Mandatory psychological treatment, by the DWP, on a mandatory benefit sanctions involuntary no choice basis.

The request was successful.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

The DWP is considering spending £21 million (£21,000,000) of public funds to provide digital CBT (Online Supported Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), as part of this process of
providing psychological CBT 'treatment', you require services to be in line with:

"National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved treatment"
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov....

You are also "at an early stage" [1] of planning to "co-locate Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) therapists in over 350 Jobcentres" [2] and require IAPT "therapist" to hold specific "qualifications" to "practice within IAPT services" [3].

Recently you stated that all IAPT and CBT would be "entirely voluntary"[4], implying that no benefit sanctions could be imposed for declining to engage with IAPT and CBT facilitated via the DWP.

Taking all of the above in account, can you confirm that, in relation to neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) delivered by DWP contractors, that:

1. Benefit Sanctions: - Anyone referred to the mandatory NLP 'treatment' schemes you deliver through suppliers like of 'Start Smiling Again'* and 'Vedas Recruitment & Training Ltd' are NOT voluntary, as declining to engage in the NLP 'treatment' integrated into these schemes can mean benefit sanctions, with losses of up to 3 years for Jobseeker's Allowance?

*£48,000 for 'Start Smiling Again' NLP - South West Wales - Stress Management Programme
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov....

**£165,000 for 'Vedas Recruitment & Training Ltd' NLP - Entrenched Worklesness Provision http://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder...

2. Qualifications: DWP do not require DWP contractors using NLP to have any recognised qualifications?

3. Treatment: NLP is not a 'treatment' approved by any Public Authority?

4. CNHC: DWP do not require DWP contractors using NLP to register with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), a body "set up with government support" [5], that regulates members of the British Association of Therapeutic Hypnotists & NLP practitioners (BAThH) [6] and The British Institute of Hypnotherapy & NLP?

5. Consent: DWP do not require DWP contractors using NLP on it's back-to-work schemes, to obtain fully informed freely given (voluntary) consent from participants before
subjecting them to direct and indirect forms of NLP?

Reference: Getting consent

CNHC: Code of conduct, ethics and performance
" Clients’ consent must be voluntary. That is, they must not be under any form of pressure or undue influence..." [8]

6. Conscientious Objection : As the DWP does not appear to obtain consent, before subjecting it's 'customers' to NLP by it's contractors/suppliers, can you confirm that any customer would be free to lodge a formal complaint against the DWP against it's arbitrary use of NLP as well as submitting a formal Conscientious Objection now or at the point of referral to any DWP contractor that ues NLP that is not on an "entirely voluntary" basis?

7. Professional Indemnity: The DWP does not require each practitioner of NLP, be delivered through a DWP contract, to have Professional Indemnity insurance?

8. Insurance: The DWP does it's contractors that use NLP, to hold insurance that indemnifies them against any DWP customer who wishes to make a claim against the DWP and the contractor for use of NLP on a mandatory benefit sanctions involuntary no choice basis?

9. Psychological treatment: As NLP is a psychological intervention (treatment), please disclose details of the insurance the DWP holds or relies upon should a DWP customer wish to make a claim against it, on the basis that the DWP has subjected them to a form of psychological intervention (treatment), on a mandatory benefit sanctions involuntary no choice basis?

10: Evidence: The DWP holds no evaluation or evidence on the effectiveness of NLP with it's 'customers'?

Yours faithfully,

Frank Zola

Footnotes

[1] 'CMHT/ IAPT'
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...

[2] Budget 2015
1.236
Budget 2015 also announces a package of measures to improve employment outcomes
for people with mental health conditions. Starting from early 2016,
the government will provide online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to 40,000 Employment and
Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants and individuals being
supported by Fit for Work. From summer 2015, the government will also begin to
co-locate Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) therapists in over 350
Jobcentres, to provide integrated employment and mental health support to claimants with
common mental health conditions
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...

[3] 'CMHT/ IAPT'
The following qualifications are required to practice within IAPT services:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...

[4] 'Sanctions: CBT and IAPT'
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s...

[5] Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
http://www.cnhc.org.uk/

[6] British Association of Therapeutic Hypnotists & NLP practitioners (BAThH)
http://www.bathh.co.uk/about_bathh

[7] The British Institute of Hypnotherapy & NLP
http://www.britishinstituteofhypnotherap...

[8] CNHC: Code of conduct, ethics and performance
http://www.cnhc.org.uk/assets/pdf/1-058....

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

Dear DWP freedom-of-information-requests,

I am resubmitting this request https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m... to clarify it and improve it's grammar.

Resubmitted request:

The DWP is considering spending £21 million (£21,000,000) of public funds to provide digital CBT (Online Supported Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), as part of this process of providing psychological CBT 'treatment', you require services to be in line with:

"National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved
treatment"
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov....

You are also "at an early stage" [1] of planning to "co-locate Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) therapists in over 350 Jobcentres" [2] and require IAPT "therapist" to hold specific "qualifications" to "practice within IAPT services" [3].

Recently you stated that all IAPT and CBT would be "entirely voluntary"[4], implying that no benefit sanctions could be imposed for declining to engage with IAPT and CBT facilitated via the DWP.

Taking all of the above in account, can you confirm that, in relation to neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) delivered by DWP contractors, that:

1. [Benefit Sanctions]

Anyone referred to the mandatory NLP 'treatment' schemes you deliver through suppliers like of 'Start Smiling Again'* and 'Vedas Recruitment & Training Ltd'** are NOT voluntary, as declining to engage in the NLP 'treatment' integrated into these schemes can mean benefit sanctions, with losses of up to
3 years for Jobseeker's Allowance?

*£48,000 for 'Start Smiling Again' NLP - South West Wales - Stress
Management Programme
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov....

**£165,000 for 'Vedas Recruitment & Training Ltd' NLP - Entrenched
Worklesness Provision
http://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder...

2. [Qualifications]

DWP contractors using NLP are not required to have any recognised qualifications, to practice NLP?

3. [Treatment]

NLP 'treatment' is not approved by any Public Authority?

4. [CNHC]

DWP do not require DWP contractors using NLP to register with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), a body "set up with government support" [5], that regulates members of the British Association of Therapeutic Hypnotists & NLP practitioners (BAThH) [6] and The British Institute of Hypnotherapy & NLP?

5. [Consent]

DWP do not require DWP contractors using NLP on it's back-to-work schemes, to obtain fully informed freely given (voluntary) consent*** from participants before subjecting them to direct and indirect forms of NLP?

***Getting consent

CNHC: Code of conduct, ethics and performance " Clients’ consent must be voluntary. That is, they must not be under any form of pressure or undue influence..." [8]

6. [Conscientious Objection]

As the DWP does not appear to obtain consent, before subjecting it's 'customers' to NLP 'treatment' by it's contractors/suppliers, can you confirm that any customer would be free to lodge a formal complaint against the DWP against it's arbitrary use of NLP as well as submitting a formal Conscientious Objection now or at the point of being considered for or referred to any DWP contractor that uses NLP that is not on an "entirely voluntary" basis?

7. [Professional Indemnity]

The DWP does not require each individual practitioner of NLP, delivered through a DWP contract, to have Professional Indemnity insurance?

8. [Insurance]

The DWP does not requires it's contractors that use NLP, to hold insurance that indemnifies them against any DWP customer who wishes to make an insurance claim against the DWP and the contractor for use of NLP on a mandatory benefit sanctions involuntary no choice basis?

9. [Psychological treatment]

As NLP is a psychological intervention (treatment), please disclose details of the insurance the DWP holds or relies upon should a DWP customer wish to make a claim against it, on the basis that the DWP has subjected them to a form of psychological intervention (treatment), on a mandatory benefit sanctions involuntary no choice basis?

10: [Evidence]

The DWP holds no evaluation or evidence on the effectiveness of NLP with it's 'customers'? Noting:

Scientific criticism of NLP
NLP as quasi-religion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-ling...

Yours faithfully,

Frank Zola

Footnotes

[1] 'CMHT/ IAPT'
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...

[2] Budget 2015
1.236
Budget 2015 also announces a package of measures to improve
employment outcomes for people with mental health conditions. Starting from early 2016,
the government will provide online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to 40,000 Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants and
individuals being supported by Fit for Work. From summer 2015, the government will
also begin to co-locate Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
therapists in over 350 Jobcentres, to provide integrated employment and mental health
support to claimants with common mental health conditions
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...

[3] 'CMHT/ IAPT'
The following qualifications are required to practice within IAPT services:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...

[4] 'Sanctions: CBT and IAPT'
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s...

[5] Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
http://www.cnhc.org.uk/

[6] British Association of Therapeutic Hypnotists & NLP
practitioners (BAThH)
http://www.bathh.co.uk/about_bathh

[7] The British Institute of Hypnotherapy & NLP
http://www.britishinstituteofhypnotherap...

[8] CNHC: Code of conduct, ethics and performance
http://www.cnhc.org.uk/assets/pdf/1-058....

Yours sincerely,

Frank Zola

CD Official Correspondence, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Zola
 
Please see the attached letter.
 
 
Official Correspondence Team
People, Communication and Capability | Please consider the environment
before printing.
 
 
 
 

show quoted sections

CD Official Correspondence, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Zola
 
Please see the attached letter.
 
 
Official Correspondence Team
People, Communication and Capability | Please consider the environment
before printing.
 
 
 
 

show quoted sections