The Work Programme New Thread

Vincent_Buenisedes

Miss_Scrooge wrote: »

Ugh, A4E are doing my head in now. They do absolutely nothing to help me.

I go there once a month to see my advisor and this is usually how the conversation goes...

"How's your job search going?"
"Not good, or I'd have stopped coming here..." (I honestly don't know how they want me to answer this. That question grates on your nerves after a while as I'm sure you all know)
"Alright, well I'll book you in for your next visit in a month's time."
"Wonderful."

Not only are they useless, but they damn well ignore you.

I had to reschedule my appointment so I emailed my advisor. No response for a couple of days, so I went there in person. Made me wait around 15 minutes while he was busy chatting to the staff having a right laugh it seems. Finally decided to come over. Told me he got my email but was "very busy" so couldn't responded. Yeah, it sure looks like you're all busy.

:mad:

I haven't seen my advisor for over two months and the last appointment was only around 10mins. If I've not head from them by the end of next week, I'll have to call them up myself to see what's going on.
You have to be careful with them because before you know it, you'll get a letter from the DWP saying you're being sanctioned for failure to attend. That happened twice to me last year on the Community Action Programme (got them overturned on referral):mad:

looby75

Vincent_Buenisedes wrote: »

I haven't seen my advisor for over two months and the last appointment was only around 10mins. If I've not head from them by the end of next week, I'll have to call them up myself to see what's going on.
You have to be careful with them because before you know it, you'll get a letter from the DWP saying you're being sanctioned for failure to attend. That happened twice to me last year on the Community Action Programme (got them overturned on referral):mad:

I haven't heard a dickybird from my WP for a month now, but after watching that panorama thing on Monday I think I've probably been "parked" as I'm currently on ESA.

The advisor was so understanding and friendly as well. She seemed pretty genuine so I hope it just a case of her having a big case load and not a case of trying to catch me out so to speak.

imatt

Quick heads up. BBC Radio 5 Live are doing an investigative prog on the WP. Concentrating on clients being encouraged to go self employed by their advisers. From 11.00AM Sunday.

Linky:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qdx83

out_of_cash

Vincent_Buenisedes wrote: »

I haven't seen my advisor for over two months and the last appointment was only around 10mins. If I've not head from them by the end of next week, I'll have to call them up myself to see what's going on.
You have to be careful with them because before you know it, you'll get a letter from the DWP saying you're being sanctioned for failure to attend. That happened twice to me last year on the Community Action Programme (got them overturned on referral):mad:

They cant sanction you for not attending due to their own negligence,i was lucky enough to not attend for 6months before i eventually got a call.The DWP says its the providers job to contact and make appointments with you,not the other way around. Their total pratts for sanctioning youand glad you made em pay:T

frank_begbie

imatt wrote: »

Quick heads up. BBC Radio 5 Live are doing an investigative prog on the WP. Concentrating on clients being encouraged to go self employed by their advisers. From 11.00AM Sunday.

Linky:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qdx83

The woman they had on representing the WP providers was pathetic.

Coming out with the usual "I'm sure this is not widespread, and only happening in a minority of cases"

Even though she had been told it was being reported from 10 different WP providers.

Even worse was the "If clients are experiencing problems they can report it to the management"

Yeah, when they are all frightened to death of having their benefit suspended for the slightest thing.

I said a few years ago when this scheme was announced, "how are they going to make any money when its pay by results"?

Now we know. They lie and cheat there way to payments, and the taxpayer picks up the bill.

dam_fools

frank_begbie wrote: »

The woman they had on representing the WP providers was pathetic.

Coming out with the usual "I'm sure this is not widespread, and only happening in a minority of cases"

Even though she had been told it was being reported from 10 different WP providers.

Even worse was the "If clients are experiencing problems they can report it to the management"

Yeah, when they are all frightened to death of having their benefit suspended for the slightest thing.

I said a few years ago when this scheme was announced, "how are they going to make any money when its pay by results"?

Now we know. They lie and cheat there way to payments, and the taxpayer picks up the bill.

The work program wants closing down !!!

Personally I think civil servants get paid enough for this to be dealt with in house and not outsourced to companies which do NOTHING to provide work for the long term unemployed.

I think Kate Carnegie , the woman owns triage should hand back her MBE for services to the unemployed, because to me the only thing she and her so called advisors do is feather there nests with taxpayers hard earned money !!

Bring it all back to local government and stop wasting money on sevices / money grabbers and have some results and get people back into work.

Traige , A4E, all of them take taxpayers money by the millions and at a time of austerity the money could be spent in health and education and NOT paying to keep some scum ball of a woman in her multi million pound home!

anna2000

I wanted to get on a WP because i've been unemployed for 4 years and I signed on recently.

I thought it would be good to get me a placement working with children (something I've always wanted to do.) Would this be possible? Or do you have to do a placement anywhere? Or do you have to be on a WP for a while before you can even do a placement?

AP007

anna2000 wrote: »

I wanted to get on a WP because i've been unemployed for 4 years and I signed on recently.

I thought it would be good to get me a placement working with children (something I've always wanted to do.) Would this be possible? Or do you have to do a placement anywhere? Or do you have to be on a WP for a while before you can even do a placement?

If you are over 25 and just started to sign on then you wont go on the WP for 12 mths.

However the WP do not get people placements - if you are not already on it then you have to find your own placements.

donnajunkie

anna2000 wrote: »

I wanted to get on a WP because i've been unemployed for 4 years and I signed on recently.

I thought it would be good to get me a placement working with children (something I've always wanted to do.) Would this be possible? Or do you have to do a placement anywhere? Or do you have to be on a WP for a while before you can even do a placement?

i wouldnt try to get on the wp. they are unlikely to be helpful and you risk being threatened with sanctions if you ever dont do what they tell you to. so why risk being sanctioned and increased stress levels. i suggest trying to find some sort of voluntary work yourself. some areas have organisations that help people find voluntary work.

cmw1212

Well my boyfriend got a letter from the WP this week- totally unexpected although written as if he had been told about it, saying he has to go in 2 days a week. It also says in red letters "any other appointments can be cancelled" he has an interview today so called them on monday to say he coudl not attend today and of course they got arsey when he would not tell them where the interview is- as he said why should he it was something he did by himself. This thing about WP appointments being priority is ridiculous though I mean yes fine sometimes a potential employer will be flexible but how is sitting in a room applying for jobs more of a priority than speaking to an employer and maybe getting an actual job?