FOI request: Interpreters removed from Capita register
Dear Ministry of Justice,
Further to your letter ref TO12-2555 Pells, dated 31st December 2012, it is stated that ‘..I can confirm that interpreters have been required to provide proof of qualifications experience or CRB status. If they failed to do so by the end of November they were removed from the list of interpreters who can offer their services…’
I question the use of the word ‘or’ in the first sentence as I presume this is a grammatical error, and the word ‘and’ should have been used instead. The use of the word ‘or’ implies that it is only necessary for an interpreter to provide proof of qualifications, or experience, or CRB status, whereas the terms of the Framework contract requires that proof of all three is a pre-requisite for entry onto the register.
Whilst it is comforting to know that the Capita register has finally been purged of would-be interpreters that cannot provide proof of qualifications, experience, and CRB status, it is disconcerting that it has taken 10 months for these vetting procedures to be implemented, given that they should have been in place and enforced from day 1 of the contract roll-out.
There remains a loop-hole in that there are no control measures in place to verify the qualifications, experience, and CRB status of interpreters booked through 3rd party agencies. This may arise where Capita is unable to fulfil a booking using a linguist from its own register, and sub-contracts the booking to another agency, or where the client chooses to make a booking outside of the Framework contract with another agency.
Please provide the following information:
1. For the period 1st February 2012 to 30th November 2012, how any linguists were removed from the ALS/Capita register because they were unable to provide evidence of qualifications, experience, or CRB status?
2. How many of the linguists removed from the ALS/Capita register had been used to fulfil interpreting assignments?
3. For the period 1st February 2012 to 30th November 2012, how many bookings were fulfilled by linguists that were subsequently removed from the ALS/Capita register because they were unable to provide evidence of qualifications, experience, or CRB status?
4. What control measures are now in place to prevent interpreters with inadequate qualifications and/or experience and/or CRB status being supplied to fulfil interpreting bookings, in instances where Capita is unable to fulfil the booking, or the client makes a booking outside of the Framework agreement?
Yours faithfully
