Thread by @JoeEHanley

To the surprise of no one, the government announced (through a pre-procurement notice) today that it will be extending the contract of social work fast-track Frontline, and likely it will be expanding (as each new contract has). There's a lot to unpick, so strap in. A thread 1/16

The full pre-procurement notice can be found at this link. While technically it will be an open tender, for all intents and purposes its an extension to Frontline, and much like previous contracts will be tailored to their model to ensure they win it 2/16

bidstats.uk/tenders/2021/W…

If you would like more info about how the UK procurement process is biased in favour of large established providers, including through tailor made contracts, this study is good. Such waste of time/resources for what amounts to pantomime of competition 3/16
demos.co.uk/project/value-…

In 2018 a group of SW prof organisations wrote an open letter to the DfE (Zahawi actually, at the time the Children's Minister) calling for the previous tender to be delayed. Obviously it wasnt, and Frontline were awarded a new £45m contract in 2019. 4/16
basw.co.uk/media/news/201…

The letter, amongst other things, called for a halt because we didn't yet have the findings of a progression study. Amazingly, about to go into 2022, we still don't have those findings. Interim findings we do have do not look good for Frontline though 5/16
communitycare.co.uk/2020/07/24/fro…

And since that letter and that new contract, Frontline have faced scandal after scandal that would have been enough to shut down any other social work qualifying programme. But much like their government friends, they seem to be immune from consequences. Some examples: 6/16

Alongside the well recognised diversity/equality issues with the Frontline programme recruitment, trainees came forward to raise concerns about the way Frontline manages issues like discrimination and diversity for those already on the programme. 7/16

communitycare.co.uk/2020/06/26/fro…

It also came to light that Frontline were failing to meet their contractual obligations around Masters attainment rates. In response, ever the friend, the government reduced the target for Frontline from 90% to 70%. 8/16
communitycare.co.uk/2020/03/27/fro…

But that was apparently not enough, and Frontline eventually dropped the mandatory requirement for their trainees to complete the Masters - notably this fundamentally changed the service that the government had procured, but they didn't mind it seems. 9/16
communitycare.co.uk/2019/08/29/fro…

There was also this expose from @GraduateFog that found that Frontline trainees were threatened with large fees if they wanted to withdraw from the programme, the response from Frontline being described at the time as "heartless". 10/16
graduatefog.co.uk/2019/6046/fron…

Of course dear friends Government were there to defend Frontline as always, including Zahawi, who stated the exit fees were needed "as a means of clawing back public funding where a Frontline participant doesnt meet their commitment to the programme" 11/16
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questi…

This led to a slew of additional revelations, about the student experience on Frontline more broadly. Including: 12/16

communitycare.co.uk/2019/04/04/nee…

While we await the progression study, there has been some research since then, including (sorry for the plug) my own research looking at the impact of fast-tracks on students who do not qualify on these programmes. Anyone need a copy just DM me 13/16
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.108…

And meanwhile we have had ongoing revelations of the corporate backers behind Frontline, and the corruption and profiteering they get up to near and far. For an overview see this video (sorry another plug for my own thing): 14/16

This has included an attempt from Frontline to facilitate a Boston Consulting Group proposal to guide children's social care going forward, something that could indeed still be on the cards as Frontline founder is now bizarrely chair of #carereview. 15/16
thefrontline.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

And yet here we are, with a new contract ready to be awarded Frontline, based on a track record of failure and scandal, and having done lasting damage to the profession we will probably never recover from. I hope everyone sees why this needs to be fought at every step. END