I'm on the verge of being invited to a new deal interview...

ChabbyAlonso

...which coincides with the breakdown I'm on the verge of having. I would be grateful if someone could help me out with the following.

I am looking to secure a work placement at an office or a clothing retail outlet, both of which I would be working for free, mainly to help me gain office/retail experience and secondly, so I wouldn't have to be placed on a new deal vacancy working with a bunch of parolees. If this is an acceptable substitute to the new deal, would I have to secure full time or part time hours?

On a slightly different topic, if I am invited to the new deal interview and haven't secured a work trial/placement, will my benefits be cut off if I request a taster session?

dmg24

You cannot do an unpaid work trial without it being through the JCP, although you can find the placement and then formalise the arrangement. Nonetheless, this will not excuse you from New Deal, it will form part of it.

What makes you better from the 'parolees' on New Deal? You can't be much better if you have been claiming for as long as them?

ChabbyAlonso

dmg24 wrote: »

You cannot do an unpaid work trial without it being through the JCP, although you can find the placement and then formalise the arrangement. Nonetheless, this will not excuse you from New Deal, it will form part of it.

What makes you better from the 'parolees' on New Deal? You can't be much better if you have been claiming for as long as them?

Say, hypothetically, I negotiated a fee of around £20 (or even £100) per week for 'x' number of hours, would that be deemed acceptable?

And I never said I was better than parolees. Its just the knowledge of working alongside criminals that turns my stomach is all.

Oldernotwiser

ChabbyAlonso wrote: »

Say, hypothetically, I negotiated a fee of around £20 (or even £100) per week for 'x' number of hours, would that be deemed acceptable?

If you are paid then this is a job rather than a work placement.

dmg24

ChabbyAlonso wrote: »

Say, hypothetically, I negotiated a fee of around £20 (or even £100) per week for 'x' number of hours, would that be deemed acceptable?

And I never said I was better than parolees. Its just the knowledge of working alongside criminals that turns my stomach is all.

You cannot undertake paid work for less than NMW. Even if you did work, once you went back onto JSA, your claim would start again from the same point i.e. New Deal. The only exception to this would be if you were outside the linking period, so you would need to sign off for twelve(?) weeks.

I hate to ruin your illusions, but you will find 'criminals' in every area of your life. Do you check who you are sat next to on the bus?

joeblack066

Why do you assume that the other people on the New Deal Programme are parolees?? Why do you think you would be able to tell?

dmg24

joeblack066 wrote: »

Why do you assume that the other people on the New Deal Programme are parolees?? Why do you think you would be able to tell?

Maybe he is expecting them to have their prison numbers branded on their foreheads?

ChabbyAlonso

joeblack066 wrote: »

Why do you assume that the other people on the New Deal Programme are parolees?? Why do you think you would be able to tell?

My job centre advisor told me if I didn't secure a work placement/trial before the new deal interview, I'd be forced on to it, which involves working with parolees.

I didn't mean that everyone who is placed on new deal is a convict! :rotfl:

dmg24

ChabbyAlonso wrote: »

My job centre advisor told me if I didn't secure a work placement/trial before the new deal interview, I'd be forced on to it, which involves working with parolees.

I didn't mean that everyone who is placed on new deal is a convict! :rotfl:

So what is your problem with parolees? What would you do if you secured a job and then realised some of your colleagues (maybe your boss) had criminal convictions?

How long have you been unemployed for?

ChabbyAlonso

dmg24 wrote: »

So what is your problem with parolees? What would you do if you secured a job and then realised some of your colleagues (maybe your boss) had criminal convictions?

How long have you been unemployed for?

I didn't mean to offend you with my comments, but I assure you, the vast majority of people wouldn't look forward to the prospect of working alongside sexual predators and other sick individuals. I don't mind if it's convictions like larceny, tax evasion and the like, but it's the not knowing that scares me.

Oldernotwiser

ChabbyAlonso wrote: »

I didn't mean to offend you with my comments, but I assure you, the vast majority of people wouldn't look forward to the prospect of working alongside sexual predators and other sick individuals. I don't mind if it's convictions like larceny, tax evasion and the like, but it's the not knowing that scares me.

Perhaps you could ask for them to be screened so that you would only meet the better class of criminal?