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Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission selects new IT system for future maintenance scheme
The new state child maintenance scheme that will replace the two schemes currently provided by the Child Support Agency has taken an important step forward.
Suppliers have been appointed to provide the computer system that will underpin the 'future' scheme now being developed by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
With the aim of providing better client service and greater value for the taxpayer, the Commission has decided to utilise commercial 'off-the-shelf' software packages already widely used in commerce and industry.
"In learning the lessons of the past we will not attempt to 'reinvent the wheel' and order a single, purpose-built IT system," said Child Maintenance Commissioner Stephen Geraghty.
"The collection and payment of child maintenance is not dissimilar from transactions performed millions of times a day for financial organisations around the world. We want to draw on that technical expertise and provide to future child maintenance clients the kind of service they should expect.
"That means giving people much better access to information about their case; most importantly how much they owe or are due to receive. If they wish they should be able to access their account on the web and receive update notifications by email and text message.
"Many of the justified complaints against the old CSA were the result of the limitations of its IT systems. While we have made good progress since 2006 in improving those systems, it is essential that IT issues will not distract from a parent's duty to financially provide for their children."
Following a meticulous assessment process, the Commission has selected Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as the system integrator. TCS's role will be to integrate a number of proven solutions to support the 'future scheme' including; case management, case assessment and payment calculations, automated scheduling of payments in and out, financial and arrears management and enforcement.
Software products will include Oracle's Siebel customer relationship management system and the TCS BaNCS banking product. Other software products will be sourced from Experian, Genysys, IBM and Oracle.
In evaluating a number of competing bids, the Commission took account of the quality of the technical solution, value-for-money and the allocation of risk between the parties.
Notes to Editors
* The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is a new body responsible for the child maintenance system in Great Britain. The Commission's role is to promote financial responsibility for children; provide the Child Maintenance Options information and support service; and to develop and direct the statutory child maintenance service currently provided by the Child Support Agency (CSA).
* The Commission took control of the CSA from the Department for Work and Pensions in November 2008.
* Please note the Commission is not itself the 'replacement' or 'successor' to the Child Support Agency. The Commission is developing a new statutory maintenance scheme that will replace the two schemes currently provided by the CSA from 2011.
* TCS has been working in the UK since 1975. In September 2005 it received an 'Outstanding Contribution to the UK Knowledge Economy' Award from UK Trade & Investment. It is the largest software consultancy in UK to qualify for Investor in People standard (2005) and is actively involved in shaping the UK 'eskills' agenda
