The Work Program

livto

I hope this is in the right section on here??
Does anyone else attend the "work program" and if so what are your views on it so far?
I have been attending Ingeus for the past few months and i can only describe it as a nightmare so far.
Staff just want to palm you off into any job and are generally unhelpful/wont listen to things you tell them.
I have been passed around different advisers so many times and one even told me "why should the government pay your benefits"
In general the work program seems unfit for purpose in my view and i fear they are simply being overwhelmed by the amount of people who are being referred to them.

planning303

livto wrote: »

Staff just want to palm you off into any job

what sort of jobs are they getting you?

saintjammyswine

So the Work Programme, designed to help people back into employment has found you jobs. Sorry, dont see the problem here.

I am not on WP by the way, nor do I work for one of the Main Contractors. I do, however work on the periphery of it around delivery of training and working on partnerships with employers, JCP, Local Authorities etc. so do have experience of WP.

livto

I do my own job searching in job centres every day anyway.
The work program does nothing that i dont do myself.
It tries to palm me off into poorly paid part time jobs that would leave me financially worse off if i took them.
Staff are rude, judgmental and unhelpful.

Vincent_Buenisedes

livto wrote: »

I hope this is in the right section on here??
Does anyone else attend the "work program" and if so what are your views on it so far?
I have been attending Ingeus for the past few months and i can only describe it as a nightmare so far.
Staff just want to palm you off into any job and are generally unhelpful/wont listen to things you tell them.
I have been passed around different advisers so many times and one even told me "why should the government pay your benefits"
In general the work program seems unfit for purpose in my view and i fear they are simply being overwhelmed by the amount of people who are being referred to them.

I had a similar experience on the Flexible New Deal. My advice is to apply for any job they give you as then they can't refer to the Jobcentre for sanction. Whether you get the interview/job is down to you.

You should have been given a copy of their complaints procedure, so if any advisor becomes awkward with you or upsets you any way, utilise the complaints procedure in full and in writing. This usually makes them rethink their level of service. If still not satisfied, then go to the Independent Case Examiner.

Unemployment can make people depressed and vulnerable and sometimes the Jobcentre and Providers capitalise on this for their own ends, usually statistics wise, but when they know you won't be pushed over easily, they usually back down.

saintjammyswine

JCP no longer have the targets they used to and the main contractors on WP are paid for clients gaining employment with the most money for sustained (6 months) employment. It is in their interest to get a job for you which will last.

LadyMissA

I am on the WP. Refered in July - had TWO appointment for the assement where they told me they had no idea what to do with me. Set home work, I called them 2 weeks later to touch base then turned up for my FIRST real appointment in Sept to be told 'you have been transfered to another office so you will not be seeing anyone today'! Was told to wait for the other office to call me and waited 10 days. There was a dissagreement about the travel as now instead of 2 busses I would need to get 4 and they wouldn't pay me unless I had proof which on an oyster card you can't get for 24 hours at a station (a print out) as there is a cap on busses and this can not be shown untill the next day.
Anyway instead the new office said they would transffer me back to the old one and was told in an email to wait for them to contact me and attend there. That was on Sept 12th and I am doing just like they told me - waiting. I have been waiting weeks this Friday for them to call.

I am doing exactly what they have told me, nothing more, nothing less.

They do not even operate a real appointment system so I am guessing I have been lost in their 'system' as when I have been to their offices my 9am appointment seems to be more than double booked and they seem to operate on a kinda first come first served basis and if they know you already you can jump the wait.

saintjammyswine

Sounds like you have had a bad experience. Tell your JCP office about this, they will be interested. Best to address it to the partnership manager who will have the relationship with the WP provider. Dont write off the programme as a whole because of this though.

Lith

saintjammyswine wrote: »

So the Work Programme, designed to help people back into employment has found you jobs. Sorry, dont see the problem here.

Then you need to open your'e eyes.

I'll rather find a stable job then do a 'work programme' and let them find me a toilet cleaner job....

Wouldn't you ? waste of time i think.

it's never going to work -

Everyone knows it.

and we meet again....

saintjammyswine

Then find a stable job. But there are many people out there that do need real help to find a job for many reasons.

Mainly, from experience, these are

• mutli generational worklessness in the home
• never been employed
• returning to the work environment after prison
• leaving care
• coming back from drug/alcohol dependancy
• multiple personal barriers including mental health and disability

these are just a few and each has their own needs. These are people for whom the programme has been a great success by identifying the barriers, working to overcome them and gaining employment. For example, someone who has never worked and comes from a family that has never worked can find just the routine of daily schedule difficult, or working in a team. These are things that the Work Experience element of the WP are for. OK some people who dont need it are put on the programme. Having seen the difference it has made to some people I can say it has been successful in my contact with it.

Edit - to quote "I'll rather find a stable job then do a 'work programme' and let them find me a toilet cleaner job...."

Great for you. For some people, that job could be their first ever or for a long time. For some, simply reaching the point that they are employable is an achievement.

Lith

Yea ok, i agree with ya on that part.


but sending people to these 'work programme' who have had years of experience in work and actually worked in several places or who have degree's diploma's etc don't you think that's a bit insulting and unfair?

The one's who have never been employed... yea sure send them to courses and work programme's etc (even tho it wont help) but ones who have the relevant experience etc no need to send them.