MkII Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 Hi guys I'm about to go for an interview to work for Capita on OpenHive I'm looking for questions about the service. What are your experiences with OpenHive and the various services offered? What do you think could be improved? This is for 2nd line, sometimes 3rd line support. Thanks for your time!
FN-GM Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 (edited) ***Run Away Screaming*** It was purchased by the LA and given for free to all the schools in Rochdale for free. Not one of them took it on and purchased there own individual solutions. It wasn't flexible, it was sharepoint 2007 with a different skin and the platform was very unreliable. Edited October 1, 2014 by FN-GM 1
synaesthesia Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 What could be improved: Capita's procedures and guidelines Capita's way of dealing with employees and Capita's employee retention Capita's value for money Capita. 3
MkII Posted October 1, 2014 Author Posted October 1, 2014 lol thanks FN-GM I've read a lot of negative feedback on here. They say 600 schools use the service. Whole authorities in some places?
FN-GM Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 lol thanks FN-GM I've read a lot of negative feedback on here. They say 600 schools use the service. Whole authorities in some places? They will probably include Rochdale in that. We have it but don't use it... I assume it Is whole authorities. 1
MkII Posted October 1, 2014 Author Posted October 1, 2014 lol synaesthesia So you witnessed a fast staff turnaround? Not good. I know they're expensive for some services, but they seem to be everywhere. Surely they're doing something right? The OpenHive service seems quite professionally documented on their website. Do you see them as taking work away from local techs?
MkII Posted October 1, 2014 Author Posted October 1, 2014 @ FN-GM ah I see. So your LA paid for it? What's the take up % would you know/ guess?
synaesthesia Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 I'm an ex-employee - not part of a fast-turnover of staff, but I walked after seeing them push out some good people for the wrong reasons and never ending red tape, watching them continue to provide poor value for money (in my opinion). It's a shame because some of the people there are absolutely very knowledgeable and I am proud to have worked with those folks. Openhive is likely just a rename of the services I was once part of; they have been supporting schools for years in one form or another. I don't think they take anything away from local techs; quite often they work rather well with them, and that goes for any outsourced support. Primary schools often can't afford permanent staff, and sometimes the schools they feed can't spare the technical time to support them. Academy chains have likely improved this but the majority of the groups I know still have outsourced providers coming in. ( just another disclaimer, this is of course opinion and I don't want to be sued for defamation or anything. Quite within my rights to say that, at the time of my employment, the powers that be were particularly muppety) 1
FN-GM Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 (edited) @ FN-GM ah I see. So your LA paid for it? What's the take up % would you know/ guess? Yep it was purchased for all the secondary schools on a 5 year deal from 2010 - 2015. Not one of them use it so 0% uptake. Edited October 1, 2014 by FN-GM 1
MkII Posted October 1, 2014 Author Posted October 1, 2014 (edited) Wow great info thanks synaesthesia. @ FN-GM blimey what a waste! I bet that cost a bright penny! ...and it'll be a large loss to OpenHive when it comes up for renewal next year I expect. Edited October 1, 2014 by MkII
FN-GM Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 It would have been. The schools even spent their own money to get something else. It was done without proper consultation. 1
synaesthesia Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 Regardless of opinion of course, I shall hasten to point out that if you keep your head down you may well find it a very fruitful position with great learning opportunities and good likelihood of career progression, which is quite stunted naturally in a school environment. I can't keep my mouth shut so it didn't suit me 1
E_G_R2 Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 Wonder how many schools will be reverting back to inhouse from CAPITA? Friend of mine in 'the north west' school is ditching them and i'm not surprised after seeing the mess with my own eyes. Had jobs on the help desk for 2 years, desktop load speeds in the minutes, un reliable MIS, the lsit goes on. As for Rochdale I remeber the pain of OpenHive training and its functionality compared to the VLE's already embeded in the schools. Not worked in the LEA for 2 years but still get regular text's to my mobile about lvel 2 and 3 area wide issues. 1
FN-GM Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 As for Rochdale I remeber the pain of OpenHive training and its functionality compared to the VLE's already embeded in the schools. Not worked in the LEA for 2 years but still get regular text's to my mobile about lvel 2 and 3 area wide issues. People who work in Rochdale don't seem to get them! Our school has ditched the WAN and gone it alone. Never had any issues since. My hair has even started to grow back! 2
MkII Posted October 1, 2014 Author Posted October 1, 2014 @ FN-GM too common a story isn't it. My LA have done pretty well recently... touch wood. Mind you... there's no money now so the risk is reduced! lol synaesthesia : Thanks. Yes that does sound encouraging. Some people seem to be able to stop themselves from burying their chances don't they. How do they do that!? Another position I'm applying for in a school is offering minimum wage and wanting essential Server2012 etc experience.
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