The Work Programme New Thread

SJ32116

I've got an appointment at the job centre tomorrow to discuss this, Absolutely dreading it with the stories I've heard.

I'm just praying this job I've got a second interview for comes through before I've had to spend too long on it and I can tell both the work programme provider and the absolutely useless Job Centre to do one.

m4rk1407

Just thought I'd share my experiences of JCP and the Work Programme having been on it since it started.

Work Programme

My C.V. has been altered / rewritten numerous times - Obviously everyone I see seems to think they know better when it comes to writing C.Vs.

My advisor keeps pestering me to attend courses or do charity work, none of which I will do. The previous qualifications I gained through college seem to be null and void right now because they were done in 2001. Even the LearnDirect courses I was forced to do at another agency (before the Work Programme started) don't count for anything. No matter what I tell my advisor she won't accept this and attempts to "bully" me into something everytime I see her.

The people "downstairs" have had my C.V. for months yet I haven't been offered a single work placement by them. Obviously I wasn't doing a good enough job, even though I was applying for plenty of jobs per week. It was my fault I wasn't getting any interviews.

My advisor is rude yet laughs at the same time to try and sneakily dig at me without repercussions. I used to get myself into a state every week because I dreaded seeing her. All I'd ever get was the same crap EVERY WEEK.

"Will you work in a warehouse?" No, I won't, as I told you last week, and the week before that, and the week before that; my medical issues prevent me from lifting and moving heavy boxes.

"How does factory work sound?" Standing for 12 hours shifts with a curvature of the spine and terrible back pain sounds great, please ask me again next week, and the week after that, and the week after that!

I refuse to be worked into the ground, lifting heavy boxes hurting myself physically all for NMW. There are plenty of jobs out there paying NMW or more that don't require this, so I don't see why I should risk my health even more to make peanuts.

The area I live in is a new town, full of factories, warehouses etc. It seems the Work Programme only has deals going with the factories and warehouses in the area, the same companies that hire temp and fire a few weeks later because they no longer need you.

Eventually I snapped at my advisor, after many months of sitting listening to her 'bully' me over the same stuff week in week out. I told her how upset her comments were making me and that I applied for every work placement I was prepared and able to do according to my Job Seekers agreement.

She would make sarcastic comments if I hadn't applied for enough jobs in a particular week so I had to explain to her that I can't apply for jobs that require experience in fields I don't have experience in.

Back to today, I now see her once every 2 weeks with my job search results, I'm in and out within 5 minutes. She is still rude now and then and often attempts to get me to attend opening days at factories in the area, even though I've told her numerous times I cannot work in that environment.

Job Centre

The main problem with the Job Centre is that depending on who you see, you get different information.

I had a few run ins there:

I was asked why I wasn't applying for certain jobs listed on the JCP website and I eventually worked out that depending on the postcode and/or town name you entered you will get completely different results, even if the postcode was in the town. I made staff aware of this issue and nothing was done to fix it - I even witnessed other people being talked to like dirt because they weren't applying for certain jobs.

I ended up having an argument with a staff member in a review about whether or not I should be applying for jobs that I wasn't qualified to do. The woman I was seeing at the time was telling me I should be applying for everything, regardless of whether I was qualified or not. Previously I had been told that I should not be applying for jobs I am not qualified to do. After 30 minutes of arguing, the advisor I had previously seen on several occasions walked past, so I grabbed her and asked "Should I be applying for jobs I am not qualified to do?". she replied "no, only apply for jobs you are qualified or have experience in". I then sat back in my chair whilst the 2 staff members argued in front of me.

I had a weekend away with the parents coming up, so I stupidly let the JCP know... something of which I won't bother doing in the future because the forms I had to fill in were ridiculous, asking me whether I'd be willing to travel home if the JCP found a job for me whilst I was away - this form was going to go to a decision maker for them to decide whether I deserved to get my JSA for the weekend I was away.

A few weeks ago I didn't receive my JSA payment, I phoned the head office and waited in a queue for 25 minutes only to get cut off. So I went to my local JCP and asked them to look into it, they told me I would need to phone the head office and that I can use their phones. So I sit there for another 20 minutes in a queue, whilst waiting I asked a member of staff if they could look at my info and see if there's any information on the system as to why I didn't receive my money. An employee approached me 2 minutes later telling me to hang up, there's been a 'mistake' and that they will credit my account right now. I wasn't given any explanation as to why or what had caused this.

Considering how the Job Centre plaster their walls with "Respect" posters you'd think them and the agencies working on their behalf would practice what they preach, my experience has shown different. I've seen people sit there and take **** off the JCP staff and wonder why on earth they don't stand up for themselves.

Kirri

Anyone know if it's mandatory for the WP to have an electronic copy of your CV?

Thought I read as long as you show them your CV that was adequate but was told I will get sanctioned if I don't give them an electronic copy?

donnajunkie

Kirri wrote: »

Anyone know if it's mandatory for the WP to have an electronic copy of your CV?

Thought I read as long as you show them your CV that was adequate but was told I will get sanctioned if I don't give them an electronic copy?

i think if you signed the forms giving them permission to use your info then they can mandate you to supply them with your cv. whether that is definitely the case i dont know. the fact that they have threatened to get you sanctioned isnt evidence of it. i know someone who got threatened with a sanction because he didnt own a phone even though there is no requirement to own a phone to get jsa.
to be honest supplying them with your cv is nothing to worry about compared to some of the things they might do.

Kirri

donnajunkie wrote: »

i think if you signed the forms giving them permission to use your info then they can mandate you to supply them with your cv. whether that is definitely the case i dont know. the fact that they have threatened to get you sanctioned isnt evidence of it. i know someone who got threatened with a sanction because he didnt own a phone even though there is no requirement to own a phone to get jsa.
to be honest supplying them with your cv is nothing to worry about compared to some of the things they might do.

I asked if removing consent affected their supposed right to have my CV and was told it made no difference... (I haven't removed consent so far as I needed them to pay for interview travel the other week).

True, not the worst but I don't like the bullying attitude..

donnajunkie

Kirri wrote: »

I asked if removing consent affected their supposed right to have my CV and was told it made no difference... (I haven't removed consent so far as I needed them to pay for interview travel the other week).

True, not the worst but I don't like the bullying attitude..

there are people more clued up on here than me. so hopefully they will see your post.

AP007

The form you sign only gives them permission to share it with an employer. With no form signed they can not do so.

AP007

Kirri wrote: »

I asked if removing consent affected their supposed right to have my CV and was told it made no difference... (I haven't removed consent so far as I needed them to pay for interview travel the other week).

True, not the worst but I don't like the bullying attitude..

Also you do not need to sign any form to get travel back

wakram1973

To all you good people out there worried about your rights when attending your Work Program meetings please check out the following site; www(dot)consent(dot)me(dot)uk and find the section on 'consent and welfare to work(fare) programmes'. It's all about knowing where you stand........................I'm a new user so can't post links so ( dot) = .

wakram1973

Kirri wrote: »

Anyone know if it's mandatory for the WP to have an electronic copy of your CV?

Thought I read as long as you show them your CV that was adequate but was told I will get sanctioned if I don't give them an electronic copy?

read my post #2921 page 147, the site will give you all your answers