A fresh start

Seaxwyn

Thanks - not harsh! And you have spared us a disappointment as we won't expect anything now.

I do wish they would help with finding work though. There must be something he can do! But he is 60 (61 in a few weeks) with a very random work history, and it is not going to be easy - even if he were organised and motivated, which he is not.

taxi73

am sure I read somewhere that they have cut schemes to help people get retrained look for work etc.
about the best they'll do is help with a CV which you can do yourself.
His age should have nothing to do with it as plenty of places value older employees...band q,tescos,asda,sainsburys etc etc...
good positive mental attitude would get an older person a job...
there are many things he could do if he really wanted to....he can ask around shops in the area if theres any work,work for himself doing something.
As I said he has to have the motivation

Seaxwyn

All true - his lack of motivation is the biggest problem. Let's see if these people can help.

NorthernLas

Taxi's idea of targetting stores that use older workers (i.e. those with life experience) is a good one. However, if he doesn't like talking to the public, there are stock replenishment jobs where you only need to talk to the public if they ask you where the beans are.

Also did you know that mental health issues are covered by the disability discrimination act.

If there is a Waitrose or John Lewis near you, I would be checking their website for jobs (https://www.jljobs.com). I am a Xmas temp with them doing stock replenishment and most permanent staff work part time. I know he has missed the boat this year, but xmas work is definitely something to consider. If you are lucky enough to get to the assessment, JL ask what hours you can work and try and accommodate.

Volunteering in a charity shop, while it doesn't bring in any cash, would get him in the habit of being somewhere at a particular time each week. Some shops that sell small furniture or electrics, need people to collect and deliver and PAT test.

Having said all that, probably the most important thing would be to find something that interests him a little and something that he can succeed at ... only he can answer that one (though I'm sure you will know too)

Keep going and take it easy

NL x

Seaxwyn

Thanks all. Unfortunately OH is very resistant to the idea of working in a shop! He did apply to Sainsbury's a while back for stock replenishment jobs but didn't get any. I thought that driving a delivery van might be more in his line, he did phone Tesco's once to see if they needed drivers but they didn't at the time.

I hope that Employment Service will help with all this advice, as well as making him take action as I can discuss ideas with him til I'm blue in the face but it doesn't make him do anything!

I don't think he really has mental health issues. He is demotivated for sure, but he isn't a classic 'depression' case and he doesn't have any symptoms of any identifiable mental illness.

Unfortunately, for the kind of work he is well qualified for - art, animation design, and teaching those things - he is in competition with a lot of younger, more energetic and motivated people, and he lacks the work history that would look good on a CV.

But never say die - something will come up, I sincerely hope so anyway.

Wordsmith

Do you know why your OH is demotivated, Seaxwyn? Does the idea of this kind of work excite him still? Does anything excite him that he could use as a start to get back to working?

chevalier

funnily enough wordsmith i was going to ask the same thing. What is it that he is passionate about. Anything? Even if it isn't what he is trained for? I am sure we have suggested him doing cartoons to sell on ebay before now.

Maybe he needs to look for something totally different.....
did you book the appointment at the Drs for when you are off yet?
chev

Seaxwyn

He is passionate about art and spends many hours writing about art but not for money! He is interested in lots of things but has a weird disconnect about doing anything constructive about them. He is very skilled in lots of things, from bicycle maintenance to navigating by the stars, speaking languages to cooking, but none of them lend themselves to employment. And he seems to have a knack of rubbing people up the wrong way and messing up when he does get work.

I didn't make a doctor's appointment because he made one for himself for when I am at work. I offered to go with him but he said no.

taxi73

Don't know what the answer is hun xx

dfw844

Seaxwyn wrote: »

I didn't make a doctor's appointment because he made one for himself for when I am at work. I offered to go with him but he said no.

I hate to say it, but is there any chance he is saying this to get you off his back? I really hopethat he manages to get some help.