(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
Loading ...The Department for Work and Pensions has been investigating Action 4 Employment and at least 2 other undisclosed training providers for fraud over the last 13 months – this comes after Maatwerk had their contract terminated for fraud.
This means that even though they weren’t restricted or blacklisted from bidding for Flexible New Deal contracts: they will now lose the Flexible New Deal contracts after at least 20 cases of fraud have been discovered in May 2008 at A4e in Hull where two staff members falsified forms meant for the employer and also forged signatures on the forms in order to receive job outcome bonuses from DWP.
Action 4 Employment was also involved in a temporary job recruitment agency scam – thus forcing New Deal participants into temporary work which resulted in more job outcome bonuses from DWP.
Another New Deal provider has been forced to repay £48,000 for fraud – the name of the provider hasn’t been disclosed.
The DWP was happy to pay Pertemps PDG over 2 million when a report clearly stated fraud – in this instance no concerns other than as a report were raised.
Also, so far all fraud cases were consisting of forged signatures on forms and such like – the DWP have not yet picked up on timesheet abuses (paid to be there for x hours, as shown on timesheets, but participants are there for significantly less i.e. 10 hours instead of 30), dismissal abuses (dismissing participants for false or trivial reasons to receive full 13 weeks amount without them being there for even half that time), guaranteed jobs bonuses abuse (some participants have received a job offer before having to do the course starting 2-6 weeks after the course starts, providers still get job outcome payments intended as a bonus if they get the participant work, even if they had nothing to do with it) and future job outcome bonuses abuse (getting participants to enter an agreement where the provider has “permission” to contact any future employer after the course has ended to get job outcome bonus even though you got the job after the course unaided by them) to name a few.
well what can i say worked all my life to come to siting on table ookin for a job i can do at home and someone is geting pay for me doing it pay me to look money wel spent
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I have my first appointment on monday morning after being out of work since last October , and after being told not to pay for my own course at college as after 9 months i will be put ont one of my own choice for nothing by local jobcentre .
In the 9 months i have had meetings like everyone else going through work action plans this and work strategy that and being told there is no work in warehousing and logistics anymore , and would i like to be a chef or a cook ?? we can get you funding for that what a joke . I am 45 and have always worked in warehousing and logistics i had 7 different licences reach, counter balance , man riser , narrow aisle , 4 way truck , and side loader . Only to be told that as i have not used all of them in the last 2 years they are all useless .
Even though i was tested at my place of work for reach and counter balance a month before my redundancy i could not use them an needed them all refreshing . So i played my face and got 2 out of the 7 refreshed reach and counter balance after 11 months at a shaw trust site not jobcentre mind.
So now i have gone and paid to take up my I.T. clait plus and advanced at a local college paying 20 pound which i would have done ages ago if not waiting for the jobcentre to sort me out , who by the way told me they had been in touch with the said college campus and there were no places at the moment and no funding either .
But i could go to one of there joblink facilities once a week for two hours maximum and learn the same thing keeping there staff in work bloody con ,would have took me years to do what i want to at that place . So i went over myself the very next day and low and behold loads of places just pay 20 pound as i am out of work and Bobs ya grannys uncle as we say been there now 6 weeks completed first 5 modules and waiting my diploma now and starting next level clait or I.T.Q. or M.O.S .just like to point out i had passed up to where i am on microsoft 2003 a few years back but needed to refresh it as its all 2007 now.
Now job centre are telling me i must attend this shit hole of a centre full of drunks and layabouts or lose my benefits and they will find me work . I am online i do a jobsearch every two days i sent 20 C.v.s off just in case of any xmas work i have 3 interviews this week alone and 2 next week , jobcentre have never got me a single vacancy or sent a single C.V. off for me and refused to print any out for me when asked to do so as a favour about 4 weeks ago as my printer had broken, without a charge bloody cheek.
But told me also yesterday after changing my signing on time to a later time that my off peak bus pass does not cover to get one that does costing me a further 10 pounds out my money every time i get one enforcing hardship onto me which i pointed out to them as they told me if i did not turn up at said time i would lose my benefits .
To which i answered well i will be talking to the newspapers then as soon as you stop my money , and it took them till 6 o clock last night to alter my time to a workable one , and they are there to help you my left foot. With help like that you dont need hinderance , all i want to know is am i obliged to do this New deal or can i refuse and carry on as i am college and learning and doing my own jobsearches ? what does the law say on this matter ? are there things i have to do ? a friend of mine has been on there twice now and says it is a waste of time and money and they have never sent him anywhere only a voluntary charity shop well im sorry at the moment in this climate charity begins at home .
Look after yourself cos no one else will .
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I’ve just emailed Yvette Cooper (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions) asking if she was aware that staff employed by providers of the New Deal program are not currently subject to a criminal records check. I find it shocking that in 2009 they appear to be exempt when you consider that some of the New Deal clients will be termed as ‘vulnerable’ adults!
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
It is disgusting – the providers should be subject to a CRB check. It is common procedure for people who work for an organisation that deals with children, young people, vulnerable and elderly to have a CRB check even if they do NOT even come in contact with them.
Why are these providers any different?
Simple: The providers run things here, not DWP – they complain if something isn’t adequate. Now think, how much money did they save by the £52 per person deductions (£4 deductions per person per week) and not paying for CRB checks every year for staff (between £8-30 ish each I believe)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
this is an interesting comment,while it would be very beneficial in weeding out individuals with dark history,locally experience of these people is the main “tutors” have had a military background.
bullying was commonly mentioned by a member who had a past history in recruitment that happened to be on new deal who went on the tutor “should in no way be involved with vulnerable people”,this seems to be a concern that others have experienced also and is worrying as the effects on a person isn’t always apparent,this might well have an impact on a persons employability chances later because of stress related problems escalated by these experiences.
its very doubtful if flexible new deal would be that flexible for people just to opt out for being in category there isnt a system for determining those most at risk of being effected by this behavior and its consequences on the person.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ken
The Flexible part of Flexible New Deal refers to the Provider being more flexible in how they provide the end service.
It isn’t that much more flexible then the existing New Deal. New Deal was very sketchy not strict. For example, on VSO.. participants had to do a minimum of a day jobsearch per week. Even though advertised to give experience on work placements, providers didnt even have to offer them to participants. Therefore 30 hours jobsearch a week existed. There was no maximum or specific set criteria.
As for the jobseekers on the other hand it was rather strict… for example:
a) full attendance (subject to the allowed absence limit) – many providers counted say 30 minutes late is an entire morning or afternoon. An hour or two… an entire day
b) refusing to do pointless activities such as building paper bridges which aren’t supposed to be done (even if classified as “team building”) being put down as refusing to actively participate (dismissable offence and benefits stopped)
c) must surrender CV and covering letters you have done yourself so they take credit for it
etc.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i dont see what building paper bridges has to do with finding employment is doing this pointless activity supposed to change your negative thinking into positive thinking also if your at the bloody course how can your benefit be sanctioned its them (the goverment, job centre a4e) that are making you attend these courses your not doing it for the fun of it
i felt demoralised the last time i did new deal placement and basically only stuck it out because if i stayed off that would be a black mark against me i was never late there were no reports about my attitude or not doing the work i was told to do in fact there was absolutely nothing my idiot ndpa could pull me up for thats another thing he was supposed to phone me on a regular basis but never did it he was supposed tovisit me at my placement never did it though the bloke from the placement provider didnt have much time for him
a local taxi owner described him(idiot ndpa) as a waste of space who had never done a days hard work in his life all he did was sit in a nice warm office beside a radiator shuffling papers
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi,
A4E have been given FND contracts in HUll and other area’s. They are not black listed, nor have they lost there new deal contracts. I really dont know where u get ur info from.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi Dean: You can’t lose something you don’t have therefore how would they be blacklisted?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
more lies and double speak people have got to vote em out this time none of this their all the same crap .when they comearound wanting youre vote let tell them do as we tell ya or youre out
Like or Dislike:
0 
0