are the wrong case numbers?
ReplyDeleteI've just checked and they are the case numbers for at least three of the defendants. Both the names and the dates of previous hearing tally with the case numbers. You need to select Reading Crown Court as case numbers can be the same across several courts - if you just use the first number for instance, you'll find cases from Sheffield and other CCs.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the industry, and have come across a number of the folk involved in the course of my work (and so have an ear to the ground) and so hear a bit on the grapevine about what's happening! People from both the first and second batch of arrests were in court last week.
And it's in this article http://feweek.co.uk/2014/10/20/trial-over-a4e-seven-accused-of-fraud-offences-under-way/
ReplyDeleteMany thanks. That report should have come up in the alerts but didn't. The trial opened on 6 October and is expected to last for 5 weeks.
DeleteNo worries - I've been trying to follow it as well, and it didn't come up in any of my alerts either. I only found that by searching for one of the defendant names instead of "A4e". Surprised at the lack of coverage, but I guess I can't expect the whole world to be as interested as I am!
DeleteI am very interested as well! I worked for one of the accused and will take great pleasure if they are found guilty
ReplyDelete