REPORT TO REGENERATION COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 1999
This report sets out the current situation in respect of the delivery of NVQ Programmes and sets out the management action to date following the receipt of the Internal Audit Report.
Members should note that the information contained in this report may result in disciplinary proceedings and should take great care to respect confidentiality. -
In February 1998 Internal Audit were given information which indicated that there were concerns over the awarding of the NVQ Certificates at the Council's Training Section at Metrochange House. At the same time, the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority had received information of a similar nature and they commenced an investigation.
As a result of the information which had been received both the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority and the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry carried out external investigations into the situation. At the same time a Council management investigation was commenced and subsequently transferred to Internal Audit.
Both QCA and LCCI have completed their investigations and with the exception of the Training Department at Metrochange House, which has been closed, the Council's remaining Training Sections have all been revalidated and the following section of this report gives details of current training.
The Internal Audit investigation was completed on 30 June 1999 and passed to the Strategic Director (Regeneration & Policy Support) for action and response. Appendix A gives an Executive Summary of the Internal Audit Report.
In order to ensure future compliance with QCA's Common Accord various measures were implemented across all NVQ Training Centres. A comprehensive NVQ procedure was introduced together with ongoing staff training and development which has raised the level of awareness of and compliance with Common Accord requirements.
The skills and knowledge requirements of previously acquired "D Unit" qualifications were also reinforced by further staff training.
In addition, regular audits and quality checks were introduced and are continuing to ensure that National Standards are being met.
The Centre received written confirmation on 7 January 1999 from the Awarding Body, Edexel, that approval to assess and internally verify qualifications had been reinstated.
Sampling and tracing audits take place monthly to ensure compliance to the procedures for NVQ delivery in line with the Common Accord. External verification visits by the Awarding Body have taken place on a six weekly basis.
NVQ certificates are starting to come through with three certificates awarded in June with a further five anticipated in December.
The Business Administration Centre re-approval was gained in July following the appointment of an Internal Verifier working between Keighley Training Group and Mitre Court. As detailed above, monthly internal sampling and tracking audits have taken place to ensure compliance with the Common Accord. The first External Verification visit by IGGI took place in August with five NVQ certificates awarded.
The Child Care Centre re-approval was gained in February 1999 and 12 NVQ certificates were awarded in June 1999.
The Animal Care Centre re-approval is now in place from the Awarding Body, OFI. Mitre Court Training Services
Following the appointment of an Internal Verifier for both Mitre Court and Keighley Training Group, Business Administration Centre approval was gained in July 1999.
Following an External Verification visit in August two certificates were awarded.
The Director of Regeneration & Policy Support and the Employee Relations Manager (Strategic Personnel) are carrying out management's investigation following the receipt of the Audit Report. As a consequence a number of staff have been invited to interviews and advised that they may be subject to disciplinary proceedings.
If any such proceedings are necessary an officer from outside the Office of Regeneration & Policy Support will convene and chair any such hearings.
That Members note this report.
DAVID KENNEDY
13 September 1999
1.1 On Friday 27 February 1998, Compliance Officers from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) visited Metrochange House (BAIT) and commenced an investigation into allegations made to them of impropriety by Council employees. QCA, which is a Central Government investigatory body, took away with them a number of trainee portfolios. The allegations concerned Council officers allegedly fraudulently claiming finance from the Bradford Training and Enterprise Council for trainees successfully passing NVQ qualifications, when in fact they had not reached the required standards.
1.2 On Monday 9 March 1998 an Adult and Youth Training management investigation commenced into the irregularities.
1.3 On Tuesday 17 March 1998 the Council were notified in writing by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), which is the awarding body for BAIT, that BAIT was suspended from claiming NVQ certificates, due to evidence that certificates had been claimed early. As a result of QCA and LCCI investigations, all NVQ certificates issued by BAIT since 1 January 1996 were invalidated by LCCI, 78 in total.
1.4 On Friday 12 June 1998 the Strategic Director (Regeneration and Policy Support) requested that Internal Audit carry out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the NVQ certificate invalidations. This was agreed by the City Finance Officer. The management investigation was suspended.
2.1 During the Internal Audit investigation, other allegations were received concerning Adult and Youth Training management. It was alleged that management was deliberately withholding information from the Strategic Director (Regeneration and Policy Support), Members and QCA as to the extent and seriousness of NVQ irregularities. A, number of interviews were held and written statements taken, and a report was sent to the Strategic Director (Regeneration and Policy Support) on 2' ) November 1998. Although QCA were not informed immediately of findings of the Council's internal quality audits conducted at some training centres, it is the opinion of Internal Audit that there is no evidence to substantiate the allegation that managers acted improperly in seeking to deliberately suppress the information.
2.2 A further allegation was received by Internal Audit from an ex-employee that serious NVQ irregularities had been reported in October 1997, but that appropriate action had not been taken. Interviews were held with relevant employees and ex-employees. An Internal Audit report was sent to the Strategic Director (Regeneration and Policy Support) on 7 December 1998.
2.3 The main Internal Audit investigation concentrated on the reasons why all 78 NVQ certificates issued by Metrochange House had been invalidated. This involved the examination of a number of trainee portfolios, together with liaison with QCA and LCCI. The final Internal Audit report was sent to the Strategic Director (Regeneration and Policy Support) on 30 June 1999.
2.4 Internal Audit had conducted interviews with all staff from Metrochange House, some ex-employees and a number of NVQ trainees, and written statements were taken.
3.1 NVQ certificates have been claimed for prior to completion of NVQ's
J.2 The role of, and relationship with, the external verifiers will need to be reviewed.
3.3 The contents of the full Internal Audit report should be considered when determining the extent of management responsibility for the problems encountered at Metrochange House.