Elaine,
The SLC are a Non Departmental Public Body. Section 2 on the following link
explains why the SLC can act a manner which appears to be related to
government policy change:
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp
The DSAQAG website clearly states that questions about the documentation
should be sent to the named contact at the SLC:
http://www.dsa-qag.org.uk/content.asp?ContentID=77
The SLC as an organisation have a complaints procedure – you can find it on
their website. But what would the complaint actually be? It appears that
the weak communications between various parts of the disability support in
HE are hindering everyone’s ability to make sense of what is being
proposed, why and how. Is that in fact cause for complaint to the SLC? The
LAs have a system of regular emails, including ‘red letters’, for the
purpose of distributing information. Such a system does not exist between
the various centres, HEIs, organisations and interested parties in relation
to DSA. This results in a very fractured sense of the events and priorities
which in turn makes it very difficult to do anything except complain about
not knowing and not being told. It might be better use energy on looking at
the sector communication/information flow and its relationship to the SLC
and DSAQAG with the aim of establishing a method of at least getting the
key documents circulated more effectively,
Amanda Kent
On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:03:40 +0100, Elaine Shillcock
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Seems like the SLC are changing government policy without the correct
>cocnsultation or invovlment of stakeholders. I suggest that we all
>write to DIUS if the SLC are not taking notice of what is obviously
>upsetting a lot of experienced professionals from a wide variety of
>areas. Can anybody suggest the most aprporiate contact person to
>email to express our individual concerns?
>
>Elaine Shillcock
>Head of Disability Support Office
>The University of Manchester
>
>Quoting "Lesley Morrice" <[log in to unmask]>:
>
>> NNAC did try that and it didn't seem to get us anywhere!
>>
>> I hope we are going to discuss the new form at the next round of NNAC
>> regional meetings!
>>
>> Lesley
>>
>> Lesley Morrice
>> ACCESS Centre Manager
>> The University of Nottingham ACCESS Centre
>> Student Services Centre
>> Portland Building
>> University Park
>> Nottingham
>> NG7 2RD
>>
>> Tel: 0115 8466114
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of E.Barakhta
>> Sent: 16 October 2008 12:20
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: SLC Three quotes
>>
>> Peter
>>
>> Very well said. I feel that we all should put something in writing to
>> the SLC in order to prevent the new form from being used.
>>
>> Kind regards
>>
>>
>> Ekaterina Barakhta
>> Senior Assessor
>>> The Access Centre
>>> Disabled Student Services (Frank Henshaw Building) The Open University
>>> Hammerwood Gate Kents Hill Milton Keynes United Kingdom
>>> MK7 6BY
>>> Tel +44 (0) 1908 655921
>>>
>>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Hill
>> Sent: 15 October 2008 20:09
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: SLC Three quotes
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> Better still - someone could suggest that the new template be hung on a
>> nail in the smallest room!
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Peter Hill
>>
>> John Conway wrote:
>>> somewhere I saw the phrase "so the student can choose the cheaper
>>> option" - though in the case of dyslexia heaven knows why as they
>>> couldn't possibly spend the whole NMH budget
>>>
>>> however - currently the student can choose where to get support - they
>> don't even have to let the HEI know they have a DSA - and I even saw
>> letter from north of the border that gave advice if they chose family or
>> friend to give them dyslexia support, so if it really is to give the
>> student some ideas then maybe its not a problem?
>>>
>>> there are meetings coming up with Elaine Urquhart - SW_DSA in
>>> Bournemouth next Thursday, ADSHE are meeting with her tomorrow, and
>>> there's a QAG meeting relatively soon I believe. Hopefully someone
>>> can ask for clarification
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
>>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>>> on behalf of Claire Wickham
>>> Sent: Wed 15/10/2008 10:48
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: SLC Three quotes
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes John, it would be good to know what the criteria are. And also, at
>> what point does student choice come into this? This will of particular
>> relevance if the 3 quotes rule applies to NMH support, for example, a
>> dyslexic student might well prefer to have support provided on campus as
>> opposed to having to travel to a cheaper provided an hour's journey from
>> the campus.
>>>
>>> There are a multitude of issues and questions over the new process and
>> very little documentation from SLC: this is the underlying problem - we
>> are having to second guess the principles driving the proposed changes
>> and, in many cases, guess at the exact procedures. More clarify and
>> detail please!
>>>
>>> ATB
>>>
>>> Claire
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>>> on behalf of John Conway
>>> Sent: Tue 14/10/2008 20:49
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: SLC Three quotes
>>>
>>> Elaine said at a meeting that she would chose the best value for money
>> not necessarily the cheapest - but what that means......?
>>>
>>> Dr John S Conway BSc PhD FGS FRGS FHEA MNADP Director, MSc
>>> International Rural Development Director, BSc Countryside Management
>>> Chair, Research Committee Principal Lecturer : Soil Science Disability
>>
>>> Officer Royal Agricultural college, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6JS
>>> 01285 652531 fax 01285 650219
>>> http://www.rac.ac.uk/?_id=590 <http://www.rac.ac.uk/?_id=590>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
>>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>>> on behalf of Ian Webb
>>> Sent: Tue 14/10/2008 17:41
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: SLC Three quotes
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> However I would like to know how the SLC intends to chose which
>>> supplier is picked.
>>>
>>> If as Nassar says all the suppliers were to provide a like for like
>>> quote then there is no need for three quotes, one will do. But we all
>> know this is an impossible dream.
>>>
>>> If the SLC are to chose the cheapest, then again there is no need for
>>> three quotes, as in my experience there is anything up to a thousand
>>> pounds difference in quotes so why can't we just use the cheapest.
>>> Some suppliers have a lower % mark up on equipment than others. Others
>>
>>> chose to reinvest in disability related projects, why not let us chose
>> the supplier we are happiest with.
>>>
>>> If the SLC are to ask us (as they say they will) to say why they
>>> should chose a certain supplier which has been used, then why three
>>> quotes? I have always chosen my preferred supplier based on student
>>> feedback. When students tell me they are not happy with a supplier and
>>
>>> the supplier seems unable or unwilling to change; then I make the
>> change by chosing a different supplier.
>>>
>>> I cannot see how using three quotes is going to be of benefit to
>>> anyone. We wrote the SLA to ensure that suppliers all provided a
>>> minimum level of service. This meant a better service for students, it
>>
>>> also meant that suppliers had to compete on the basis of better
>>> service and not cheaper products or more articulate salespeople.
>>>
>>> Oh well rant over, back to trying to see where I am to put mathematics
>>
>>> in the new equally silly proposed new report format, as for that
>> secure locker for medicines???
>>>
>>> Ian
>>>
>>> Quoting Nasser Siabi <[log in to unmask]>:
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ian Webb
>>> Centre Manager ATOP LTD
>>> Disability Adviser/Assessor
>>> MNADP
>>>
>>>
>>> This incoming email to UWE has been independently scanned for viruses
>>> by McAfee anti-virus software and none were detected
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
>>> This email was independently scanned for viruses by McAfee anti-virus
>>> software and none were found We've just launched our new website - log
>> onto www.rac.ac.uk to find out more about the RAC!
>>>
>>> This e-mail is confidential to the intended recipients. Access to this
>> e-mail by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended
>> recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or
>> omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and unlawful. The
>> recipient acknowledges that the Royal Agricultural College cannot
>> control the content of information received in transmissions made via
>> the Internet.
>>>
>>> Royal Agricultural College (Registered in England No: 99168) & Royal
>>> Agricultural College Enterprises Ltd (Registered in England No:
>>> 2752048) are the trading names of the Royal Agricultural College
>>>
>>> Registered Office: Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester,
>>> Gloucestershire, GL7 6JS
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Peter J Hill
>>
>> Tel: 01905 391 547
>> Mobile: 07751 792711
>>
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> -----------------------------------
>>
>> www.study-pro.com
>>
>> Literacy, numeracy, dyslexia and study-skills resources.
>>
>> -----------------------------------
>>
>> ---------------------------------
>> The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an
>> exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland
>> (SC 038302).
>>
>> This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an
attachment
>> may still contain software viruses, which could damage your computer
system:
>> you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications with the
>> University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation.
>>
|