MSE News: Government launches back to work programme

LadyMissA

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

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!

I like to know how a 'provider' will have a plan of action for me when the job centre do not even know anything about me

DanLeto

The only plan of action I received after the demoralising and childish mathematics and english 'exams' were to shove me into a work placement as quickly as possible in the hope the employer would offer me a job so the staff could fetch their bonus.

LadyMissA

DanLeto wrote: »

The only plan of action I received after the demoralising and childish mathematics and english 'exams' were to shove me into a work placement as quickly as possible in the hope the employer would offer me a job so the staff could fetch their bonus.

a work placement is cheap labour and if the company has no job to offer you wont get one however they dress it up

EndlessStruggle

My adviser made out that it was about getting a better idea about your personal circumstances and working around those to get you into a job you aren't going to hate rather than just getting you into a job. My provider leaflet says their customer pledge is "A personalised package of support that is tailored to your needs". Will have to wait and see on this one. I'm not too bad with my circumstances, but I know for some people it can be really bad, I do voluntary work in Citizens Advice and JSA doesn't stretch that far with a lot of people! They encourage you to register with agencies, I even had it written into my Job Seekers Agreement as do others yet if you can't pay travel how are you meant to fulfil the agreement! I got called into register with an agency, £10 travel, another request to come in to discuss suitability and do a quick it capability test for a job £10 travel, not suitable for vacancy. Probably knew that from the start as no financial admin/sales ledger experience... But Job Centre insisted I went. That place drives me mad so don't see how this could be worse, famous last words....

LadyMissA

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

My adviser made out that it was about getting a better idea about your

and working around those to get you into a job you aren't going to hate rather than just getting you into a job. My provider leaflet says their customer pledge is "A personalised package of support that is tailored to your needs". Will have to wait and see on this one. I'm not too bad with my circumstances, but I know for some people it can be really bad, I do voluntary work in Citizens Advice and JSA doesn't stretch that far with a lot of people! They encourage you to register with agencies, I even had it written into my Job Seekers Agreement as do others yet if you can't pay travel how are you meant to fulfil the agreement! I got called into register with an agency, £10 travel, another request to come in to discuss suitability and do a quick it capability test for a job £10 travel, not suitable for vacancy. Probably knew that from the start as no financial admin/sales ledger experience... But Job Centre insisted I went. That place drives me mad so don't see how this could be worse, famous last words....

I have to call an agency tomorrow as one emailed me saying they have a job I may be interested in, but that don't mean I have an interview at the job and no matter what it is I will have to go and register with them before they let the employer see my CV and this has to stop as its stupid! Why don't they show the CV first to see if the job may want to see you and then register you and you are half way there and not wasted your money (£6 in my case on the tube) to get there and back.

If they want to see me I will have to pay for it on a credit card!

I am not telling any provider about my personal circumstances as in my personal stuff - dont see how that will help

you say it cant be worse but I be it will be the same - a total waste of time!

Mr_Falling_Star

But it isn't a waste of time as being on the work programme/FND enables you to pocket your JSA

Seriously though, I think most work programme providers will be reasonably happy if you are doing something, whether its voluntary work or a college course, as long as its constructive. You will still need to attend the office on a regular basis though and the rules and procedures have been tightened up so it is easier to apply a sanction

LadyMissA

Mr_Falling_Star wrote: »

But it isn't a waste of time as being on the work programme/FND enables you to pocket your JSA

Seriously though, I think most work programme providers will be reasonably happy if you are doing something, whether its voluntary work or a college course, as long as its constructive. You will still need to attend the office on a regular basis though and the rules and procedures have been tightened up so it is easier to apply a sanction

Voluntary work? Why? You need to find a job. Surely job searching, going to agencies and applying for jobs non stop all day is construvtive?

Mr_Falling_Star

LadyMissA wrote: »

Voluntary work? Why? You need to find a job. Surely job searching, going to agencies and applying for jobs non stop all day is construvtive?

It is, as is voluntary work and college courses. When I was a FND adviser I tended to leave those doing courses alone (although they still had to fulfill their Jobseeking and FND requirements) as generally, once they had got their qualification they would go into work.

Applying to agencies etc is good, nobody is going to say it isn't but if you have not got anywhere in a year I would say something is going wrong. Ask your provider to have a meeting with their recruitment/marketing team, chances are they will snap you up if you are really positive (negativity just grates on them) and look for work on your behalf, and as these are sales types you stand a better chance of getting back to work. If you don't get anywhere complain

LadyMissA

Mr_Falling_Star wrote: »

It is, as is voluntary work and college courses. When I was a FND adviser I tended to leave those doing courses alone (although they still had to fulfill their Jobseeking and FND requirements) as generally, once they had got their qualification they would go into work.

Applying to agencies etc is good, nobody is going to say it isn't but if you have not got anywhere in a year I would say something is going wrong. Ask your provider to have a meeting with their recruitment/marketing team, chances are they will snap you up if you are really positive (negativity just grates on them) and look for work on your behalf, and as these are sales types you stand a better chance of getting back to work. If you don't get anywhere complain

I havent got anywhere in a year with agencies as I cant pay to get to them and they say they want to put me forward for the job and I have no moeny to get to register with them so going round in cirlces since the job centre will not support travel to an agency

I can get interviews for minimum wage jobs on job seekers direct as I am over qualified as I have 20 years experience in accounts.

what is FND? I am new to this so have no idea what that is or how a local provider (whatever they are) is going to help me when I am looking to work in London , not local

Mr_Falling_Star

LadyMissA wrote: »

I havent got anywhere in a year with agencies as I cant pay to get to them and they say they want to put me forward for the job and I have no moeny to get to register with them so going round in cirlces since the job centre will not support travel to an agency

I can get interviews for minimum wage jobs on job seekers direct as I am over qualified as I have 20 years experience in accounts.

what is FND? I am new to this so have no idea what that is or how a local provider (whatever they are) is going to help me when I am looking to work in London , not local

Flexible new deal was the mandatory course before the work programme. FND is now finishing.

A provider is a company that the job centre pays to help you get back to work (and now, apart from a small initial payment, they only get paid when you are employed). Basically they do the jobcentre work for them for free in the hope that if they can get you into work then they will pick up a payment for doing so. A4e is probably the best known provider.