Parking the disabled
- 28 January 2013 16:04212543
- 28 January 2013 16:33212545For those, like me, who have not got all day for the page to load...
"A documentary investigation into one of the firms responsible for delivering the Government's £5bn Work Programme claims to have found evidence of staff using an 'offensive' code to describe disabled and jobless people.
Clients of Triage, a key player in the Government's plan to pay private companies to move people from benefit into work, were referred to as 'LTB' - code for "lying, thieving bastards", a former employee alleges.
Linda Smith, who worked for Triage, which operates in Scotland and the north of England, told the BBC that the term was used to describe jobless and disabled clients, and that the company used a practice known as 'parking' to keep disabled people on their books.
Mrs Smith said that under the scheme firms can earn more money from taking on the disabled people as clients, but that once they are on the company's books staff are told to spend as little time as possible helping them find work.
"They would be put on telephone interviews... just to make sure that there was this contact made so they could tick a box to say, 'Yeah, they're still on the Work Programme'," Mrs Smith said.
The BBC claims that four other former Triage employees confirmed the use of the LTB code and told the BBC similar stories about clients on their books being 'parked'.
Tony Wilson, 34, from Middlesbrough was referred to the Work Programme through Triage in February 2012, told the BBC he believes he has been 'parked': "They haven't done a single thing to help me in any way."
He also condemned the use of the LTB label allegedly given to those on long-term benefits: "That's offensive. It's unprofessional. It's - so many words I could say about that. It's just wrong."
In response to the allegations Triage said: "It is standard practice, particularly for those clients that are sick or who have otherwise been unable to attend, to telephone them to check on their progress and maintain contact. Triage's delivery structure of the Work Programme does not allow for 'parking'.
"The compliance requirements of the programme demand a frequency of contact and this together with our own commitment to excellence and meeting client needs means that 'parking' is not an option."
Triage also claimed that use of the term LTB was an isolated incident, adding: "This is not a phraseology used or accepted by Triage."
Panorama: The Great Disability Scam? is on BBC One, Monday, 28 January at 20:30 GMT and then available in the UK via the BBC iPlayer.
Too Little...too late?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 28 January 2013 16:59212549This is just further evidence of our genuine disabled people being used and abused, whilst being tarnished with the same brush as the minority of scroungers.
The sad thing, is that the genuine disabled people will be affected by this and the scroungers won't be giving a toss about it.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
28 January 2013 17:26212554Very true Gary.
The disabled that want and can work are being let down by this official bunch of scroungers or should I say LTB.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 28 January 2013 20:22212597Trickle down from the propaganda of the Nasty Party......?
latched on by right wingers and some `closets` and an easy cliche for `many`
The scroungers are an extremely small minority who will always exist in any society. - 28 January 2013 20:28212599that's the game reg, give the impression to hard working poorer people that the disabled are the reason they are scraping by.
divide and rule goes back to julius caesar. - 28 January 2013 20:34212600Triage are giving their customer( The Government ) what it wants and knowing their customer they have not got to be anything but ruthless in their dealings with those being tested.Audere est facere.
- 28 January 2013 20:39212601on one hand we have atos picking on people that cannot work, the other we have triage trying to spike the ambitions of those that are able and want to.
not a good time to be disabled. - 28 January 2013 21:30212610TELL ME ABOUT ITYorkshire Born And Yorkshire Bred
- Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
29 January 2013 07:52212640I always welcome gary's view from the coalface so to speak, This will have a big affect on all disabled, the small minority that are guilty of abusing the system should be targeted not all.ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 29 January 2013 08:25212641I'm not surprised at this and can quite believe it - from my brother's experience.
A totally unnecesary snide comment from Reg. I would say that what Ministers say (of any Party or Government), never filters down to the Job Centre staff, they seem to do as they please.
Roger - 29 January 2013 08:59212648Roger.
This and the previous governments instructed ATOS to make their assessments without using the disabled person's medical history, both physically by letting their so called doctors viewing medical records or orally from the disabled person or their carer.
It is not about catching the fakes that is for sure.
Have you not heard the comments coming from ministers and other's, over the last few years about Disabled and Unemployed scum dragging the country into an economic black hole, throwing the blame onto others is a powerfull method that I know all too well and will never forget.
Do you really think that this nonsense doesn't filter down?"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 29 January 2013 10:37212655the whole thing smacks of scapegoating which can backfire, i can remember when single mothers were to blame for the nations economic woes.
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
29 January 2013 10:46212656Very true Howard, smokers, drinkers, fatties like me
and the disabled seem to be high on the target list at the moment I wonder who will be the next group that is supposedly being a burden on the countries resources.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 29 January 2013 10:47212658A disturbing programme, shocking to see that the 'main providers' seem to be 'candy picking' charities for cudos and that some charities including RNIB have had no referrals at all since the scheme has been running.
From what I saw on the programme last night ex Triage employee's have blown the whistle on some of the 'odd' going's on within the company, this has opened a can of worms. - 29 January 2013 11:46212661GaryC
I agree that real disabled people (and their carers) are being unfairly treated and have said so on here; I also agree with you that it won't (necessarily) catch the skivers.
I am always hearing platitudes from Ministers about what they are doing to help people back to work, but I don't hear of any of it making a positive difference to those on the front-line.
I also haven't heard any mention of disabled people being described as scum - I'm sure that was said by you out of frustration.
I believe this new assessment starts on 1st. of April ? for everyone up to the age of 64.
Ken - you can have a social-conscience without being a socialist.
Roger - 29 January 2013 12:51212670For those, like me, who missed last night's programme here it is on iplayer...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qgk9h/Panorama_The_Great_Disability_Scam/Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 29 January 2013 13:08212672Roger.
Ministers may have only implied the word "scum" but I have often heard Disabled and Un-employed, being refered to as "scum"
I was responding to your comment in #11, stating that what Ministers state, never filters down.
Minister's and other's that are trying to pass the buck, never ever say, "the minority of Disabled" or "the few Un-employed" that would not have the impact that they want to purvey, would it?
It is always "The disabled" and "The Unemployed" that are dragging this country down and people do listen to them comments and react to those comments.
I know how my wife feels when she hears she is to blame, ask your brother how he feels?"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 30 January 2013 09:22212810He feels let down Gary.
It's not the disabled who are dragging this country down, it is the stupid decisions made by Government Ministers.
Roger - 30 January 2013 09:28212813Roger, I come in peace.
If I refer to DDC as stupid or useless you get upset, what's the difference?
I'm not goading you Roger, I'm keen to hear your thoughts.