Is the Jobcentre useless?

wishface

zappster1966 wrote: »

If the unemployment figures are to be believed there's over a million individuals signing on each week. And several million payments of JSA, ESA, Income Support & Incapacity Benefit to be paid too, with new claims coming in, changes happening, people signing off the books ... it's quite remarkable the help they provide, day in day out.

I don't think they get much recognition, tbh. Politicians seldom talk about DWP, it's always teachers, doctors & nurses and the police who get all the praise. Their wages are consistently at the bottom of the civil service payscales, many of their employees rely as much on Working Tax Credit like everyone else.

Much of the criticism is unjustified. So try walking the walk, they've got lots of vacancies at the moment.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/working/vacancies.asp

'lots'? Doesn't look like lots to me.

They get the praise they deserve - none in my experience. If they treated people with ore respect and dignity they'd get more praise.

By the way the government doesn't seek 100% employment; 80% is it's stated total for full employment. Don't forget that unemployment is an industry - certainly for these poor jobcentre workers!

mountainofdebt

I hate to post this (especially after my post earlier today!) but I've always spoke as I found so here goes!

I have actually been seen today by the first real helpful person in the JC who has explained everything I need (and needed) to do to get my problems sorted it.

Seems that I should have been given certain forms to fill in as I work part-time and am studying in the evenings at the local college.

That's all it has taken is one person who actually cared what my problems were, realised that the proceedure hadn't been followed and has taken the time and trouble to sort them out for me.

Ended up having a right old natter with her about what Alisitar Darling was on when he said that every under 25 year old would be guaranteed a job or a training place!

fazste

I am at my wits end in regards to my job centre!
I live in one of the highest unemployment spots in Northern Ireland and according to the staff they are overwhelmed.
Now, the thing is I've volunteered for a Steps to work program (as i was made redundant) to go self employed, I'm also hoping to get a part time job as that's all there is here- so I'm keen to get up and running with the self employment side.(which will be full time)
Here's my dilemma- If i get a part time job I'm still considered looking for part time work so still have to sign on etc and look for full time work
IF i get a full time job i lose my benefits and self employment help.
How on earth am i supposed to get the help i need going self employed when basically they want me to do a full time job? I can't do them both!
I tried explaining this to them but it was basically "tough luck"
Just feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall!

Horace

faz - you need to be quick with the self employment route because they are now only allowing you 13 weeks to set up your business as they are getting rid of the scheme and calling it something else. Over here it is called New Deal for Self Employment and you do get some help and a little bit of extra benefit too. The New Deal scheme is being phased out in July 2009.

Good luck and hope you manage to get something - can you do part time and set your business part time? Or get two part time jobs that dovetail with timings and when you have saved a bit set up your own business?

fazste

Hi,
Yeah i have heard rumours of the courses changing- and no one here seems to know what's happening - yet another frustration to add to the list!

Pee

I found the job centre very useless. They wondered why I came to sign in in person and were most surprised it was to look for a job whilst I was there. Then my very organised friend got told that she preparing properly when you wouldn't believe how well prepared she was!!!

And applicants I have met through work that came from the job centre I think it would be fair to say did not want the job so there is probably some prejudice. For instance, I wouldn't advertise a secretarial job in there again.

storminbalder

Horace wrote: »

Civil servants have a good ride - they get days off for sports days (not taken from holiday), they get days off for fun - usually accommodated in University accommodation whilst they lark about playing rounders and boozing to excess. They also have discounted theatre tickets, the use of Civil Service yachts - there are about 6 of them some of which are used for racing and others general cruising. I know about the yachts because I have been on them myself (its handy knowing a civil servant:D). So don't kid me that they get a tough ride because they don't.

You just keep on sniffing that funny white space powder!

storminbalder

sigrid wrote: »

i dont work in a jobcentre thanks! never would!

You've been saying otherwise on this very same board though!

lili2008

storminbalder wrote: »

You've been saying otherwise on this very same board though!

No, I think he/she works in the HR Dept of DWP.

technik_2

It must be different here in Northern Ireland.

We don't sign on in Job Centres. They are simply there to have job boards and computer systems. They have staff too who you can ask questions to.

There is a dedicated social security office in many towns that deals with signing on and interviews for new claims and stuff like income support. These people generally are paper pushers. They don't seem to give anyone any hassle from my experience in the past.