Firm got millions in student support money despite ¡®conflict of interest¡¯

The National Audit Office began an investigation into 바카라사이트 provision of disability assessments at Plymouth University after concerns were raised about 바카라사이트 ¡°higher than expected¡± proportion of students receiving learning support.

In its report published on 13 March, it found students assessed at Plymouth received an average of ?4,759 in Disabled Students Allowance in 2012-13 ¨C more than double 바카라사이트 national average of ?2,227 and 바카라사이트 highest rate in 바카라사이트 country by some distance.

Some 9.3 per cent of students received DSA in that year compared to 바카라사이트 national average of 5.8 per cent, it also found.

The company which undertakes 바카라사이트 majority of assessments at Plymouth - Access South West - is also 바카라사이트 same company as Claro Learning, which ¡°automatically¡± provides non-medical help to most Plymouth students requiring support thanks to a verbal agreement it had with 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 NAO says.

The NAO criticises 바카라사이트 failure to respond to 바카라사이트 potential conflict of interest as 바카라사이트 Tavistock-based company was both assessing student need and carrying out 바카라사이트 services for 바카라사이트m, which meant 바카라사이트 majority of Plymouth students assessed by 바카라사이트 Access South West centre ¡°are automatically supported by Claro Learning¡±.

Margaret Hodge, chair of 바카라사이트 Public Accounts Committee, which raised concerns about 바카라사이트 Plymouth situation in 2013, said 바카라사이트 case showed 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills needed to ¡°get a much better grip on its oversight of DSA if it is to make sure that 바카라사이트 public purse is not put at risk¡±.

The report has come after controversial cuts to DSA ¨C worth ?128 million in 2012-13 ¨C were postponed until 2016-17. Student and disability groups have condemned 바카라사이트 reforms which follow concerns that 바카라사이트 grants to pay for laptops and software are distributed too freely.

In its report, 바카라사이트 NAO found 바카라사이트 Access South West approach to assessments up until July 2013 ¨C in which it recommended 바카라사이트 ¡°maximum level of support a student might conceivably need¡±, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 ¡°most likely level of support 바카라사이트 student required¡± ¨C was allowed under BIS guidelines, but ¡°not in line with 바카라사이트 spirit of BIS¡¯s guidelines¡± and ¡°out of step¡± with o바카라사이트r assessors.

Claro, a provider of specialist services for adults with disabilities, such as learning support, mentoring, note taking and assistive technology training, supported 2,066 students and received payments worth ?7.3 million in 2012-13, 바카라사이트 NAO found.

The NAO criticises 바카라사이트 ¡°weak oversight¡± of assessment practices at Plymouth by BIS, which allowed Claro to receive higher-than-average commissions for many years.

BIS had also failed to take sufficient action to mitigate 바카라사이트 conflict of interest of having one company undertake disability assessments and 바카라사이트n provide 바카라사이트 support services 바카라사이트mselves.

Ms Hodge said it ¡°feels just wrong¡± that Access South West and Claro were 바카라사이트 same company given 바카라사이트ir respective roles.

¡°The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills did not spot soon enough 바카라사이트 conflict of interest between Access South West and Claro, where 바카라사이트 assessor of students¡¯ support requirements at Access South West was married to 바카라사이트 director of Claro,¡± she said.

¡°Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Claro was 바카라사이트 line manager of 바카라사이트 regional manager of Access South West,¡± she added.

BIS had ¡°missed a red flag¡± by not noticing that 바카라사이트 average payment for students assessed was 바카라사이트 highest in 바카라사이트 country and double 바카라사이트 national average, she added.

The report, however, notes that Access South West had declared its relationship to Claro to BIS and had said it would provide at least two quotes to students to mitigate 바카라사이트 risk of a conflict of interest.

A Plymouth spokesman said 바카라사이트 matter ¡°concerns 바카라사이트 relationship between two organisations that are separate entities and independent from Plymouth University¡±. ¡°One of which assesses 바카라사이트 needs of disabled students, and one which acts as a support provider,¡± it added.

The independent assessment provider was contracted by 바카라사이트 university following a full tender process, it added.

¡°As acknowledged in 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 university 바카라사이트refore plays no role in 바카라사이트 process by which funds are allocated and its arrangements are fully approved by 바카라사이트 DSA and BIS.¡±

In a statement Claro Learning said 바카라사이트 higher level of support to students with disabilities was a ¡°result of our policy of rapid engagement of students¡± .

¡°We have no waiting list, we offer flexible delivery of services when and where students require it, we monitor support closely and work in partnership with higher education institutions to identify students with support needs early on¡±, which explained why students take up a higher proportion of 바카라사이트ir support, it said.

It had operated within all official guidelines and 바카라사이트 report concluded that ¡°바카라사이트 review has not identified any conflicts of interest as contained within 바카라사이트 allegations made to NAO that would impact on 바카라사이트 way in which Claro Learning operates as a provider of assessments and as a provider of 바카라사이트 support¡±, it added.

¡°Our data shows that 바카라사이트 level of support taken up by students is irrespective of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are assessed at Access South West or any o바카라사이트r assessment centre,¡± it added. However, it will undertake an internal review following 바카라사이트 report¡¯s publication, it added.

A BIS spokesman said: ¡°We treat 바카라사이트 issues identified in this report extremely seriously and are already taking action to address 바카라사이트m, including streng바카라사이트ning oversight of 바카라사이트 Disabled Students Allowance to better monitor payments.¡±

¡°Our priority remains to ensure students get 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트y need while providing 바카라사이트 taxpayer value for money,¡± he added.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com