Post by nickd on Feb 27, 2012 22:08:29 GMT 1
A4E has had more than its fair share of bad publicity of late
Is it right that Emma Harrison and her 'gang' should
be allowed to carry on advising on matters such as our
finances when they are under investigation for fraud?
It's fair to say Emma Harrison's welfare to work firm A4E is currently under a great deal of public scrutiny over the ongoing fraud investigation into publicly funded contracts which are intended to help the unemployed and incapacitated in to work. It's almost inevitable that other A4E contracts in other areas will be looked into, the firm seems to have fingers in many pies;- Here are just some of them..
A4E's proud involvement in the much publicised 'Money Advice Service'
"You may have seen recent announcements in the media about the launch of the Money Advice Service. I am delighted that A4e was chosen as a key delivery partner and, since April, we have been delivering the new face to face aspect of this service. The launch yesterday introduced the online and phone services. Open to all, the service will give clear, unbiased advice on financial issues. Over 6,500 people have accessed the support so far and our advisers have been doing some wonderful work. Over 4,500 of the customers are classed as ‘financially vulnerable’ and they have been using the service to both better understand and improve their financial position.
It was nice to attend the launch of the national service in Westminster (yesterday evening), following the press launch on the BBC of the online service). I was able to share some of our case studies with the MPs and MAS staff at the event. Since the service is accessible to everyone, our advisers are helping a range of people – pensioners and students, people just made redundant, long term unemployed people, many in work and even whole families. They are helping people with queries on mortgages, insurance, savings and debt- and their work has recently help keep one customer out of jail with the support on offer."
Read more
www.mya4e.com/2011/06/09/money-advice-service/
The Money Advice Service has ambitious plans
www.moneymarketing.co.uk/regulation/money-advice-service-chief-discusses-ambitious-growth-targets/1045923.article
Here's a promotional advert by the Money Advice Service
It's funded by government and helps you feel good about money
A4E in our prisons
A4E on reduced re-offending - their help extends to advising on financial problems experienced by offenders
"Since 1991, A4e has delivered services to offenders – helping them to find work through our mainstream back-to-work contracts, as well as more specialist contracts such as Progress to Work which provides intensive support for offenders, substance misuse and the homeless. We have also worked with the Probation Service to help deliver the education and training programmes within prisons. In 2002, a report by the Government’s Social Exclusion Unit estimated that the costs of re-offending were £11billion each year. It found that the triggers for offending and re-offending were not being addressed. In particular ‘having a job’ was positively linked with a reduction in reoffending.
In 2004, the national prison education service was introduced in England with the objective of increasing employability and reducing re-offending. A4e became the largest independent provider of the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS).
A4e works in 28 prisons, helping to provide a seamless transition from learning and skills in prison to dedicated employment search and support in the community. With links to thousands of employers, we have successfully placed offenders back into sustained employment. We also provide support and advice to employers on employing ex-offenders. "
Read more
www.mya4e.com/governments/what-we-do/reducing-reoffending/
A4E and its pilot projects - including cutting edge legally aided advice
The not for profit sector - despite having years of experience in advice has seen much of their work being taken away and awarded to firms like A4E.
"Much work has been done over the last ten years to improve public services but sometimes services don’t reach who they’re supposed to. People fall through the gaps. The customer doesn’t quite get the service they need. They get left behind.So we take on new challenges, develop pilots, together with Government, to test new ways of working and solve the hard problems. The social challenges that really hurt.
We’ve trialled new welfare to work concepts on behalf of DWP; financial inclusion test pilots for HM Treasury & FSA; and, cutting edge legal aid service reforms with the Legal Services Commission.
The way we innovate extends to our international programmes too, where we’re helping families as a whole find work in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
We don’t wait for Government though to commission pilot programmes; we also advise them where, when & how they can improve value for money & service outcomes based upon our own experiences.
For A4e, pilots matter. They are the public services of tomorrow."
More on A4E Pilots www.mya4e.com/governments/pilot-studies/
More here www.clac.leicester.gov.uk/leicester/
A4E net £1.8 Million (cost for first year) Community Legal Service telephone helpline contract 2007 - 2011
They are major players in legal aid advice
Community Legal Service advice helpline.
"Our experienced team of advisers provide free, independent and confidential advice and support to over 20,000 people each year through the Community Legal Advice Telephone Helpline.
Community Legal Advice can help you deal with everyday problems by giving you high quality, confidential advice over the phone. We are funded by legal aid, so if you live on a low income or benefits, you can get free independent advice about debt, education, benefits and tax credits, employment and housing problems. Even if you are not eligible for legal aid, we can still find ways to help by putting you in touch with the right agency or advice organisation.
What kind of problems can you help me with?
Family issues - contact/residence – children, relationship breakdown
Housing – occupation orders, threatened loss of your home
Employment - unfair dismissal, unlawful deductions of wages – i.e. sick pay, holiday pay
Benefits - disability benefits – appeals/tribunals, welfare benefit & tax credit problems
Debt - mortgage/rent arrears, fines – parking, rail, congestion charges
Education – child excluded from school, child being bullied
How do I find out more?
Visit the CLA website or call now to speak to an experienced adviser on 0845 345 4345. (open Mon- Fri 9.00am – 6.30pm)
More here www.mya4e.com/people/advice-and-guidance/legal-advice/community-legal-advice-telephone-helpline/
Contract procurement www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/access_to_information/PublicationofContractAwardswithintheLSC.pdf
A4E and the Direct Payments Scheme
A4E even advise on the care payments made within our communities - these are elsewhere other than Somerset.
"Direct Payments are money paid to people with assessed care needs so that they can choose, arrange and pay for their own care services. Direct Payments make it possible for people to have more choice and control over the type of help and support they need.
Direct Payments can also be used to pay for some of your care while Social Care Services arrange the rest. This is a good way to see if a Direct Payment is what you want.
The Direct Payment Advisory Scheme in Somerset is provided for the County Council by an organisation called A4e. You can find out more by seeing our Information Sheets in the Information and Resources section of this page."
Read More www.somerset.gov.uk/irj/public/services/directory/service?rid=/wpccontent/Sites/SCC/Web%20Pages/Services/Services/Community/Direct%20Payments
A4E is involved in many contracts, not just in the UK but abroad as well. A Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has seriously questioned how A4E has been awarded further public contracts in the light of their failure to deliver in the past. The tabloids have gone to town on Emma Harrison following the revelation that she paid herself a share dividend of £8.7 million pounds. Harrison's firm is now under investigation by the Police, each day further allegations of widespread fraud seem to be coming to light. At a time when the not for profit advice sector is seeing its funding severely slashed, it seems wholly inappropriate for A4E to be allowed to continue to offer services under public funding contracts until the ongoing fraud investigation has been concluded. A4E advise some of the most vulnerable in society including youths, offenders with mental health issues, those who face financial difficulty, claimants seeking to overturn decisions on their benefit entitlement, the elderly, the ill and the infirm in our communities. There is a basic requirement that advice is provided by 'fit and proper' agencies; - the latest allegations raise significant doubts over whether A4E is fit for purpose.
A4E has been seen by many as being in conflict with contract suppliers by bidding for contracts connected with benefit claimants who regard the welfare to work contractor as being too closely associated with the DWP; - many of these claimants are seeking help in disputing decisions made by the very same organisations A4E has contracts with. It can also be argued that in having direct contact with claimants through their work in the advice sector firms like A4E can more readily self refer claimants into their own WORK provider outlets; - which arguably gives them a head-start in getting a greater number of referrals.
With the recent announcement that prisoners will be expected to work whilst in jail, A4E has a captive claimant group by virtue of its work 'inside' ; - how can we be sure they will not claim success payments for helping those prisoners back to work?
A4E has advised the cabinet office over advice delivery models and almost certainly entered into dialogue with policy makers over the way legal services should be reformed. There is a case here for the Ministry of Justice to temporarily suspend A4E's contracts in prisons and agencies funded by the Legal Services Commission, as well as carry out a full investigation into the Money Advice Service. Until such times as those investigations are complete the not for profit advice sector should see their funding protected as it is no longer safe to assume alternative private concerns are a satisfactory alternative.