The Work Programme New Thread

EndlessStruggle

My interview went well today so fingers crossed.

JC tomorrow, the usual 2 minute appointment no doubt but at least my favorite charity shop is next door

Mischa8

dontone wrote: »

I've no idea. I've had them giving me rollockings for missing an appointment last year because I was in hospital having tests for ovarian cancer (apparently laying in a hospital bed is not an good enough excuse for missing appointments :eek: even though I told them about it) to one threatening to remove my "benefits" because I had an accident with that diary thing they gave me - my fault entirely for spilling tea on it on the morning I was due to sign. But I did give them details of what I did.
My response to removal threat was a kind of go ahead because she failed to notice that I don't get anything except NI. Her face was an absolute picture. Never seen anybody go crimson that fast before
I'm not a person who likes conflict, but there are times when I really have to bite my tongue in there. Some of them forget that we unlucky ones are part of the reason they are actually working. I think that some of them are a bit out of their depth in dealing with all kinds of people (tbh it must be a horrible job) but there's not need for the rudeness.

That's awful about the operation - you wouldn't get that abuse in a job.

I wonder sometimes if they have targets so use these 'threatening tactics' but where does that get them?

I do think when they're *stood up to* some of them do not like it and get defensive and irate.

I am lucky, I was only signing on for about 2 months. My job centre was still the most depressing place on earth, took 2 buses to get there (I did have a nice walk back through a leafy area) etc. My advisers (I had only 2) were very nice and well meaning. It was an eye opener to me to notice how many *professionals* were there - e.g. normal people who'd lost their jobs and not the usual UB40 layabouts you'd mix them all in with together, sign of the times I suppose. I'm just saying that as when I used to go with my brother years ago to sign on it was barely any professionals we saw.

Mischa8

This is just an observation/query.

About 2 years ago I was unemployed for approximately 2-3 months and signed on. I had been doing long term temp work before - with continuous work, so had been lucky.

When I signed on it wasn't too bad. But the 2nd or 3rd appointment I was sent to a big City (London) recruitment agency for some sort of work programme. Which included having my CV torn apart and rewritten by an adviser and then seeing a recruiter in the agency attached and you could see they weren't impressed with the *unemployed crowd* in their swanky offices.

I was paid travel expenses I think but all in all I left there quite demoralised. The lady who rejigged my CV had the worst interpersonal skills I've come across really pushy and ripped my CV layout apart (this had got me jobs for past 2 years and beforehand).

I am now lucky, have got a job which is permanent and safe.

But just wanted to know, is this what all of you have to put up with - e.g. Work Programme? Because in my experience it is awful.

There was little or no help if you wanted retraining/advice on starting your own business etc/gaining further qualifications.

KevInChester

From what I can gather the DWP said they no longer have targets for referrals to decision makers etc, however that is usual governmental double speak as they actually have 'benchmarks' to meet. Fall below and you're in trouble.

The work programme does seem to run using a lot of pushy staff that lack basic interpersonal skills (though there are exceptions), and they seem to like to imply that the reason you haven't gotten a job is your fault. The help they've given me?

I asked for and attended an interview training session, this was the worst thing ever, it was a complete and utter joke. The person presenting the course should never have been in the job, awful, and showed they had no intention of providing a decent service.

They rejigged one of my cover letters to add some bad grammar into it and phrases such as "friends and family would say that I'm a good worker"

They tried to teach me how to use a search engine, that was before I gave them a short description of Boolean functions to show that I already knew.


I see an employment advisor every month, and to be honest I've had more useful advice from my cat. It's a scam. It may work on people who have a genuine need for very basic training, but for anybody else it's a morale sapping pos.

Gaz1971

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

A lady I know went to one of those Best places in Mabgate Leeds,the one that is near the New Roscoe on the corner. She was wanting a job in a call centre or admin capacity.
Anyway they just had her doing jobsearch day in day out for weeks on end and a bit on computers which she could anyway. She said it was boiling hot, often there was not enough computers etc and it didnt help her.
I know other people who had to talk about barriers to employment and make paper planes and do teambuilding!

In Training in Bedford are the same. You get left for 2 hrs doing online job searches, which I can do from home anyway, and then they book you another appointment and you are done. The place is packed, its like a kindergarten and the advisers are doing nothing. There was a group in there doing a basic maths course, the adviser who should have been with them was on her phone and one of the brighter chaps on the course, who had finished, was doing her job of supervising the group.

donnajunkie

Mischa8 wrote: »

This is just an observation/query.

About 2 years ago I was unemployed for approximately 2-3 months and signed on. I had been doing long term temp work before - with continuous work, so had been lucky.

When I signed on it wasn't too bad. But the 2nd or 3rd appointment I was sent to a big City (London) recruitment agency for some sort of work programme. Which included having my CV torn apart and rewritten by an adviser and then seeing a recruiter in the agency attached and you could see they weren't impressed with the *unemployed crowd* in their swanky offices.

I was paid travel expenses I think but all in all I left there quite demoralised. The lady who rejigged my CV had the worst interpersonal skills I've come across really pushy and ripped my CV layout apart (this had got me jobs for past 2 years and beforehand).

I am now lucky, have got a job which is permanent and safe.

But just wanted to know, is this what all of you have to put up with - e.g. Work Programme? Because in my experience it is awful.

There was little or no help if you wanted retraining/advice on starting your own business etc/gaining further qualifications.

yes people pretty much face similar things no matter what daft scheme they are on. although to be fair sometimes they are not too bad.

out_of_cash

Looks like these providers are on borrowed time,

in response to Work Programme:

A reliable source overheard provider discussion on one of the Work Programme providers in Ipswich, Papworth Trust (on behalf of Ingeus) or Seetec, likely to lose their contract come Summer 2012.

http://www.channel4.com/news/exclusive-a4e-finds-jobs-for-3-5-per-cent-of-job-seekers

donnajunkie

out_of_cash wrote: »

Looks like these providers are on borrowed time,

in response to Work Programme:

A reliable source overheard provider discussion on one of the Work Programme providers in Ipswich, Papworth Trust (on behalf of Ingeus) or Seetec, likely to lose their contract come Summer 2012.

http://www.channel4.com/news/exclusive-a4e-finds-jobs-for-3-5-per-cent-of-job-seekers

there will always be some sort of scheme in existence. they are very unlikely to be helpful. so the best thing the unemployed can hope for is a scheme that is as easy and hassle free as possible.

dandelionclock30

Its a national disgrace really isnt it?, and a scandelous waste of money.
What are they going to say eventually and how are they going to cover it up?
Whats really awful is not all the money thats been put up for these stupid schemes, its the fact that they havent helped all the unemployed people. So the poorest in society are being let down yet again.

Modster

Received a letter today from the Chief Executive regarding my letter about CV and attendance at their office, funny though as my letter was about a member of staff making threats. Apparently making me attend 3 times a week and not giving any concern to the behaviour of the staff members is the appropriate resolution and she doesnt see the need to take any further action. On to the ICE I go where i'll hopefully get more joy.