Working Links

wishface

This isn't totally relevant, I suppose, to this site, but as I have nowhere else to discuss this I have decided to talk about it here. I'm on IS in lieu of IB suffering from some mental health/stress issues (details are personal right now). I was 'referred' to an organisation called Working Links in January for 5 'work focused' (ignoring health issues) interviews. Working Links are frankly a lying bunch of clowns (to put it mildly).
My problem is that after three interviews they accuse me of not 'engaging' in their processes even though they sady they can't help me and have no way of helping my health issues which are my biggest barrier to work. They are hypocrits who resport tpo misrepresenting what I say and being deliberately provocative.
Havign just finished my third interview the person said they had to take some advice as to how to proceed with me (makes it sound like legal action!) and I'm very concerned as a result my benefits would be affected. If i lose my benefit I lose my income and will starve to death, there is no alternative. This from an organisation that at first said they weren't like that and didn't behave this way. Now I'm really stressed and don't know what to do. I doubt there's anythign I can do.
I find these private employment 'providers' a cheap scam. They don't help people, they bully them and I have had enough.

passatrider

Hi Wishface,

Sorry to hear you are having a tough time at the moment with 'Working Links'. For anyone who has never heard of them they provide a service for the 'Pathways to Work' programme.

I was very surprised to hear that you had been treated badly by these people as I have been under their scheme myself for the past 3 months. My initial appointment with them didn't go too well as my advisor was off sick so no one knew what was going on. However, I've had nothing but support and reasurance from them ever since.

It sounds to me like you've been dealt with by someone who's not been fully trained to be honest, as the're not there to judge you. They are there to look at what options there are for you should you be able to return to work in the future.

As for stopping your benefits then I cannot see how they can do that if you have been to your interviews and answered their questions and 'participated' in the session. The key here is participation; you are required to participate but not required to actually put anything into practice away from the meetings. This could be being asked to consider other jobs but not actually look for work.
The only reason I'm aware of that they can sanction your benefit is not going to the Work Focused Interviews. I suppose they could sanction them if you fail to participate but this would be very unlikely.

I do not agree with pathways to work 'providers' which is what 'Working Links' is. They are not medically qualified so do not have any idea what a persons health problem or disability is and how it affects them from day to day.
The trouble is 'working Links' get paid a bonus for every client they get back to work and off benefits, so although they say there is no pressure the scheme is still open to abuse.

It should never have been contracted out to private companies in my opinion as it's just passing the buck. The trouble is this governement is so obsessed with targets that it fails to see what is really going on in the real world.

wishface

It was made clear that if you don't do what they say they can sanction your benefits.

They have no interest and offer no support for health issues (which is why you're there in the first place - because you have health problesm affecting your return to work). They asked me what I was interested in so I told them and they turned around and said how are you going to get a job with that (music - even though their wesbite lists them doing just that). They expect me to come in with some concrete action plan of what exactly I want to do with my life and then blame me for not participating when I say I don't have the answers. I thought that was what they were supposed to help with. I know the things that interest me, that I am good at, but the system we have makes it impossible to focus on anythign other than the short term goal of 'take any job or have no benefits (even if ill)'. So I don't really know and I don't know how to, if you see what I mean.

passatrider

'It was made clear that if you don't do what they say they can sanction your benefits'

They cannot threaten you in this way, besides it's the benefits agency that decide that not working links.

I would give your local jobcentre plus a call and explain your concerns because you are clearly being pressured to doing something, which is not what 'Pathways' is all about.

You do have to participate in the interviews, that is mandatory. However, as I've pointed out they cannott sanction you if you chose not to put the actionplan into practice.

Have they offered you any help at all..such as Condition management plan'?

sharski

I'm saying nothing!!! I've already made my views on 'Provider-Led Pathways' on another topic!!!

Briefly though..... it is my opinion that there is NO POINT in getting in 'providers' when 'JC-Led Pathways' is working just well in other parts of the country!!
How much better is it to just ring the JC & speak to/request to see, etc. an advisor who you know & are comfortable with.. rather than a provider??
(As well as a waste of tax payers money - after all, the JC adviser's wage is still being paid AS WELL as the JC paying for providers!!)

Oops... I said I wasn't going to say anything!!

dogder

Working Links are mud in my view.

They arranged my first interview with the employment and disability service involving pathways to work.

The letter contained dirctions to that interview and times/location which turned out to be completely fictitious. When I got the building was deserted and boarded up, I waited around in the rain hoping someone would turn up and straighten things out. Needless to say, I was a unhappy bunny when I got home wet and tired after a difficult journy.

I foned the local office of the EDSA and explained my circumstances and the manager was very helpfull after I had explained things. No-one there knew of the appointment despite the fact it was with one of their advisers. anyway, a new appointment was made and it looked as though things were sorted out. No-way, a week later I get a letter from the benefit team to say they have decided to sanction my benefit because I failed to turn up for the first interview..thank you very much working ******* links.

It took two weeks, several fonecalls and an e-mail or two to sort the mess out.I'm still searching for e-mail address or direct fone number to a proper person to enquire about complaints procedures for working finks. If the op has any please let me know.

Thanks for the rant..:D

[Deleted User]

The biggest fault in recent benefit reforms has been to engage outsiders to run schemes(behind every scheme theres a schemer)and also to involve the voluntary sector.It is howevere these private companies that have sprung from nowhere that are causing so much trouble,luckily they are also having problems,many of them making "advisors"redundant in recent weeks,and some of them being kicked of the list of "suppliers" for being less than honest.
As I have said before the money would be better spent employing more JC+staff giving them better training and paying them decent wages...

wishface

passatrider wrote: »

'It was made clear that if you don't do what they say they can sanction your benefits'

They cannot threaten you in this way, besides it's the benefits agency that decide that not working links.

I would give your local jobcentre plus a call and explain your concerns because you are clearly being pressured to doing something, which is not what 'Pathways' is all about.

You do have to participate in the interviews, that is mandatory. However, as I've pointed out they cannott sanction you if you chose not to put the actionplan into practice.

Have they offered you any help at all..such as Condition management plan'?

Condition Management Plan? Well nope, as i've not heard of such a thing. I asked them about what medical/therapeutic help they can offer/put me in touch with (since that's the first priority IMO) and they said emphatically there was nothing. This would be more helpful than what seems to be their goal: bullying people into work no matter how unsuitable or how unready they are.

I won't be contacting the JC though because they are in fact worse.

Thanks for the replies

passatrider

The trouble is if you do nothing then this programme will continue to make life miserable for yourself and for dozens of others in the same position. The only way to get things changed is to protest. Maybe a call to your local MP to take up your case might not go a miss?

wishface

I dont know what I can do. The JC behave just as appallingly so there seems to be no alternative, and tbh, I don't feel comfortable complaining because it will only be twisted and may then put my benefit claim at (furhter risk) if I make waves. That's how these people operate: threats. The bottom line is that i can't afford to have no income and have benefits stopped by these people - whether or not they are allowed to do it (doesn't seem to matter these days).

passatrider

I can't offer any further advice myself other than wishing you all the best with it.

Perhaps someone who works for Working Links/or Jcp might be able to help who is reading this..?