The Work Programme New Thread

out_of_cash

stix62 wrote: »

The problem is, if that Community Action Programme gets rolled out nationally like its supposed to be doing this year, if you're not in work after 2 years on WP you'll be looking at 30 hours a week of unpaid community work for up to 6 months.!

!!!!!!!

edited: http://www.tuc.org.uk/social/tuc-20842-f0.cfm

They've overlooked one little thing, where are they going to put everyone, it will cost them a fortune in transport costs alone.

They should all be sacked on the basis they are not fit for purpose, that's Tory ministers and WP providers. Real jobs are not there, the ones in line with the cost of living.

Even if the CAP happens, there will so many problems as people will seriously rebel at this.This was first designed for prisoners, however, this is how the Tory party look upon the unemployed.

EndlessFacepalm

I'm currently on Jobseekers Allowance, having done the Work Experience Placement and Mandatory Work Activity among lots of other things as well as doing a full and thorough job search every day for the last ten months. I've been informed that I now have about six weeks left until I'm forced onto the Work Programme. I've been searching online for a practical, clear analysis of what I can expect from the programme (the letter tells me absolutely nothing except that it lasts two years and I'll be sanctioned if I don't obey, also that G4S is probably going to be the company in charge of it which doesn't exactly fill me with confidence) and to be honest, even reading this thread, I still haven't got a clue what this all translates to as I'm getting so many mixed messages. Some people are reporting that all you do is attend a few meetings at the Job Centre while waiting for them to arrange new ones at irregular intervals, while others are saying it leads to six months full-time unpaid work with no chance of paid employment at the end of it. I have no idea what to expect as everyone's experiences seem to vary so wildly. I almost feel like I'd be better off if I just signed off for a few weeks and started again down the road. It doesn't help that I can't find anything from the DWP page that outlines what happens on the programme, instead simply saying "it works" etc.

I'm really struggling and pretty damn worried as to what I'm in store for.

Honeypie

Each provider and each office within that can deliver the work programme any which was they choose, hence the mix of information you'll receive.

What you can expect is to attend regular interviews with an advisor - they may even conduct these over the phone. They will create an action plan for you and you will be expected to work towards/complete each action point - this can vary from updating your CV, attending some key skills training to apply for jobs.

Depending how long you'e been claiming for, signing off and back on won't necessarily help. Once you signed back on, they'd calculate your previous claims and you'd be referred to the work programme within the time frame you were due to go on before you signed off. Does that make sense?

The old new deal would send you to a provider, who would place you with an employer for the duration to update your skills and gain work experience.

All I can recommend is that people take advantage of what they can from the work programme - whether that be meeting new people, updating your CV, taking advantage of the job search facilities or getting a placement with an employer.

AP007

Honeypie wrote: »

All I can recommend is that people take advantage of what they can from the work programme - whether that be meeting new people, updating your CV, taking advantage of the job search facilities or getting a placement with an employer.

There is nothing to take advantage off!

They have not made me update my CV as they said it was good and didn't need re doing.

My advisor has been alive less years than I have been working! lol

Mine also do not do placements with employers not do they have jobs to put people forward for.

Honeypie

AP007 wrote: »

There is nothing to take advantage off!

They have not made me update my CV as they said it was good and didn't need re doing.

My advisor has been alive less years than I have been working! lol

Mine also do not do placements with employers not do they have jobs to put people forward for.

There are no jobs? Really?

AP007

Honeypie wrote: »

There are no jobs? Really?

My provider have NO jobs to put people forward for at all, really!!

Or when I have asked about jobs they say there are none or when I have provided them with non stop lists of companies they would be contacting them like they have promised to do, but don't.

They have not put my CV forward for anything at all.

Honeypie

AP007 wrote: »

My provider have NO jobs to put people forward for at all, really!!

Or when I have asked about jobs they say there are none or when I have provided them with non stop lists of companies they would be contacting them like they have promised to do, but don't.

They have not put my CV forward for anything at all.

I see.

Have you put your CV forward to these companies? I would, if I was you. Don't wait for them to do it.

Good luck!

AP007

Honeypie wrote: »

I see.

Have you put your CV forward to these companies? I would, if I was you. Don't wait for them to do it.

Good luck!

Send my CV for what? They are no jobs advertised at thesecompanies. They told me they can call them and get my interviewsobviously for jobs that do not exist. LOL. They say they will call andwill NOT mention I am not working and that’s how you get an interview!

I did a list of 23 companies a year ago and they sat on the list for10 weeks by which time I had already contacted the people on the list and nonehad jobs and was put on ‘file’ by 4. When the provider did call they didn’t even have my CV in front of themwhen they called the 1st one on the list so when they contacted meto tell me they had called the 1st one I said ‘yes so they haveaccounts jobs’ and they reply was ‘oh we didn’t know you wanted to work inaccounts, do you have experience’!!!!!

The list is companies that I have already applied to over the time I havebeen out of work or some that I have already contacted. When you have been out of work a while I havedone many many many speculative letters and CVS so running out of known companiesto contact etc

Honeypie

AP007 wrote: »

Send my CV for what? They are no jobs advertised at thesecompanies. They told me they can call them and get my interviewsobviously for jobs that do not exist. LOL. They say they will call andwill NOT mention I am not working and that’s how you get an interview!

I did a list of 23 companies a year ago and they sat on the list for10 weeks by which time I had already contacted the people on the list and nonehad jobs and was put on ‘file’ by 4. When the provider did call they didn’t even have my CV in front of themwhen they called the 1st one on the list so when they contacted meto tell me they had called the 1st one I said ‘yes so they haveaccounts jobs’ and they reply was ‘oh we didn’t know you wanted to work inaccounts, do you have experience’!!!!!

The list is companies that I have already applied to over the time I havebeen out of work or some that I have already contacted. When you have been out of work a while I havedone many many many speculative letters and CVS so running out of known companiesto contact etc

I'm sorry you're not having any luck.

Have you thought about getting an assessors award and getting into assessing? If you have lots of experience is a particular sector, you could pass on your knowledge and help someone else?

AP007

Honeypie wrote: »

I'm sorry you're not having any luck.

Have you thought about getting an assessors award and getting into assessing? If you have lots of experience is a particular sector, you could pass on your knowledge and help someone else?

Assessing? Do you work for the WP? LOL

I was told we could all train to be an NVQ assessor but if it was that easy we could all do it and still you have to APPLY for a job once trained and since I have no experience in being an NVQ assessor that may be hard - like its a easy way out but it's not at all.

I do not even understand what the job is to be fair but still you have to get one first no matter what you are trained in.