Interview regarding Work Programme (help)

GerbilCisse

I'm approaching 6 months claiming JSA and have had a letter notifying me that I must attend an interview about the Work Programme. I can't find any up-to-date information through google and would appreciate it if anyone who does could possibly enlighten me? Thank you.

saintjammyswine

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplying-dwp/what-we-buy/welfare-to-work-services/work-programme/

Background

The Government is committed to fighting poverty; supporting the most vulnerable and helping people break the cycle of benefit dependency. As a result we have made significant reforms to the welfare-to-work programmes currently available to Jobcentre Plus customers.
The Spending Review 2010, announced on 20 October 2010, confirmed the Department's commitment to reform and the introduction of the Work Programme.
The Work Programme represents a step change for Welfare to Work in this country, creating a structure that treats people as individuals and allows providers greater freedom to tailor the right support to the individual needs of each customer.
It has replaced previous programmes for unemployed people.
The Work Programme will also ensure good value for money for the taxpayer by basing payments largely on results, and paying providers from the benefits saved from getting people into work. It is very much a partnership between Government and providers from across the public, private and third sectors - including social enterprises.

Hope this helps.

ohreally

Plenty on here.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3450489
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3370988
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3425487
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3370820

GerbilCisse

Thank you so much. The links were very helpful.

Because I'm a simpleton and my interpretation of things political isn't up to scratch, I'll want to know if the following I'm about to say is accurate or not.

From what I gather, the government has funded various organisations to work in partnership with the Department of Work & Pensions in order to get unemployment figures down. However, people who are referred to the Work Programme are not paid during their work placements and are still required to visit the jobcentre to sign on.

People who try and fight the system as it were, seem to have found a loophole of sorts as an escape from being placed onto the Work Programme by stating the jobcentre agreement means no information will be passed onto third parties, and by signing onto the providers Work Programme they are essentially agreeing to them accessing personal information, hence a violation of the third party agreement (?).

Am I warm? Or am I in the Antarctic?

treasureirealnds

All that is given to the WP providers is a copy of your action plan, name add and tel. At your WP int you will be asked to sign a new JS agreement plus another stating the wp is mandatory and that your details (as above) will be provided.

If you refuse to attend your JSA and conts will be stopped plus any HB u may ne receiving.

At no time will the WP have any info regarding your benefit/personal details. You will see everything before it goes over ie. JS agreement and Action plan. HTH

saintjammyswine

GerbilCisse wrote: »

Thank you so much. The links were very helpful.

Because I'm a simpleton and my interpretation of things political isn't up to scratch, I'll want to know if the following I'm about to say is accurate or not.

From what I gather, the government has funded various organisations to work in partnership with the Department of Work & Pensions in order to get unemployment figures down. However, people who are referred to the Work Programme are not paid during their work placements and are still required to visit the jobcentre to sign on.

People who try and fight the system as it were, seem to have found a loophole of sorts as an escape from being placed onto the Work Programme by stating the jobcentre agreement means no information will be passed onto third parties, and by signing onto the providers Work Programme they are essentially agreeing to them accessing personal information, hence a violation of the third party agreement (?).

Am I warm? Or am I in the Antarctic?

The main contractors will A4E & Maximus in my area will devise a programme to suit you and your skills to give you the best chance of finding employment. I still dont understand why people want to fight this and not be included in the Work Programme! I work in this field and have had meetings recently with the main contractors and other sub contracted providers and referral agencies and the response has been fantastic. Jobs are being filled and created by local companies through this scheme, surely if you want to find employment having as many people helping you as possible is only positive? The funding is minimal to the main contractors until the client has found employment and has continued in it for up to 2 years.

dandelionclock30

People dont want to do it because they dont want to work for their dole money and be exploited by companies wanting slave labour under the guise of there may be a job at the end of it.Why should someone work full time for 67 quid a week. The problem is with the economy not with people not having the correct skills or experience for a job.Their may be some people like that but not all the unemployed cant read, write or string a sentence together.
There are hardly any jobs period/fact.
I am all for community work and for proper work experience that will benefit the claimant,Im not for working all week in some XXXX job so the Government can pretend that its actually doing something.
All that will happen is that people will go on the sick etc.

saintjammyswine

OK so a work experience programme of up to 30 hrs a week for up to 8 weeks it too hard? Travel paid and still get JSA? What is the problem, what would people rather do to get back in to work? IF the option was to work full time and get proper wages of course most (we know not all) people would choose this but the fact people are on JSA proves there is little choice. For all the people on JSA that are desperately looking hard for a job and improving their own skills there are a hundred that will do anything to get out of it.

dandelionclock30

If you have a basic understanding of the cause of the unemployment problem you will understand that a placement of 2 months or whatever in some XXXX job will not provide a solution to getting all the unemployed back to work. The only thing that will work is the economic growth of the country and getting out of the recession and investing in quality training etc.
Many people who are unemployed are skilled and their training is upto date etc.
A work placement of 2 months will only be valuable to people with no upto date work experience.
However if the placement benefits the community like painting a community centre etc, then Im all for it because people will benefit.

saintjammyswine

I do have more than a basic understanding of the problems and I am involved in many of the projects to help people back into work. The people these projects are aimed at are those that are struggling because of various problems, not those who are 'ready' to work or have the necessary skillsets to do the work. Some of these projects are also aimed at getting employers involved apart from the Work Programme to create vacancies or to collaborate with Providers and Agencies such as JCP & others to ensure that all efforts are guided in the right way and to the right people. There are many many people for whom these projects will benefit greatly and the changes I have seen in the last year have all been positive. Of course a work placement in a warehouse will not be of benefit to and wil not find long term employment for say, a project manager at senior level but they are not aimed at them. I will defend the work many people are doing on this issue but can only give evidence based on what I see happening and what I am involved in.

t0rt0ise

I do wonder if it's just cheap labour for employers with no real jobs for people. The JC seem to assume that people need to be eased back into work and lots don't and it's patronising and soul destroying to be treated that way. Many just need a job. I was out of work for over a year and work experience would not have been useful. I just needed a job which I now have albeit it's only maternity cover at the moment (hoping she doesn't want to come back!).