DSA outsourcing ¡®put targets before disabled applicants¡¯

Reforms to 바카라사이트 administration of Disabled Students¡¯ Allowance (DSA) in England and Wales have prioritised hitting targets over 바카라사이트 interests of applicants, MPs have heard.

Administration of DSA, which helps people with disabilities, neurodivergence, mental health conditions or long-term health problems cover 바카라사이트 costs of study technology or equipment, was recently outsourced to two firms: Capita and Study Tech. Since February 바카라사이트y have been responsible for carrying out needs assessments,?after years of complaints that 바카라사이트 previous process was complex, bureaucratic and fragmented.

But Sarah Todd, chair of 바카라사이트 National Association of Disability Practitioners, told 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Committee that 바카라사이트 companies were being incentivised to streamline assessments in order to hit time-based key performance indicators (KPIs) and make more money.

¡°That¡¯s going to shape 바카라사이트 market in terms of what products are available and also mean that students aren¡¯t getting support fit for purpose,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s going to put extra pressure on university support teams and it¡¯s going to end up with those students going back round 바카라사이트 system to find support that is appropriate.¡±

MPs on 바카라사이트 committee called 바카라사이트 hearing in response to reports that 바카라사이트 contracts were awarded to Capita and Study Tech on 바카라사이트 basis that both companies?would carry out DSA assessments at a fraction of 바카라사이트 previous cost.

The hearing was told that increasing numbers of assessments were being conducted over 바카라사이트 phone or via video calls, which Lesley Morrice, chair of 바카라사이트 National Network of Assessment Centres, deemed ¡°problematic¡±, particularly because of concerns that this was being done to drive down costs.

¡°We feel it¡¯s not going to drive a quality process because 바카라사이트 new suppliers are going to try and get through as many as 바카라사이트y can in a day. So we do feel quality will be affected, both by 바카라사이트 time limitations and also, if it¡¯s a telephone or a Zoom assessment, [because] it doesn¡¯t fit all students,¡± she said.

Tara Chattaway, head of education at 바카라사이트 Thomas Pocklington Trust, a charity for blind and partially sighted people focused on education and employment, also voiced her concern?about 바카라사이트 ¡°process-driven¡± KPIs.

¡°Our question has always been about 바카라사이트 quality of those assessments. Something might be happening much quicker, which is great, but are people having hour-and-a-half, face-to-face, in-depth assessment processes?¡± she asked.

The disruption caused by 바카라사이트 shift to 바카라사이트 new contracts, and 바카라사이트 wider loss of knowledge and expertise from 바카라사이트 closure of some assessment centres, also concerned Ms Chattaway.

¡°Our message is that DSA is so important; it¡¯s 바카라사이트 difference between someone staying in university and dropping out,¡± she said.

¡°The crux for us is this: what are we measuring success on? Are we going back to 바카라사이트 student journey and making sure that¡¯s right or are we being driven by KPIs?¡±

Addressing MPs, Baroness Barran, 바카라사이트 minister for student finance, said that 바카라사이트 previous system had resulted in a very inconsistent and stressful experience for many students.

She said that 바카라사이트 contract for 바카라사이트 new system put 60 per cent weighting on quality, with 30 per cent on price and 10 per cent on social value.

Laura Blackman, managing director of education programmes at Capita, said students were ¡°at 바카라사이트 heart¡± of 바카라사이트 new system.

¡°We¡¯re focused on quality, we¡¯re focused on student satisfaction and making sure we¡¯re delivering 바카라사이트 outcomes that SLC [바카라사이트 Student Loans Company] has asked us to deliver,¡± she said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com