This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30938578
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Profiteering' care agency 'took money' from workers | 'Profiteering' care agency 'took money' from workers |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A "profiteering" care agency took hundreds of pounds from low-paid carers who were desperate for work, a BBC London investigation has found. | A "profiteering" care agency took hundreds of pounds from low-paid carers who were desperate for work, a BBC London investigation has found. |
| HCA Professionals, based in Barking, east London, promised carers jobs if they paid for unnecessary and "highly unprofessional" training. | HCA Professionals, based in Barking, east London, promised carers jobs if they paid for unnecessary and "highly unprofessional" training. |
| Criminal record checks were charged for but not submitted and work did not materialise, but cash was not returned. | Criminal record checks were charged for but not submitted and work did not materialise, but cash was not returned. |
| The company, run by Chris Rigland, denies all wrongdoing. | The company, run by Chris Rigland, denies all wrongdoing. |
| 'Bad mum' | 'Bad mum' |
| The BBC was contacted by numerous carers who said they were promised shifts if they paid for extra training, despite them already being fully qualified to work in care homes. | The BBC was contacted by numerous carers who said they were promised shifts if they paid for extra training, despite them already being fully qualified to work in care homes. |
| The hopeful staff parted with up to £360, but work was not forthcoming. | The hopeful staff parted with up to £360, but work was not forthcoming. |
| One carer, Elo Owah, said: "They sold me dreams and they made promises they didn't keep. | One carer, Elo Owah, said: "They sold me dreams and they made promises they didn't keep. |
| "For a good few weeks I was broke, I couldn't even buy my son food; I felt like a bad mum." | "For a good few weeks I was broke, I couldn't even buy my son food; I felt like a bad mum." |
| "It made me feel angry, upset and powerless." | "It made me feel angry, upset and powerless." |
| Another worker, Brenda Atim, said: "I was crying. I went on my knees and started praying and saying 'God, why is this happening?' | Another worker, Brenda Atim, said: "I was crying. I went on my knees and started praying and saying 'God, why is this happening?' |
| "I spent so much money. My spirit was crushed." | "I spent so much money. My spirit was crushed." |
| BBC London sent an undercover researcher holding a genuine level three diploma in Health and Social Care to try to find work with HCA Professionals. | BBC London sent an undercover researcher holding a genuine level three diploma in Health and Social Care to try to find work with HCA Professionals. |
| Despite showing Mr Rigland she was qualified to work she was urged to pay £95 for extra training. She also parted with £65 for Mr Rigland to arrange a DBS (formerly CRB) criminal records check. | Despite showing Mr Rigland she was qualified to work she was urged to pay £95 for extra training. She also parted with £65 for Mr Rigland to arrange a DBS (formerly CRB) criminal records check. |
| After taking the cash, he told her: "Consider yourself you've got a job, yeah?" | After taking the cash, he told her: "Consider yourself you've got a job, yeah?" |
| 'Prejudiced' teaching | |
| Footage of the subsequent training given to the researcher was shown to Elaine Burston, health and social care lecturer at City and Islington College. | |
| She judged the teaching "highly unprofessional, misleading and prejudiced" and said it would fail an inspection. | She judged the teaching "highly unprofessional, misleading and prejudiced" and said it would fail an inspection. |
| The researcher was told to demand extra money to treat HIV patients, and service users were described as "mad". | The researcher was told to demand extra money to treat HIV patients, and service users were described as "mad". |
| A discussion of MRSA was dubbed "scaremongering" by Ms Burston, who said the training was unnecessary for someone with a diploma. | A discussion of MRSA was dubbed "scaremongering" by Ms Burston, who said the training was unnecessary for someone with a diploma. |
| Meanwhile DBS confirmed the background check on the BBC researcher was never submitted. | Meanwhile DBS confirmed the background check on the BBC researcher was never submitted. |
| Despite several calls over a period of months, no paid work was given to the researcher. Demands for training money to be returned were refused and a promised refund for the DBS check never materialised. | Despite several calls over a period of months, no paid work was given to the researcher. Demands for training money to be returned were refused and a promised refund for the DBS check never materialised. |
| Mr Rigland told the researcher: "It's just like, for example, how can you go to the cinema and watch movie and then say you want your money back?" | Mr Rigland told the researcher: "It's just like, for example, how can you go to the cinema and watch movie and then say you want your money back?" |
| Minister 'horrified' | Minister 'horrified' |
| Kathryn Dooks, an employment law expert and partner at Kemp Little, viewed the BBC's evidence. | Kathryn Dooks, an employment law expert and partner at Kemp Little, viewed the BBC's evidence. |
| She said: "It's a criminal offence for the agency to charge a fee to a work-seeker for finding employment. | She said: "It's a criminal offence for the agency to charge a fee to a work-seeker for finding employment. |
| "There's a good argument that the fees for CRB [DBS] checks and training were in fact fees for finding employment, particularly as the CRB checks haven't been carried out." | "There's a good argument that the fees for CRB [DBS] checks and training were in fact fees for finding employment, particularly as the CRB checks haven't been carried out." |
| On its website, HCA Professionals claimed Lewisham and Wandsworth councils as clients. Both authorities have denied having any relationship with the company. | On its website, HCA Professionals claimed Lewisham and Wandsworth councils as clients. Both authorities have denied having any relationship with the company. |
| Care Minister Norman Lamb was left "horrified" by the case. | Care Minister Norman Lamb was left "horrified" by the case. |
| He said: "People with very little money already are put in a really invidious position. The allegations are very serious and I hope they get investigated by the police." | He said: "People with very little money already are put in a really invidious position. The allegations are very serious and I hope they get investigated by the police." |
| Of the training, he said: "It's intolerable. Anyone going into the caring profession based on that sort of training is clearly not competent to do incredibly important work." | Of the training, he said: "It's intolerable. Anyone going into the caring profession based on that sort of training is clearly not competent to do incredibly important work." |
| But Mr Rigland claimed he has placed 150 workers in jobs, working with several local authorities. | But Mr Rigland claimed he has placed 150 workers in jobs, working with several local authorities. |
| He said training was voluntary, with candidates "advised" to obtain it if they do not have qualifications. | He said training was voluntary, with candidates "advised" to obtain it if they do not have qualifications. |
| No watchdog | |
| He insisted training from any provider would be sufficient to get work, and said his workers are not charged by his firm for training. | He insisted training from any provider would be sufficient to get work, and said his workers are not charged by his firm for training. |
| Mr Rigland said training was "part of commitment to clients to ensure we supply competent staffing to them at all times". | Mr Rigland said training was "part of commitment to clients to ensure we supply competent staffing to them at all times". |
| The businessman said DBS checks were carried out by an "umbrella company" and clients get their refunds within six weeks. | |
| The care minister claimed a new set of "Fundamental Standards", due to come in this April, will bring "real accountability" to care employers. | The care minister claimed a new set of "Fundamental Standards", due to come in this April, will bring "real accountability" to care employers. |
| Individuals will be banned from running businesses in the care sector if they do not pass a "fit and proper person" test. | Individuals will be banned from running businesses in the care sector if they do not pass a "fit and proper person" test. |
| But the BBC has discovered these standards will not apply to care agencies, meaning they will be powerless to stop the practices uncovered by BBC London's investigation. | But the BBC has discovered these standards will not apply to care agencies, meaning they will be powerless to stop the practices uncovered by BBC London's investigation. |
| While care homes are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), agencies are not subject to any health watchdog whatsoever. | While care homes are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), agencies are not subject to any health watchdog whatsoever. |
| That means a rogue care home operator could shut down and reopen as a care agency the next morning, with the CQC powerless to intervene. | That means a rogue care home operator could shut down and reopen as a care agency the next morning, with the CQC powerless to intervene. |
| Shadow Health Minister Andy Burnham said there is a "loophole in the law", adding that HCA Professionals are "doing it because they can do it." | Shadow Health Minister Andy Burnham said there is a "loophole in the law", adding that HCA Professionals are "doing it because they can do it." |
| He said: "This is straightforward profiteering, exploiting low paid workers. It's wrong." | He said: "This is straightforward profiteering, exploiting low paid workers. It's wrong." |
| Inside Out London is broadcast on BBC One on Monday 26 January at 19:30 GMT and nationwide for 30 days on the iPlayer. | Inside Out London is broadcast on BBC One on Monday 26 January at 19:30 GMT and nationwide for 30 days on the iPlayer. |