Work Programme

excalibar

I've 5 people who went to this work Programe and all were referred to do work experience or mandatory work activity after 2 weeks since starting the work-programme. The people were of different ages, different experiences in employment, different qualifications, some even have no qualfications and some had much experience and qualfications yet were referred to work experience/MWA. They all said this is the same for anyone who starts on the work programme that they all have to do MDA after 2 weeks.

WPN

donnajunkie wrote: »

they told me the only money they get is if you get a job otherwise they dont get paid.
the jobcentre told me under 18's are refered after 6 months, under 25's 9 months, 25+ 12 months and long term unemployed after 3 months. so basically if you dont get a job once you are on it you will get a 3 month break every 2 years and be on it the rest of the time until you get a job, if ever.
if it is true that they only get paid for getting people a job then i think we will be hearing about how the work programme is in crisis within the next 2 years.

Yes, exactly.... it widely announced that providers wont get anything until someone has been in the job for 1-2 years.

That is absolutely b*llsh*t...

A purchase order for £400 (JSA) or £600 (ESA) just for starting... (they initially wanted to pay nothing in a service fee or upfront payment however, the providers got together after fully well knowing the concept after agreeing to the tender...demanding more money or refusal... Government gave in)

An outcome after 6 months.... and an additional sustainable payment much longer term.

So, if 1000 people are sent to a provider in a year... thats £400,000 if they are all JSA "customers"... without them doing anything to get you a job. Apparently, all providers need to do to gain these outcomes is to do an off benefit check... which as you know doesn't signify that you have employment let alone fulltime employment.

WPN

Richardsct wrote: »

I've been on the work programme 2 months, I start full time work on monday, they have been very pro-active in contacting employers and even arranged my interview I have nothing but praise for it. as for jobcentre plus - waste of space

Brilliant news!

From a taxpayer perspective....

a) Were you able to apply for the job yourself? (i.e. advertised online/newspaper etc.)
b) Do you think being at a provider helped your chance of getting the job?
c) Do you think the provider getting a few grand out of pure chance is good value for the taxpayer*?

* Nothing personal. Many job outcomes for providers in the past is pure chance. Many people either had a job lined up but still were forced on to New Deal (which meant although a job offer predated the course, the provider still got paid from it). Also many people secured jobs by their own initiative but providers were still able to claim (including from info provided when people signed off was passed on to the provider). Its really good news that you have secured the job... but would you say your provider was what secured you the job or were they there at the right place and the right time to take credit for something that would have naturally happened anyway? The point I make is its perfectly valid that long term unemployed (6 months+ JCP definition) manage to secure jobs when they couldn't previously, such as pure luck or a more suited vacancy coming up. Providers seem to have little effect.

donnajunkie

excalibar wrote: »

I've 5 people who went to this work Programe and all were referred to do work experience or mandatory work activity after 2 weeks since starting the work-programme. The people were of different ages, different experiences in employment, different qualifications, some even have no qualfications and some had much experience and qualfications yet were referred to work experience/MWA. They all said this is the same for anyone who starts on the work programme that they all have to do MDA after 2 weeks.

i think it will depend on whats available. if there is plenty available they will send people on placement. i guess they could hold back if they arent confident about a persons ability to impress because they dont want to p**s off the employer and find they are no longer willing to take people.

Reverbe

I was sent on one of those by my Jobcentre. TBH it seems like a right waste of time.The girl in her early twenties hasnt a clue about anything, cant seem to deal with someone who is qualified, skilled and experienced who can speak English and operate a computer and TBH is very insulting and demeaning.She seems to be dead set on sending me for a work trial to see if I would "enjoy the job" (otherwise known as unpaid labour) when I have many many years of experience in several kinds of jobs with transferable skills.I am also currently just commencing voluntary work - a few hours a week which will help my cv etc (as suggested my my Jobcentre advisor and by agencies)which she seems to look down on.

I feel like taking a pic of this woman and taking it to Jobcentre as quite frankly to be lectured and hectored into poor excuses for unpaid work by a 20 yr old who is dressed scruffily and covered and I do mean covered all over her arms in tattoos meanwhile attacking and criticising ME for not being able to get a job) is incredibly patronizing and makes me feel like crap. It is likely to make me very depressed over the coming months and thus not really conducive to gaining employment or being in a fit state to carry out a job.At least I dont cover myself in cheap ink that would make it hard to find a suitable respectable position.

dandelionclock30

If she was that bad then I would put in a formal complaint. Can you not do voluntary work instead of going on their placements?
At the end of the day the problem is that there arent enough jobs, i would ask her if she had any understanding of the current economy or if she was just ******* stupid!

Reverbe

I didnt feel able to as have only had the initial meeting. Have given feedback the next day to Jobcentre as they said they were looking for feedback on providers.Am doing the voluntary work but dont know about this placement thingy as it hasnt come up yet as anything other than the bimbos idea..Hopefully the placement will not get in way of Voluntary work as the placement will not result in a job and the voluntary work I am hoping to keep going for years at a time even when IN work for continuity of references and employment. Like I said have even had the voluntary work suggested to me by Govt/Jobcentre workers... rather than 2 bit service provider employee,

heathertheblether

Hi all!

I have been on the Work Programme for two months, but have just "signed off" as I have a place at college beginning next week. I found the staff very professional, interested and keen to help in any way (if you WANT to be helped - many do not in my neck of the woods lol!). I have been to several really useful workshops they have run, like creating a CV with impact, interview techniques and confidence building. They are never off the phone arranging interviews for their clients and then take the trouble to do a mock interview with you to iron out any difficulties and give you the best possible chance of success. Maybe I was just lucky, but I really enjoyed attending and at no time was there any mention of attending work experience or anything similar.

Vincent_Buenisedes

heathertheblether wrote: »

Hi all!

I have been on the Work Programme for two months, but have just "signed off" as I have a place at college beginning next week. I found the staff very professional, interested and keen to help in any way (if you WANT to be helped - many do not in my neck of the woods lol!). I have been to several really useful workshops they have run, like creating a CV with impact, interview techniques and confidence building. They are never off the phone arranging interviews for their clients and then take the trouble to do a mock interview with you to iron out any difficulties and give you the best possible chance of success. Maybe I was just lucky, but I really enjoyed attending and at no time was there any mention of attending work experience or anything similar.

That sounds like an excellent advert for the provider - who were you with?

heathertheblether

Yes, I suppose it does sound like an advert, in retrospect. Wasn't meant that way! The provider here is "Triage". I thought that the same provider was nationwide, but apparently this is not the case.