ALS performance: wrong trend
If ALS were becoming more successful at covering the requests from its main client - HMCTS, interpreters not signed with them would be getting fewer offers of work from the courts direct. Evidence suggests this is not happening.
A graph of reported calls direct to interpreters with day-upon-day increases appears to be still rising. This 'learning curve' is not bending to the right as it goes up so ALS cannot be improving. Wishful thinking about teething troubles being overcome seems to be just that: a wish.
Clients are clearly going to other sources including booking interpreters directly. Although only just over 400 calls have been reported to us since 1st February 2012, there is a clear trend that averages 3 jobs every day.
There was a sign of ALS improving around Day 91, which coincided with a review of performance. Clearly, they tried really hard to fulfill as many jobs as they could to look good. However, it seems this was not sustained.
Other reports keep coming in of calls through different interpreter agencies and even the police trying to get an interpreter to court when ALS workers cannot be found or cannot be trusted.
All this indicates that a "mixed economy" exists as opposed to the monopsony (look it up) that the MoJ's Framework Agreement had attempted to create. So where is the saving of £18 million going to come from?
Collator
