The Work Programme New Thread

imatt

Pont wrote: »

imatt...
Why would I research how a myriad of schemes were run in the past? Good grief work 'schemes' in various guises have been with us for near on a 100 years (at least!). It's probably more useful if I spend my time trying to find customers the jobs that they want!

I said RECENT PAST, namely the New Deal and Flexible New Deal. These were both in operation in the past 10 years, not 100. Hardly a 'myriad of schemes'. You said you never knew how the previous schemes operated, which seems surprising.

How can it be irrelevant to point out that actually our office seem to get better results than many others out there. It's totally relevant as perhaps customers in offices that aren't finding employment, are being treated badly etc. etc., should perhaps be asking questions and/or complaining about the service (or lack of it) they are receiving - hence the reference to badly run offices.

Because we do not know which provider you work for. Thus the 24% you claim is of little use as it is impossible to compare with anything.

Some people DO complain. However, some do have confidence issues so will not bother and accept any poor service without saying a word.

I most certainly wouldn't get into a 'slanging match' with anyone, colleagues or customers. In my opinion when people resort to such, they've lost the argument before they start.

Everybody in our office has a least a first degree but that alone doesn't make advisors 'professional' - it also takes a heap of old fashioned commonsense along with professional qualifications to do the job properly.

No. What makes someone a professional is the approach they take to the job in hand. Not just their education. Some advisors are fine and do the job to the best of their abilities. Others do have an attitude problem. Others still are promoted to above their abilities.

I totally agree that 'customers have rights'. However, let's not forget along with rights come responsibilities.

I can of course detect the anger on these pages regarding The Work Programme. I just wanted to provide an alternative view that we're not all c*%p - some of us do care and believe we do act in a respectful and professional manner.

Btw, I cringe when customers turn up at our office having had CVs written by a previous provider and they're peppered with spelling mistakes!

So what would you solution be to this? You see, as I said before, I have had debates with others in the W2W sector and they like you say everything was 'tickety boo' in their office. Higher than publicised targets figures and great staff all round. However, if as you said clients have their badly spelt CV prepared by a previous (and in many cases the SAME provider), then someone is failing in both their professionalism and their duty of care. Perhaps YOU should be contacting the clients previous provider (or advisor if the same provider) and complaining on behalf of your sector.

donnajunkie

looby75 wrote: »

not in my case. Every person from the WP who has seen mine has said it's spot on and they can't think of anyway to improve it. I have 4 versions of it and each one has been looked at and I've been told they are all fine.

Then again my latest "adviser" (the 4th in 7 months) is a 17 yr old on an apprenticeship :cool::rotfl:

on my latest cv all she did was add some bullet points and change some of the font. really what i am getting at is you can go on a course show them your cv they will say thats no good we will redo do it for you. then later you go on another course and show them the redone cv and they will say its no good and redo it another way and so on. it seems to be the experience of myself and everyone i know who has been on courses.

K9sandFelines

Does anybody have any experience of the Work Programme and returning to education? I want to enroll on a college course in August starting September which as far as i know, i can do whilst claiming JSA; however i am wondering as i am part of the Work Programme will i be able to do this. As in, does it mean i cannot then decide to go back to college whilst i am on the Work Programme unless i completely stop claiming JSA? I don't want to actually ask my work advisor as i don't want them to know what i am doing , if i can, until the very last minute. I have Googled and can't find where i stand on this matter.

I hope this makes sense

donnajunkie

K9sandFelines wrote: »

Does anybody have any experience of the Work Programme and returning to education? I want to enroll on a college course in August starting September which as far as i know, i can do whilst claiming JSA; however i am wondering as i am part of the Work Programme will i be able to do this. As in, does it mean i cannot then decide to go back to college whilst i am on the Work Programme unless i completely stop claiming JSA? I don't want to actually ask my work advisor as i don't want them to know what i am doing , if i can, until the very last minute. I have Googled and can't find where i stand on this matter.

I hope this makes sense

you can do part time courses while claiming jsa. you should inform the jobcentre and the work programme provider when it is confirmed. you cant put it ahead of applying for jobs, going to interviews etc. your adviser shouldnt have a problem with you doing it. however they will see your work programme activities as priority. so if you get an awkward adviser they may make you miss some of it to do something they want you to do. this is unlikely though.

K9sandFelines

donnajunkie wrote: »

you can do part time courses while claiming jsa. you should inform the jobcentre and the work programme provider when it is confirmed. you cant put it ahead of applying for jobs, going to interviews etc. your adviser shouldnt have a problem with you doing it. however they will see your work programme activities as priority. so if you get an awkward adviser they may make you miss some of it to do something they want you to do. this is unlikely though.

Thank you for your advice. I already do voluntary work which i love, and they keep making appointments on the days i go in there (which they know about) but they don't seem to care that i then have to arrange everything around these appointments.
I won't be able to fit in part time study aswell as the type of jobsearch i am doing at the moment, voluntary work and Ingeus appointments. So it looks like i'm stuck with the Work Programme for the next eighteen months .

Thanks for your advice.

EndlessStruggle

They probably do that to check the flexibility of your voluntary work, they did the same with me.

p0ndlife

I fail to see how the "Work Programme" can be a good deal for the public at fees of £212pm for providers to have clients in continued work for up to two years. That is far too close to the price of putting them on JSA. Is it really worth so much to manipulate employment statistics?

undaunted

As a lot of it is contracted to G4S - a security co. who couldn't even organise Olympic security, despite having all these job seekers on their books - what hope is there?

G4S just sub the job out to smaller co.s around here, seems like a complete waste of money to me.

donnajunkie

K9sandFelines wrote: »

Thank you for your advice. I already do voluntary work which i love, and they keep making appointments on the days i go in there (which they know about) but they don't seem to care that i then have to arrange everything around these appointments.
I won't be able to fit in part time study aswell as the type of jobsearch i am doing at the moment, voluntary work and Ingeus appointments. So it looks like i'm stuck with the Work Programme for the next eighteen months .

Thanks for your advice.

have you tried informing them that the appointments clash with your voluntary work. they may not realise when they make the appointment and may be willing to change it to a more convenient time. note the use of the word may.
the work programme is 2 years not 18 months.

kizzie_nikita

One simple question. Is the WP mandatory?