The Work Programme New Thread

KevInChester

donnajunkie wrote: »

why did you even bother to tell them you wont be in?

Just to remain professional, but also so that if they hadn't already taken the hint from the letter handed in, and the other one sent - my work details are and will remain off limits to them.

Job Centre Plus this afternoon called me to confirm my signing off details and confirmed they won't be informing the WP about my workplace. The extent of information they will give is that "Client is off benefits as of (date) and has declined to share further details".

donnajunkie

oneofmillions768 wrote: »

Have had the pleasure of being on Ingeus's books for a few months and last week they asked me to start using a portal and use it as my main point for job searching online. When you first login with your supplied username/password there are three tabs to choose from, Your job matches/Your CVs/Advice and Tips

Website is;
<h**ps://portal.ingeusworks.co.uk/users/login>

Is anybody else using this portal?

Apparently the website is supposed to bring back Job Matches of jobs which are of interest. Since last week, I've checked every day and it comes up with the following message;'

"Your list of job matches is empty"

Even though the system apparently uses the SOC codes to search for jobs (I've supplied 20 or so to my advisor who told me he added them), not one result. There software is supposed to search various job sites (eg Indeed) and bring back results to match the SOC codes which represent the jobs your interested in. I've even manually went to various job sites which the system is supposed to use and enter the SOC code manually to see if results occur...and guess what....lots appear.

So basically in a nutshell, Ingeus are telling you to use a job portal which they have themselves setup, even though its not fit for purpose. Absolute useless......

On a side note, am wondering if results will magically appear once the Universal Jobmatch via the Job Centre Plus website goes online. My advisor told me that the Ingeus portal is a totally separate thing and not connected to the Universal Jobmatch so we will see on Monday.

If they are somehow linked up and remember they aren't supposed to, anybody know what the Data Protection implications would be?

avanta have a website where we have our cv uploaded to. it then matches us with jobs. unfortunately many of the jobs arent suitable. if there isnt any suitable matched there is a search function. i have a feeling its going to be tough to find enough suitable jobs on there around xmas time to keep them happy.

strangeotron

Can providers ask to retain a copy of your CV?

Assuming they can, are they allowed to use it to apply for jobs on your behalf without any consent given or signature to give them permission - do they need such?

Midnight_Tboy

yes, they can ask......but no you do not have to provide it. You should be willing to 'show' them it, to show you're able to create one....but make sure they do not take it to copy or keep for themselves, otherwise they will breach loads more of your data protection rights by applying on your behalf to any rubbish job under the sun.

The uneducated provider worker there may try and insist, but you're certainly not required too.....I redacted the sensitive info on mine, so it virtually looked like a blank template, and would not let them keep it. There is an FOI from the DWP somewhere confirming it is not mandatory for you to supply it with them....and if they try to force you with threats of sanction it is against the law for them to force you to give up your data protection rights.

donnajunkie

my provider wants to chase up jobs i have applied for. i havent withdrawn permission for them to do things on my behalf but at the same time i havent given permission to the employers i apply to to share info with the provider.

strangeotron

Midnight_Tboy wrote: »

yes, they can ask......but no you do not have to provide it. You should be willing to 'show' them it, to show you're able to create one....but make sure they do not take it to copy or keep for themselves, otherwise they will breach loads more of your data protection rights by applying on your behalf to any rubbish job under the sun.

The uneducated provider worker there may try and insist, but you're certainly not required too.....I redacted the sensitive info on mine, so it virtually looked like a blank template, and would not let them keep it. There is an FOI from the DWP somewhere confirming it is not mandatory for you to supply it with them....and if they try to force you with threats of sanction it is against the law for them to force you to give up your data protection rights.

Well i was asked to provide one and the guy decided to get very threatening (he even terminated the interview and threatened sanctions) when I said i don't consent to keeping my info and passing it on. That's the reason he gave for needing a copy. I said he can take a look, i had it with me. More than happy to show it. Instead i'm accused of being intransigent and was threatened with non compliance and that he'd have to raise a doubt (ie sanction).

scooby088

I think the attitude of some people on the work programme is very counter productive, it's obvious that you need help looking for work if you have been unemployed for 12 months or more, that's why I was on the work programme.

No one from the work programme can sanction you but they have to be truthful to the jobcentre with things like none attendance for appointments. So there is a blame everyone else apart from yourself attitude. From all the negatives of the work programme there are some positives, I have had a good experience with my broker and I wrote him a great testimonial one that I thought he deserved.

imatt

scooby088 wrote: »

I think the attitude of some people on the work programme is very counter productive, it's obvious that you need help looking for work if you have been unemployed for 12 months or more, that's why I was on the work programme.

No one from the work programme can sanction you but they have to be truthful to the jobcentre with things like none attendance for appointments. So there is a blame everyone else apart from yourself attitude. From all the negatives of the work programme there are some positives, I have had a good experience with my broker and I wrote him a great testimonial one that I thought he deserved.

Ahhh, but herein lies the problem. Firstly, many are NOT getting help looking for work. Many on the WP are being seen just once or twice a month! Some less than that!! What REAL WORLD help is available esp for someone who does not fit in with a providers LCD (Lowest Common Denominator) policies? Is there any practical, real world, industry specific training / re-training available? Is there proper business support for those wishing to set up on their own?

It IS good you found an advisor who you get on with. However, you should count yourself lucky. Because whilst there ARE decent people working in the W2W sector, there are many others who are just clueless and often less qualified and experienced than those they purport to help. Even when there is a good advisor available and even if they are suppossedly your main point of contact , he / she is still often not the one you see due to them having a high caseload. So you end up with someone else who does not know your situation.

The biggest problems with the WP is that is sucks tax money out of the system for very little if any gain. Remember, the WP providers do NOT make money any other way other than relying on govt contracts. Also we have a sheer lack of choice and accountability. Can you move to another proivider or find a more suitable method of help? Can you find out just how well you provider is doing overall? The answer to both those is no.

MissSarah1972

scooby088 wrote: »

I think the attitude of some people on the work programme is very counter productive, it's obvious that you need help looking for work if you have been unemployed for 12 months or more, that's why I was on the work programme.

.

How can anyone help you get an interview? Can they force the companies to see you? Can they make them give you a job?

I am goong for a meeting with my provider this week and I have a friend who has been on it who just goes every 4 weeks and spends about 10 mins there if he is lucky, they get him to sign the list of ongoing stuff he does on a monthly basis and that's it.

How do you think they will help us all?

out_of_cash

I think scooby088 is living in some kind of bubble.

The WP like the DWP is not fit for purpose.

A total waste of billions of tax payers money.

There are a huge percentage of people on the WP who have nothing but bad feedback from attending the waste of time courses on how to write a CV when they already have a perfectly professionally prepared one by companies who actually specialize in that area,not just some dreamy idea put in place by government.

Whether someone is unemployed for 6 months or 5years is irrelevant.There is a lot more to factor into this problem than just employing cowboy money grabbing compaies who fail hugely to deliver the results needed.Their more of a hindrance to most than a help.

The game is just to pile as many people into dead end low paid jobs so they can collect on the placement.Ive been on this pile of crap for 15months now and had 10 appointments in that time,i am out of work not for lack of trying, 485 applications and counting.This has only happened due to the stupid mentality of lets apply for any old job,it dosent matter how skills relevant this maybe, or if you can live on the money.

Been employed the last 32 years and unemployed the last 4.5,i guess the other 32 didn't really count for much experience being skilled,so are many many others.