UPDATED: Got a Work Focused Interview this week - it was a positive experience :-D

Mics_chick

pupsicola wrote: »

Ive been to a few of these and have found them fine. Does depend on which adviser you get as to how effective it is. As long as they have a clear picture of your situation, and what you hope to do next, they are pretty good at advising you of your options. They are there to give you informed choices not to bully you into anything.

This was my main worry Pup - I hope it works out that way and that I do get an "effective" adviser too
I'll be back to let you know after my appt on Friday

yellowduck_2

I had to attend these while I was on ESA. The adviser I saw was very nice, and when I did get a job I had help with fares and clothing. However, the job I found was purely through my own efforts and help from my OT who I was seeing ayway cos of my health condition. I went to one workshop and it made me feel so bad that I left in tears, not a good start!! Basically you tell them what you would like to do in the future and they advise you. IMO it is a bit of window dressing to make the govt look as if something is being done to address the issue of sickness benefit\work. I would be interested to see how much is spent on the contracts of the organisations who do the work focussed interviews and how many people they actually do assist into sustainable long term jobs.

Mics_chick

I don't want any help to get a job as such - more help in what route to take so that I can afford to live in the meantime

hayley11

I had one of these shortly after my medical for IB, I was really worked up about it but it was fine, I can't actually remember everything we talked about, she told me I could do voluntary work and permitted work but to let them know. She basically just outlined my options for when I am ready to go back to work and that was it.

It was actually really useful and not at all scary.

sheeps68

Why should it be a problem if you are looking for work, want to work etc and they want to help you work. No problem all with the same aim in mind! Even if there are complications along the way.

Mics_chick

sheeps68 wrote: »

Why should it be a problem if you are looking for work, want to work etc and they want to help you work. No problem all with the same aim in mind! Even if there are complications along the way.

I want to feel positive about it but have heard some stories about this type of service at the Job Centre being a complete waste of time or just an exercise in forcing people back to work who may not be ready...?
I don't like to be cynical coz it's my future but when I've heard a few first-hand accounts of both of the above situations I didn't know what to expect as I've never been thru this before myself...

But as most replies have been positive then it looks like it will be quite useful to me, especially as I do have a couple of ideas of what I'd like to do

MSE is ALWAYS my first port of call if I need a variety of opinions on any issue or problem, whether petty or important.

I don't understand replies like yours that question why someone is feeling the way they do ???
If I'm little unsure about it and need a bit of reassurance then asking for it from the caring members of MSE is obvious imho

Killmark

Mics_chick wrote: »

I understand that it is the government trying to get me in a job or at least on a course but will they really try to help me retrain for something or is it just shoving me at any old crap job?

The Government admits that people claiming incapacity for two years or more are more likely to die or retire than ever find another job.

from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6917745/Million-on-incapacity-benefit-never-returned-to-work-under-Labour.html

Mics_chick

Killmark wrote: »

The Government admits that people claiming incapacity for two years or more are more likely to die or retire than ever find another job.

from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6917745/Million-on-incapacity-benefit-never-returned-to-work-under-Labour.html

I think this statistic is [STRIKE]b0ll0cks[/STRIKE] very dubious.
If someone DIES on IB before they get a job then they were obviously ILL so they DID need to be on it !!!!!! ???
If they retire while on IB then they are obviously only a few years off retirement so are much more likely to be suffering from health problems.

As far as my situation is concerned I have been on IB over 2 years but I WANT to retrain and get another job that is NOT as stressful as my previous one so I DON'T suffer a relapse. Did you bother to read the whole thread???

Why are you on the Benefits board in the first place if you're not going to offer help and advice but just spout unsympathetic opinions and quote meaningless statistics???

Killmark

Mics_chick wrote: »

I think this statistic is [STRIKE]b0ll0cks[/STRIKE] very dubious.
If someone DIES on IB before they get a job then they were obviously ILL so they DID need to be on it !!!!!! ???

I think you missed the point I was making, that you weren't going to be "forced" into work.

I was refering to % of claims that cease, additionally a significant number will collect there pension then die.

The 2.7m of people in this country currently recieve IB, then you have another 300,000 with health related benefits thats a large percentage of the population.

Try not to take it personally and no job is "crap".

sheeps68

Mics_chick wrote: »

I want to feel positive about it but have heard some stories about this type of service at the Job Centre being a complete waste of time or just an exercise in forcing people back to work who may not be ready...?
I don't like to be cynical coz it's my future but when I've heard a few first-hand accounts of both of the above situations I didn't know what to expect as I've never been thru this before myself...

But as most replies have been positive then it looks like it will be quite useful to me, especially as I do have a couple of ideas of what I'd like to do

MSE is ALWAYS my first port of call if I need a variety of opinions on any issue or problem, whether petty or important.

I don't understand replies like yours that question why someone is feeling the way they do ???
If I'm little unsure about it and need a bit of reassurance then asking for it from the caring members of MSE is obvious imho

I thought my comment said it all simply but clearly I didn't reading back. Guess who's shattered after return to work from sick leave but still not 100% You dont see a problem and are seeing it as positive and thats what I said too. All aiming at same goal ie work. Reassurance!