The Work Programme New Thread

LadyMissA

Mara69 wrote: »

I've not read the whole thread - mostly because it is 30+ pages long and I have other things to do this afternoon! However, from what I have seen, it is entirely negative. Apologies for anyone that has posted anything positive, but as I say, not read the whole thread.

However, I thought I'd post something positive about the scheme. My son was referred to them a few weeks ago and I have nothing but praise for his advisor. She is supportive and understanding. She's found him a good jobs to apply for (one of which he should hear about tomorrow) and has called after every interview to get feedback from him and give him feedback. He has been given vouchers to buy shoes for his interview and all his travel costs have been met. He has also been told he'll be given his first month's travel when he secures a job. When he was unable to attend the job centre to sign on due to an interview she phoned them and got his appointment moved with no hassle. His money still arrived on time.

I think they have been excellent. Perhaps people should look to their own attitudes? If you expect the worst, you go into something with the wrong mindset.

Maybe you should read the thread then you will see that they do nothing where I go..........nothing at all. I spent 9 mins at the offices of mine last week and all I did was wait for the guy to print of the two pages I get of ongoing tasks (applying for jobs looking at sites etc), sign on the line, claim my tavel and then travel 8 miles back home!

I apply for my own jobs (up to 50 or so a week) and they have given me nothing to apply for nor do they have any contacts with any employers.

How old is your son? How many years work experience does he have? Very little I am guessing. Is he aged 18-24 by chance?


What do you seriously think we are all doing on the WP? I can tell you I do nothing I wasn't already doing.

looby75

Mara69 wrote: »

I think they have been excellent. Perhaps people should look to their own attitudes? If you expect the worst, you go into something with the wrong mindset.

while I'm glad that your son had a good experience and a helpful advisor I think it's very unfair of you to suggest it's all our own fault, especially as you haven't read the whole thread.

The WP I go to is worse than useless, I've asked for help like your son has had and been told there is nothing available. I've asked to go on courses, I've asked to be sent on a work placement to get a recent reference and not once have they even suggested a job I could apply for. The sum total of the "support" I've had from the WP is being called into their offices once every 6 weeks to use their old slow and unreliable computers to do job search, something that I do at home every day on my own then a 2 min phone "appointment" to ask how things are going.

This apparently is structured tailored support to help me get back into work. Funny how EVERYONE at my WP need exactly the same structured tailored support isn't it (because thats all they offer anyone)

donnajunkie

Mara69 wrote: »

Perhaps people should look to their own attitudes? If you expect the worst, you go into something with the wrong mindset.

why not quote some examples of posts here were you think the issue is the fault of the poster?

kazzah60

Mara69 wrote: »

I've not read the whole thread - mostly because it is 30+ pages long and I have other things to do this afternoon! However, from what I have seen, it is entirely negative. Apologies for anyone that has posted anything positive, but as I say, not read the whole thread.

However, I thought I'd post something positive about the scheme. My son was referred to them a few weeks ago and I have nothing but praise for his advisor. She is supportive and understanding. She's found him a good jobs to apply for (one of which he should hear about tomorrow) and has called after every interview to get feedback from him and give him feedback. He has been given vouchers to buy shoes for his interview and all his travel costs have been met. He has also been told he'll be given his first month's travel when he secures a job. When he was unable to attend the job centre to sign on due to an interview she phoned them and got his appointment moved with no hassle. His money still arrived on time.

I think they have been excellent. Perhaps people should look to their own attitudes? If you expect the worst, you go into something with the wrong mindset.

then your son is very lucky - my husband was referred to the WP after being out of work for 12 months.
His "advisor" admitted to him that she " had no idea" about the type of jobs he was looking for ( he is a project manager mostly for charities - jobs are scarce at the minute)
that she had no idea why he was still out of work because his CV was excellent (we were fortunate that our mortgage insurance company offered in depth workshops run BY recruiters on how to word your CV to get it noticed and how to be more successful with agency applications etc)
that the 3 job applications he completed ( that HE found advertised) were very comprehensive and excellent and she wanted to use them for other people to show how applications forms should be completed
he had 6 meetings in 9 days -he got £1 travel expenses 25p per mile - we have no local public transport and it cost £3.80 to park the car
and it actually TOOK time away from his job searching at home
the advise she offered him?
keep doing what you are doing
come in for 2 hours and cold call companies you would like to work for to see if they have any vacancies

she was simply unable to comprehend that Local Government Offices, the NHS, local Councils and all the type of places that he is seeking work in don't accept cold calling- ALL their vacancies are advertised either online, on their websites or via an agency

the reason your sons provider wants to keep such a tight rein on him throughout hgis 1st months work is that they ONLY get paid the balance of their money when they can confirm through the employer that the person has been employed - my husband has refused to give them details of the interviews and employers HE has found for himself because the provider has done NOTHING which has helped him get the interviews
in fact my husband gets NO benefit from the DWP due to a small occupational pension and has now said he will no longer attend - for some people I am sure the work programme will be heloful - for anyone who knows how to complete applications, conduct themselves at an interview and who is possibly seeking a senior or managerial role, then I don't believe they are in any position to offer any meaningful contribution.

Mara69

LOL responses as expected - and from the usual posters. To be honest, we've not had any of the problems you all claim - clearly we are lucky and you're not. I just thought it fair to balance the complaints with a compliment.

You all carry on whinging and whining to each other - feeding off each other's misery. I have far better things to do than to wade through your miserable ramblings - off to catch some rays

looby75

Mara69 wrote: »

LOL responses as expected - and from the usual posters. To be honest, we've not had any of the problems you all claim - clearly we are lucky and you're not. I just thought it fair to balance the complaints with a compliment.

You all carry on whinging and whining to each other - feeding off each other's misery. I have far better things to do than to wade through your miserable ramblings - off to catch some rays

maybe if you had been through the WP yourself you might not be so quick to judge.

dandelionclock30

Mara69 wrote: »

LOL responses as expected - and from the usual posters. To be honest, we've not had any of the problems you all claim - clearly we are lucky and you're not. I just thought it fair to balance the complaints with a compliment.

You all carry on whinging and whining to each other - feeding off each other's misery. I have far better things to do than to wade through your miserable ramblings - off to catch some rays

Very supportive- perhaps come back when your son has got a job,from all this support hes getting.

scooby088

I have had a good experience with my provider so far,, they have rang me with possible vacancies with their parent company being an employment agency. But like others have said I know how to apply for jobs and how to do everything else, so really the advisor and company are really at a loss as how to help me.

imatt

[FONT=&quot]Mara69, here's the rub. The WP as with the ND and FND which preceded it is very hit and miss AT BEST! You say your son benefitted. Great! [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]However, the reason why there is a lot of 'negativity' (I'd be quicker to call them shared bad experiences) is that people have often been short changed by W2W provides delivering the WP.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Defenders of the WP and the prior ND / FND say that not all branches are as bad as some make out. But is this really good enough? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]No one, including myself is saying that ALL staff delivering the WP are useless. No one is saying that EVERY single branch of A4e, Serco, Ingeus, Working Links etc are terrible. The problem is that FAR TOO MANY of them are! Useless and terrible that is. There is little consistency and scant accountability. There is also no choice. Not only can a client not choose provider (this would make little difference for many if not most), he / she cannot choose the best other option for them that does not involve the WP provider.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

The_ICT_Engineer

Mara69 before making rash statements, Read the full thread. Then you will note that the most of the 'whinging' posters as you call them are over 25, and are professionals with years of experience and training. The work program is not geared to this type of person. Furthermore they get paid more if your son gets a Job.

Sending redundant professionals with a high skill level, and university education, on basic adult literacy courses, and I.T. professionals on "Computers Don't Byte" courses is the forte of most work program providers. This is just to tick boxes.


I do know a Jobseeker who is over 50 and a I.T. professional back home who was sent on the above courses by Working Links. Now he is called into the office every two months for a 10 minute meeting for which he has a 70 mile round trip to the office for which they will only refund a bus fare( 3 hours each way on two buses with a 58 minute wait between buses), but not the train (32 minutes each way). Just to be shouted at by a 'wet behind the ear's' so called adviser. that he's workshy.

I may be 2400 miles further north, working on Spitsbergen (Where the
temperature is currently -5 and the sun does not set until the 23 August.). Yet I do keep a eye on what is happening back home. As I am due to return at the end of October. The work program is falling apart through what is becoming widespread fraud.


Take a look at these reports in the last few days.


http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100160353/welfare-to-work-scandal-the-inevitable-consequence-of-cameronomics/


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9280038/Work-Programme-at-risk-as-too-few-jobs-in-UK.html


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9287562/Liam-Byrne-IDS-has-been-asleep-at-the-wheel-over-A4e.html


Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen 78° 55′ 0″ N, 11° 56′ 0″ E