Jobcentre back to work session

Snakeeyes21

What is the point?
i went to one today. They just flicked through some screens on a projector got us to fill in a form and told us to pi*s off.
what a lot of help that was.

bestpud

What was on the screens?

Snakeeyes21

Just things telling us what we need to be doing to continue getting jsa, how to fill that form in, where to look for work etc.
in my opinion it was a waste of time, alot of us had to travel 10 - 20 miles to get there.
the woman presenting it was quite chatty trying to get people involved but nobody was interested.
soaked through and at 5 in the evening isnt the best time to force a pointles session on people.

red_devil

Sounds like New Deal providers often they dont check the signing in and out times and often let people go early. Not enough staff generally.

Most are happy to get out though;)

epsilondraconis

Snakeeyes21 wrote: »

the woman presenting it was quite chatty trying to get people involved but nobody was interested.

It sounds as though the woman did her best in the circumstances.

I guess they are in a difficult position in that if they don't run any courses, people will complain that they are being left to fend for themselves and when they do run them, people perceive them to be a waste of time.

Ptang_Yang_Kipperbang

I've got to go to one of those sessions this afternoon.
I can see it being a complete waste of time as I already know and am doing what I need to to find a job.

jessbob

Are these sessions the ones they send you on when you have been claiming for 6 months?

I have just been given a letter by JCP saying I have to attend an appointment, at a different place to where I sign on, to see a personal adviser who will give me additoinal support to find work !!!

MickW_3

jessbob wrote: »

Are these sessions the ones they send you on when you have been claiming for 6 months?

I have just been given a letter by JCP saying I have to attend an appointment, at a different place to where I sign on, to see a personal adviser who will give me additoinal support to find work !!!

Probably... I've just signed on again a few weeks ago after finishing a 3 temp job and I have one in September. I guess it's one of the ways they try to remind us that we're not expected to stay on benefits forever.

I can understand why they have to run these sessions, as someone's who's only worked 3 months out of the last 10 it can get demoralising and there is a temptation to just give up.

I'll turn up listen to what they have to say and when they say "Any questions" I'll ask them where can I get funding to re-train for a new career and see what that does :rotfl:

jessbob

MickW wrote: »

Probably... I've just signed on again a few weeks ago after finishing a 3 temp job and I have one in September. I guess it's one of the ways they try to remind us that we're not expected to stay on benefits forever.

I can understand why they have to run these sessions, as someone's who's only worked 3 months out of the last 10 it can get demoralising and there is a temptation to just give up.

I'll turn up listen to what they have to say and when they say "Any questions" I'll ask them where can I get funding to re-train for a new career and see what that does :rotfl:

Mine is for September as well. Apparently I don't have to sign on that day at the JCP as they will do this when I attend the interview ! Can't wait. so excited ! - NOT:rotfl:

By then, though, my contribution based JSA will have finished, and I am led to believe (by one of JCP staff - but don't know how accurate this is going on past advice incorrectly given) I will not be entitled to income based due to payment protection insurance I have - so I wonder if they will actually be interested in helping me if they aren't actually paying me any benefit?



Maybe have received a call to start work by then - but then again maybe not !

busy_mom_2

You attend a back to work session between weeks 6 and 9.

They are a new thing that the goverment introduced with the new flexible regime that was introduced in april. I take offence you state the adviser told you to p...s off.
Do you really think we want to stand there in front of an unreceptive audience and tell you what help is out there and what things you may find helpul?
We have to do these sessions whether we want to or not. How about a bit of support for a change.

robber-inho

I went in Friday, waited 20 minutes no announcement of delays, finally some poor chap stood up and whispered my name, so quietly it was almost inaudible(I heard him however) when I sat down he thrust a grubby (yes grubby) series of paper sheets in my hand littered with grammatical and syntactical errors: The Information Session, 45 minute 'Group' session, etc, appointment next week. He seemed distant, embarrassed ( I have an unusual surname he had difficulty calling out!)and totally unfocused. His justification was a weak "we've had a bit of a morning". It really was in every way very a poor show indeed. Even If the letter had been posted this would have looked better, whether grubby and Biro marked or not. I'm sorry to say I've put in a complaint, I realise these people have lots to do, but this was simply unacceptable. Never In my working life have I ever treated a client in my charge in this fashion, its inconceivable. The impression I got was that as an unemployed person, I wasn't worth the bother any more. Oh well, On to the information session then.