tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post2338657101248394960..comments2024-02-29T10:55:43.449-08:00Comments on Watching A4e: Widening the debateUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-49748937348801758702012-03-17T18:53:10.004-07:002012-03-17T18:53:10.004-07:00They are on bonuses...as are BEST staff. The ince...They are on bonuses...as are BEST staff. The incentives were more so before Work Programme. Getting that job outcome ticked and stamped was worth £100 per client to the job advisor, I'm not sure what it is now as the ideal is supposed to be about "job sustainability".<br /><br />So do the maths - a 'good month' of an advisor getting say 10 people in work at the new supermarket that opens nearby. £1000 in the following month's wage. The probability of some of those clients being back the following month as either they ended up being sacked/were offered less than 16 hours/etc - HIGH. And so the cycle begins again.<br /><br />It beggars belief that an advisor could earn more money a month from an outcome (that was still claimable even if they lasted one day) than their salary.<br /><br />Glad to be away from there and all the badness attached to a company that clearly gained from the unfortunate positions of many genuine jobseekers.<br /><br />I hope HRH Harrison gets her just desserts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-30775499451248363882012-02-25T01:40:21.653-08:002012-02-25T01:40:21.653-08:00I worked in local government delivering these sche...I worked in local government delivering these schemes a few years ago. They were INTERVIEW guarantee schemes, not job guarantee, that said our success rates at getting people into jobs were consistently in the 80/90% range. Because we were non profit all the funding we received went into training our clients. We worked with the coop, tesco, the nhs, social services amongst others. A few years back we were told we could not bid for these contacts anymore, as a government body bidding for government funds was unfair, so only private companies were allowed too bid. Private companies have to make money, and there is the problem. Out of the funding received facilaties and wages need paying. If emma has made sooo much money it is at the expense of the clients and the facilaties offered them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-18822175533653436532012-02-23T20:12:31.888-08:002012-02-23T20:12:31.888-08:00I worked in A4e. I don'tthink the figure was ...I worked in A4e. I don'tthink the figure was ever 30%. Mind you, I don't think that figure is do-able.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-14257758224809080732012-02-23T04:14:27.127-08:002012-02-23T04:14:27.127-08:00There is a great deal of publicity out there, on v...There is a great deal of publicity out there, on various A4e websites, which answers your point.historianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11922746528891041071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-16320927313199422482012-02-23T02:25:12.632-08:002012-02-23T02:25:12.632-08:00What I don't understand is why we in the UK ar...What I don't understand is why we in the UK are so hard on successful businesses that are trying to actually make a difference, of course A4e are not perfect, but name me one company that is? They are using government money helping to get people back to work, and everyone is quick to criticize even before anyone has been found guilty. I would like hear from the 1000s of people A4e have helped back to work and get their take on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-13948650313776082262012-02-23T01:58:16.830-08:002012-02-23T01:58:16.830-08:00Changed the way a4e work? does that mean they did ...Changed the way a4e work? does that mean they did not work before? an admiission of guilt?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-10660659741049626802012-02-22T23:30:47.593-08:002012-02-22T23:30:47.593-08:00A4E have not been able to get me into one job sinc...A4E have not been able to get me into one job since July 2010, I managed, by hard work to get a trial for two weeks at a company, I was most likely to get the position but A4E scuppered that. They insisted the company I was to have the trial improved its H & Safety before I went on the the trial, they company withdrew its offer to me. I needed that job I am 56, I have now applied for 1336 jobs, managed to get 18 interviews. I was a highly skilled manager, but still A4E have not performed. I was told at a recent A4E advisor meeting that it was not A4E's job to find work but only to help prepare to work, what a mess, does any of there employees know what they should be doing. My advisor said that A4E had changed the way they work and now have a team contacting all companies in the area re possible positions, wait and see.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-25226791579023661652012-02-22T18:10:58.612-08:002012-02-22T18:10:58.612-08:00So A4e claim that they performed better than other...So A4e claim that they performed better than other providers in four out of the five areas where they ran the Flexible New Deal - The national average was 10% and 6% for short and long term outcomes. The highest achieved by A4e was 13% & 8%, the lowest, 9% & 5%. I don't have the figures to hand regarding the contracted targets for each provider, but I'm fairly sure it was much, much higher than the final results. How ever you spin the numbers, it is still crap performance.<br /><br />As for the fraud investigation that "centre around four individuals" and "are not allegations against A4e" - Once again, management are trying to avoid taking corporate responsibility for the actions of employees (either current or ex). Sorry Ms Harrison, your staff indulge in fraudulent activities in the name of your company, the buck stops at your door !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-3903560885092465722012-02-22T13:47:53.743-08:002012-02-22T13:47:53.743-08:00That would explain why I'm getting sent on a c...That would explain why I'm getting sent on a course to learn how to write cover letters.<br /><br />Being University educated does make it difficult to write a decent letter - no wot i mean....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-49855435677705313542012-02-22T12:33:04.605-08:002012-02-22T12:33:04.605-08:00And so it goes on and on and on...http://www.guard...And so it goes on and on and on...http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/22/a4e-repay-irregularities?fb=native<br /><br />But it has now emerged that the company, whose chair is an adviser to David Cameron, has been investigated nine times by the Department for Work and Pensions since 2005.<br /><br />In one case, fraud was proven following a criminal trial; in four inquiries, there was evidence of irregularities but it was not pursued further through the courts after money was returned; in three cases there was found to be no case to answer; and one inquiry, in Slough, is still on-going.The Anonymousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05910309623471217302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-21640042708594119382012-02-22T11:58:19.772-08:002012-02-22T11:58:19.772-08:00I agree, the entire work programme needs to be rev...I agree, the entire work programme needs to be reviewed if only to see if its value for money. I think this investigation should be done without letting them know an inspection is coming. I wouldnt mind training under the charity, I do object to the Millions that is given to them with no oversight. <br /><br />I read the article, and it seemed to be fair. If we can just carry on with reporters like him the better it will be.The Anonymousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05910309623471217302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-3671548596679638852012-02-22T08:03:43.489-08:002012-02-22T08:03:43.489-08:00Well of course they're on bonuses! The staff ...Well of course they're on bonuses! The staff have targets for everything - numbers placed in jobs, numbers referred to "money advice" (because a4greed get paid for that) - numbers sent on courses (especially Learn Direct ESF earners)etc. etc. The downside is that if they don't meet targets they are out on their ear!<br />Wouldn't surpise me if there were also targets for number of sanction doubts raised - number of people bullied into signing off etc. etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-39720309164091116222012-02-22T06:38:20.221-08:002012-02-22T06:38:20.221-08:00Its come to my notice that the staff at best in le...Its come to my notice that the staff at best in leeds, are possibily on bonuses for each person they put into work. i cant say for certain but if i hear anything else ill post the details.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941116624675227992.post-13250787548375777662012-02-22T03:50:55.788-08:002012-02-22T03:50:55.788-08:00Its about time a4e was investigated i have been at...Its about time a4e was investigated i have been attending a4e and it beggars belief the way they can treat the most vuluable people. Take this job any job it doesn't matter if u are qualified or not its all about making money for a4e nothing to do with helping the unemployed, who benefits from these schemes not the unemployed for sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com