work programme

leasky30

hey all

to anyone on the work programme, what are your thoughts on it so far

WPN

leasky30 wrote: »

hey all

to anyone on the work programme, what are your thoughts on it so far

hardly anyone has been placed on it*. A total failure so far.

* in comparison to FND

System

my friend's thoughts?

a waste of time, unfriendly staff, free labour etc. however thankfully she has a job now

Chouette

leasky30 wrote: »

hey all

to anyone on the work programme, what are your thoughts on it so far

From my point of view, it's been a complete disaster. The Jobcentre managed to give the wrong information to the provider regarding what benefit I was on and my age, so I wound up being treated as as if I was on JSA (I'm not, I'm on ESA WRAG with 10 months till my next medical, so I volunteered to be put through this stress).

The provider managed to make two copies of my record on their system, so I wound up at risk of being sanctioned for not attending a duplicate induction that they'd told me not to bother turning up to as it was a mistake (but obviously hadn't bothered telling the Jobcentre as the JC understandably didn't initially believe me when I explained).

And my current issue with them is that they've apparently forgotten everything I've ever told them, and are still treating me as if I'm on JSA . Being threatened with the possibility of a sanction when I asked if I could delay an appointment a week or two to organise someone to come with me was a nice touch. Apparently my job coach "couldn't wait that long" - though I couldn't work out why, given that I have a long term condition and nothing is likely to change in those two weeks. I have no idea what world he lives in, but in mine, 1 week's notice is not enough to book any form of useful support, unless it's a dire emergency, and the Work Programme is not exactly an emergency...

I only joined because it was billed as flexible, and the guy at the Jobcentre told me they'd be able to help me with the issues I have surrounding when/how to organise going back to uni when I'm better.

I'm currently trying to get out of it because neither of those things is true. Of course, despite having volunteered for it, I'm a mandatory "customer", and am having to pull the "the stress is making me worse" card to try and get anywhere with an escape from it.

The real killer is that everyone I talk to amongst friends and families tells me "that can't be possible" "this isn't Stalinist Russia" "surely you must just be able to say you don't want to do it anymore".

No, I can't. And I never would have volunteered for this "opportunity" if I'd known that

donnajunkie

here the provider doesnt seem to have a clue what they are doing. for example on the action plan drawn up during my first appointment it said that i would get a phone call 2 weeks later. no phone call came so i phoned them to be safe. i got told as i had been in to do jobsearch that week there was no need for them to phone me.
on the action plan it says i have to do things like register with their site, training modules online etc. whenever i ask about doing them they either say they dont know how to do it or dont worry theres plenty of time. they dont seem to be doing anything for people at the moment. to be honest if they cant do anything worthwhile it is better to be left alone. i got refered to a psychologist to build my confidence just because on a questionaire i put i wasnt confident about getting a job. i was told it was voluntary but on the action plan it says it is mandatory. so i am being forced to see a psychologist even though i dont want to and probably dont need to.
overall the wp seems to be fnd on the cheap.

WPN

overall the wp seems to be fnd on the cheap.

Indeed, however, we shouldnt assume its all apolitical ... providers are intentionally taking these steps because they want a Government bail out. These poverty pimps (welfare to work providers) agree to all terms for the tender, bidded low to secure the contracts... its after then because they know the Government cannot re-tender the contracts (could delay it 6-9 months if they did and its expensive!!) that they (and the ERSA) have been trying to negotiate a better deal... Government has responded publicly that there will be no bail out by the Government.

I dont hold much hope because these schemes have an internal purpose not of genuinely to help the unemployed... however, the few who gets the support required... it is really sad that they are stuck between an ongoing childish battle between the provider and the Government over money. Its about time the providers were jailed for this behaviour... fraudulently bidding for a contract to win it, only to try to force the Government to pay out more money to them... or they simply wont deliver the scheme as paid for!!

You summed it up very well donna... and considering most providers are the same as on FND... there isn't much difference so there is no reason why they cannot keep to the basic level of service, namely:-
a) set up appointments for demand of referrals
b) action plans etc.

Its really very simple, I am sure they are not finding it hard to collect the £400 and £600 start fees per referral.

Chouette

I'm beginning to feel rather bullied - despite my conversation with them on the phone last week about needing to arrange for someone to come with me, they sent me out a letter the same day (second class post) with an appointment for 10am today. It's only by luck that the postman didn't deliver it till half past 10 (thus giving me a watertight reason for not going). If it had arrived on Saturday I would have been in a state of panic most of the weekend _pale_

cit_k

Chouette wrote: »

I'm beginning to feel rather bullied - despite my conversation with them on the phone last week about needing to arrange for someone to come with me, they sent me out a letter the same day (second class post) with an appointment for 10am today. It's only by luck that the postman didn't deliver it till half past 10 (thus giving me a watertight reason for not going). If it had arrived on Saturday I would have been in a state of panic most of the weekend _pale_

I suggest ringing your council to see if they have any welfare rights advisors, they may be able to put some pressure on the DWP.

Also, consider dropping a line to your MP, explaining the problems, not only might they be able to get things moving and sorted, if you ask for the matter to be raised in parliament etc, they may be able to bring up the fact a 'constituent' had your problems, and help to add to the evidence against this foul system.

Good luck.

Chouette

cit_k wrote: »

I suggest ringing your council to see if they have any welfare rights advisors, they may be able to put some pressure on the DWP.

Also, consider dropping a line to your MP, explaining the problems, not only might they be able to get things moving and sorted, if you ask for the matter to be raised in parliament etc, they may be able to bring up the fact a 'constituent' had your problems, and help to add to the evidence against this foul system.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice - unfortunately my council's excellent welfare rights service (who had links with all the local CMHTs etc) was a casualty of the cuts.

At the moment I'm waiting to hear back from one of the managers at the provider, but frankly, they don't seem to move any quicker than the job centre do. They've already had three full working days and haven't even acknowledged my email yet.

Chouette

Chouette wrote: »

The provider managed to make two copies of my record on their system, so I wound up at risk of being sanctioned for not attending a duplicate induction that they'd told me not to bother turning up to as it was a mistake (but obviously hadn't bothered telling the Jobcentre as the JC understandably didn't initially believe me when I explained).

And now they've sent me a letter rearranging this duplicate induction that I was originally told not to attend.

I genuinely feel physically sick. I've explained myself to them four times, it was referred to one of their managers, and still they can't get the message.

donnydiva

I had my first appointment with the work programme organisation on Wednesday.

Two didnt turn up - for the rest of us it was working through a booklet explaining the work programme, and what it consisted of. I am in the WRAG group so when they were mentioning 'job logs' etc, was a little puzzled but just assumed that it was the initial basic introduction, and was told to come the next day, Thursday (yesterday) for a one to one with an advisor.

To say the appointment proved confusing for both parties is no exaggeration - having looked at the notes the jobcentre had sent, the advisor couldnt understand why I had been sent to them, as they basically deal with getting people back into work off JSA. When I explained I was on ESA and then further explained WRAG, it was even less apparent why I should have been sent to them. I also mentioned that I have a review in November, when she asked when in November I said "no idea". Up to my jobcentre appointment last week, I had had no notification about my review being in Novemebr, but then Im just the one who has to attend, and who it affects arent I??!!

In the end, she for want of a better word 'blagged' through the questions, as many didnt apply to me, but if the computer data wasnt put in, as she said I would have problems. I have an appointment the week after next, by which time the advisor said she would check out my situation and what (if anything) they could do to help me.

Although I have done everything asked of me (because if you dont you lose your money!) I came out feeling I'd kinda done something wrong, dont know why.

Doesnt give me promise for the remainder of the work programme, when, yet again, you are dealing with people who havnt yet got a full grasp of what they are doing. (Apparently mine have only been going about a fortnight!!)