MSE News: Government launches back to work programme

DanLeto

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

No not every day, I think it is once a fortnight.

The Job Centre guy didn't seem to want to say too much, said it will all be covered in Induction/Welcome meeting. The document basically says they will give you more support with your individual circumstances. You'll discuss what help you need to get a job. What they expect is for us to attend meetings or take phone calls at time agreed, complete any activities the provider tells you to and they may arrange work-related activities like work experience, training and further support. If you don't do anything they tell you to you could get sanctioned. that's all it really says.

It could be worse, Google "community task force" and have a read, 26 weeks of 25hrs work and 5hrs jobsearch! :eek:

LadyMissA

DanLeto wrote: »

It could be worse, Google "community task force" and have a read, 26 weeks of 25hrs work and 5hrs jobsearch! :eek:

5 hrs job search a week? lol thats less than I do in a day!

I can only imagine what it is - I'd rather kill myself

DanLeto

LadyMissA wrote: »

5 hrs job search a week? lol thats less than I do in a day!

I can only imagine what it is - I'd rather kill myself

It's basically just an excuse to treat innocent people trying to better themselves like criminals, no amount of 'community task force' on a CV is going to impress any perspective employer.

LadyMissA

so its like a work placement but not a real job ?

DanLeto

LadyMissA wrote: »

so its like a work placement but not a real job ?

I would post the link but I'm still too new however I believe it's the same as the placements you have to attend on New Deal & Flexible New Deal only because it says benefit entitlement will be lost if you do not participate.

Here's the link.

LadyMissA

DanLeto wrote: »

I would post the link but I'm still too new however I believe it's the same as the placements you have to attend on New Deal & Flexible New Deal only because it says benefit entitlement will be lost if you do not participate.

sorry but I have no idea what the new deal is either as only been out of work 12 mths

EndlessStruggle

I am not sure about it, as long I'm not out of pocket by going it can't be too bad. It would be nice to have some support, but I will reserve judgement until I am thrust into the programme. I will post my progress/what i like/hatred of them when I find out more. I already do about 20ish hours of voluntary work so as long as I am able to still do that I am happy. I do about 5 hours of jobsearch a week but I live in a sleepy little place where there are about 30 new jobs a week on a very good week!

I guess all this job seeking stuff depends on your own circumstances. That was the one thing I came up against, agency calls you into register, you can't claim anything for travel, or when they call you in for an informal chat as a job has come up.

Do you know who the providers are for your area? Mine is Ingeus.

They are meant to take over from the Job Centre as supporting you back into work. Offering work experience, training, support, workshops etc.

(From their booklet)
Ingeus is offering:
Workshops to help you improve your interview skills, cv writing and jobsearching, resource centre with computers, internet phone and fax, exclusive vacancies sourced by out employer services team, health and wellbeing support and advice, specialist advice from our network of accessible community experts on issues such as housing, benefits and debt management, work experience and job related training and in-work support through our Careers Academy yo help you stay in work and develop your career. Phew!

LadyMissA

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

I am not sure about it, as long I'm not out of pocket by going it can't be too bad. It would be nice to have some support, but I will reserve judgement until I am thrust into the programme. I will post my progress/what i like/hatred of them when I find out more. I already do about 20ish hours of voluntary work so as long as I am able to still do that I am happy. I do about 5 hours of jobsearch a week but I live in a sleepy little place where there are about 30 new jobs a week on a very good week!

I guess all this job seeking stuff depends on your own circumstances. That was the one thing I came up against, agency calls you into register, you can't claim anything for travel, or when they call you in for an informal chat as a job has come up.

Do you know who the providers are for your area? Mine is Ingeus.

yes so I am wondering how 'providers' are going to spport anyone if they too wont help with travel to agencies?

Mine is Lifeline?

Read one of my previous posts from yesterday where I list all what I do every day to look for work - there is nothing they wil be able to tell me.

When I was out of work about 7 years ago (only for about 4 mths) the job centre told me they do not get the likes of me in here (the job centre) so I am not holding my breath haha

LadyMissA

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

Do you know who the providers are for your area? Mine is Ingeus.

They are meant to take over from the Job Centre as supporting you back into work. Offering work experience, training, support, workshops etc.

(From their booklet)
Ingeus is offering:
Workshops to help you improve your interview skills, cv writing and jobsearching, resource centre with computers, internet phone and fax, exclusive vacancies sourced by out employer services team, health and wellbeing support and advice, specialist advice from our network of accessible community experts on issues such as housing, benefits and debt management, work experience and job related training and in-work support through our Careers Academy yo help you stay in work and develop your career. Phew!

You say they take over from the job centre but the job centre has given me no support.
I do not need training, nor do I need interview skills and I have a great CV as jobs have told me that as well as agencies. Hope they are not going to talk to me like I have no brain and skills! I do not get housing beneift and why give debt management advice now when it's too late. All my money goes to pay my debts

EndlessStruggle

My job centre adviser didn't tell me too much but it would be a very good question to ask when you get to your first meeting with your provider, I will ask mine too. I have quite a list of questions to ask them, think I'll take a notepad! I will be pretty upset if I have to lose my voluntary work but hoping they will let me keep it!

No mine has been of very little help also. Pretty much told me there was very little they could help me with regards to training. The local college offered me an ITQ which in total would have cost me about £200 for course alone with discount for JSA , travel costs on top, who knows?! Job centre said they could offer no help at all for funding. The good news was I got it fully funded distance learning, somehow? Not sure how that works out! Asked about a first aid course, there isn't one we offer was the response we have never offered had anything to do with offering one, despite two friends being sent on one through Job Centre lol. He also told me my CV was very good. It was just a case of turning up, job search, oh this position *reads it out to me* and me going applied or bus doesn't get there in time through a list of jobs I had already applied for or ruled out. Offering me one silly work experience placement in the middle of nowhere where I had to hitch a lift with a member of staff for a month.