This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/15/dwp-no-evidence-jobcentre-benefits-targets

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
DWP finds no evidence of secret regime of jobcentre benefits targets DWP report accepts mistakes made on welfare sanctions by jobcentres
(about 4 hours later)
An internal inquiry at the Department for Work and Pensions into the covert regime of welfare targets at jobcentres says it has found no evidence of the practice – yet it accepts that action is taken against those jobcentres that do not sanction benefits as much as others.An internal inquiry at the Department for Work and Pensions into the covert regime of welfare targets at jobcentres says it has found no evidence of the practice – yet it accepts that action is taken against those jobcentres that do not sanction benefits as much as others.
The report also says some jobcentre staff are sometimes given personal targets, but only when they are disciplined. The report also says some jobcentre staff are sometimes given personal targets, but only after being disciplined.
But the internal report otherwise gives the DWP a clean bill of health, saying: "We found no evidence of a secret national regime of targets, or widespread secret imposition of local regimes to that effect. There is no national use of league tables. We found no evidence people are being wrongly sanctioned as a consequence." The internal report otherwise gives the DWP a clean bill of health, saying: "We found no evidence of a secret national regime of targets, or widespread secret imposition of local regimes to that effect. There is no national use of league tables. We found no evidence people are being wrongly sanctioned as a consequence."
In recent months the Guardian has repeatedly found signs of a targets culture in the administration of benefits, and has reported on at least 16 jobcentres around the country involved in a drive to kick people off benefits, amid pressure to meet welfare targets set by their managers.In recent months the Guardian has repeatedly found signs of a targets culture in the administration of benefits, and has reported on at least 16 jobcentres around the country involved in a drive to kick people off benefits, amid pressure to meet welfare targets set by their managers.
The DWP initially dismissed any suggestion of this, but last month said the practice had been going on in some offices due to a misunderstanding between the department and some jobcentre managers, and that this was no longer the case.The DWP initially dismissed any suggestion of this, but last month said the practice had been going on in some offices due to a misunderstanding between the department and some jobcentre managers, and that this was no longer the case.
The internal DWP report – written by the senior DWP manager responsible for the regime, Neil Couling – says that benefit advisers can be given disciplinary warnings that contain a reference to what level of benefit might on average be expected. The internal DWP report – written by the senior DWP manager responsible for the regime, Neil Couling – says benefit advisers can be given disciplinary warnings that contain a reference to what level of benefit might on average be expected.
These warnings – known as personal improvement plans (PIPs) inside the DWP – "should be very clear about the consequences of an individual not fulfilling the personal responsibilities as a civil servant to administer the system in full".These warnings – known as personal improvement plans (PIPs) inside the DWP – "should be very clear about the consequences of an individual not fulfilling the personal responsibilities as a civil servant to administer the system in full".
Couling argues that "there is an important difference though in setting an individual target, which is not acceptable and giving an individual an idea about what might be expected in their local labour market and for their size of caseload as an aid to judging whether the law is being properly applied. Couling argues that: "There is an important difference though in setting an individual target, which is not acceptable, and giving an individual an idea about what might be expected in their local labour market and for their size of caseload as an aid to judging whether the law is being properly applied. PIPs that make these references will be appropriate and do not constitute a local target or benchmark. That is a subtle difference that I suspect some advisers can struggle with."
"PIPs that make these references will be appropriate and do not constitute a local target or benchmark. That is a subtle difference that I suspect some advisers can struggle with."
In an effort to explain the existence of tables – which were passed to the Guardian – showing how many claimants are sanctioned per benefit office, the internal report claims that these lists do not represent "league tables".In an effort to explain the existence of tables – which were passed to the Guardian – showing how many claimants are sanctioned per benefit office, the internal report claims that these lists do not represent "league tables".
Couling explains: "Management information is collected on referral rates and decision outcomes. This is used to assure managers that conditionality referrals are being done appropriately. Where an outlier is identified, whether that is high or low, managers collect evidence to explain these figures and where justified, no further action is taken.Couling explains: "Management information is collected on referral rates and decision outcomes. This is used to assure managers that conditionality referrals are being done appropriately. Where an outlier is identified, whether that is high or low, managers collect evidence to explain these figures and where justified, no further action is taken.
"Should there be any issue of inappropriate use or non-compliance with the conditionality and sanctions legislation; staff should be supported to correctly impose conditionality with the use of personal improvement plan (PIP) and line manager support"."Should there be any issue of inappropriate use or non-compliance with the conditionality and sanctions legislation; staff should be supported to correctly impose conditionality with the use of personal improvement plan (PIP) and line manager support".
In the specific case of Walthamstow job centre, where managers demanded that staff increase sanctions or face disciplinary action, the report finds: "The language, tone and contents of the email were simply wrong and an inappropriate communication channel was used. The particular reference to a local DMA [decision-making and appeals] target of 5% was neither necessary nor accurate and appropriate."In the specific case of Walthamstow job centre, where managers demanded that staff increase sanctions or face disciplinary action, the report finds: "The language, tone and contents of the email were simply wrong and an inappropriate communication channel was used. The particular reference to a local DMA [decision-making and appeals] target of 5% was neither necessary nor accurate and appropriate."
Couling said: "Our wider review of the evidence suggests a limited number of other locations where errors of this type were also made." Couling wrote: "Our wider review of the evidence suggests a limited number of other locations where errors of this type were also made."
The report also refers to the 16 cases raised by the Guardian, and shows no evidence that any independent inquiries were made. In most of the 16 cases, he accepts errors of one sort or another had occurred. The report also refers to the 16 cases raised by the Guardian, and shows no evidence that any independent inquiries were made. In most of the 16 cases, Couling accepts errors of one sort or another had occurred.
Addressing the issue of whether league tables are routinely exchanged inside the DWP and Jobcentre Plus, he said: "It would be technically possible to configure the management information into a league table (a simple manipulation of Excel) but as the leak showed it is not in a league table." Addressing the issue of whether league tables are routinely exchanged inside the DWP and Jobcentre Plus, he said: "It would be technically possible to configure management information into a league table (a simple manipulation of Excel) but as the leak showed, it is not in a league table."
The report also admits "we have found a limited number of instances where a local manager has misinterpreted the instructions or has fallen back on target methodology in an effort to exercise their responsibilities to ensure the law is being properly applied. I believe that is happening because the cultural change underpinning the move away is incomplete." But the report admits: "We have found a limited number of instances where a local manager has misinterpreted the instructions or has fallen back on target methodology in an effort to exercise their responsibilities to ensure the law is being properly applied. I believe that is happening because the cultural change underpinning the move away is incomplete."
He claims the recent reports are the residue of a previous, now-abandoned, targets regime and staff imposing targets. Couling claims the recent reports are the residue of a previous, now-abandoned, targets regime and staff imposing targets. "We need to be vigilant and consistent to ensure junior managers continue to move away from legacy habits as we focus on building the freedom and flexibility approach. We are using these incidents and the recent press coverage to redouble our efforts."
"We need to be vigilant and consistent to ensure junior managers continue to move away from legacy habits as we focus on building the freedom and flexibility approach. We are using these incidents and the recent press coverage to redouble our efforts." Couling also promised to publish at regular intervals figures on sanction referral by jobcentres.
Couling also promises to publish at regular intervals figures on sanction referral by jobcentres. The issue will also now be investigated by the work and pensions select committee. The work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has also set up an independent year-long inquiry about the treatment of jobseeker's allowance claimants.
The issue will also now be investigated by the work and pensions select committee. The committee is also likely to examine whether manager action taken against jobcentres that are outliers in disciplining claimants amounts to a league table of jobcentres' sanctions. The inquiry "will evaluate, where a claimant has failed to participate, how the sanctioning process then worked. This will include reviewing the clarity of information given to claimants to help them navigate this process.
The work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has also set up an independent year-long inquiry about the treatment of jobseeker's allowance claimants. "This will include what information was provided to explain that they can avoid a sanction by showing good cause and that they can apply for a review or appeal if a sanction is imposed."
The inquiry "will evaluate, where a claimant has failed to participate, how the sanctioning process then worked. This will include reviewing the clarity of information given to claimants to help them navigate this process. This will include what information was provided to explain that they can avoid a sanction by showing good cause and that they can apply for a review or appeal if a sanction is imposed."