Dear Penny
Couldn’t agree more. This is not rocket science, but the fact that the big mover in
question can seemingly justify these expensive arrangements with relative impunity is
testament to the lack of “joined-up” thinking.
A central register of ‘non-medical helpers’ as discussed by Ros with the SLC, and a
website where practitioners can list their credentials is a good start. Though I suspect
that until the much-awaited SLA for the NMH sector is hammered out, these loopholes will
continue to be exploited.
Suffice to say, that there are private companies (e.g. Clear Links, Claro Learning) – who
do not charge an upfront fee, and who consider the initial risk assessment as an on- cost
of providing the service.
Naturally, we would agree with Amanda that had the student been provided with an
alternative to an HEI, a referral at an earlier stage would have been facilitated. But this is
not a zero-sum game. Choice – even from the “dreaded” private sector - is not
detrimental to the service provided by HEI’s, but complimentary. The key is to keep the
student, and the tax payer for that matter, as the central point of focus.
Anthony Healy
Director, Development
Claro Learning
www.clarolearning.com
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