The Work Programme New Thread

looby75

I'm back at the WP tomorrow. I got a phone call from them last week but I was out looking after my terminally ill mother in law so they left a message asking me to call back. I did the next day but the person I was supposed to speak to wasn't at my "local" branch and I was given another number to call.

When I called I was told he was in a group session and that they would get him to call me back when he was finished, I explained about my MIL and told them that I wouldn't be at home but they could contact me on my mobile (which is how they usually contact me anyway) and gave them my number again jic. I'm still waiting for the call.

I'm due to go and see them tomorrow and I'm dreading it. I know they are going to try and blame me for all the "missed" appointments, ie the ones I was never notified about and for not being at home when they called. They have 2 phone numbers and 2 email addresses for me so if they really really wanted to get in touch they have plenty of options.

I could really do without this right now, My own health isn't getting any better, I'm having repeated panic attacks on a daily basis, I'm changing medication, I'm having high intensity CBT and helping care for my MIL who has had a dramatic downturn in the last couple of weeks. It's got to the point that she now has a hospital bed and oxygen machine at home as well as nurses coming in daily to check her. I've had to arrange for my daughter to go round first thing in the morning to help get her out of bed, help her use the commode etc because I have to be at the WP first thing in the morning. It's a bloody nightmare to get to since they moved offices and it will take me about 3 hours to get there, have the appointment and then get back

I wouldn't mind if they did anything to help but as we all know they do sod all anyway.

donnajunkie

AP007 wrote: »

So they failed the 1st time and will do again. There is only one provider and not even in the borough

there must be another provider that they send people to from where you live because i am sure they made a point of having 2 providers per area. you may not consider it to be in your area but that doesnt mean they think the same way.
and yes they will continue to fail. there are people who have been out of work for many years and have been sent on these things many times with no joy.

AP007

donnajunkie wrote: »

there must be another provider that they send people to from where you live because i am sure they made a point of having 2 providers per area. you may not consider it to be in your area but that doesnt mean they think the same way.
and yes they will continue to fail. there are people who have been out of work for many years and have been sent on these things many times with no joy.

there was not one where I live when the WP started that's why I go a 14 mile round trip by bus to get to it

That office is the only one in the area and the next one to it would mean I have to get 4 buses.

There may well be a new provider where I live but I have no idea.

donnajunkie

xsupercarlx wrote: »

Yeah but peanuts multiplied by a high number equates to lots of peanuts.

I'm not sure how it will work when you return, I'm guessing they are going to be tougher in terms of requiring you to attend multiple times each week, we are all in the dark on that, but you may just end up being with another provider if that's possible.

But lets not jump the gun, hopefully you'll find something during the 6 months with the JC.

i cant see them having people attend more often when they return to the wp. they simply dont have the capacity.

donnajunkie

AP007 wrote: »

there was not one where I live when the WP started that's why I go a 14 mile round trip by bus to get to it

That office is the only one in the area and the next one to it would mean I have to get 4 buses.

There may well be a new provider where I live but I have no idea.

thats quite surprising. mine is a 20 minute walk away and the other is a 15 minute bus ride away.

AP007

donnajunkie wrote: »

thats quite surprising. mine is a 20 minute walk away and the other is a 15 minute bus ride away.

Surprising that I do a 14 mile round trip? LOL

Takes about 1 hour on a good day to get there so its a time wasting exersize for sure

looby75

well as predicted the appointment was a total waste of time. The person I was supposed to see has left (again, it happens just about every other appointment I actually receive) so someone else took his appointments as a group session.

The one person was totally confused as to why he had been sent for as he's a carer for his ill partner and had no idea at all why he was sent to the WP, he was sent home.

I explained that I am claiming ESA because of my health problems and I'm currently helping care for my MIL and it's looking increasingly likely I'll become her official carer soon as she can no longer be left alone and I'm spending most days at her house looking after her now (which is so hard, but thats a whole new other thread) so after a bit of waffle and double speak I was sent home. So rather than the 3 hours I thought I would be away I was only away for 2.5 hours :cool:

Apparently I'll be getting a one on one appointment with a new "permanent" adviser that will be able to give me any help I need. That will be about the 9th permanent adviser I've had now :rotfl:

Druagh

donnajunkie wrote: »

i dont think its a case of them now saying the jobcentre is the best place for people. its just a case of them wanting to keep hassling people. after the 6 months you will get refered onto the wp again.

Is this new information donnajunkie or just supposition?

As far as I know, nothing has been said about re-referral to the WP. In fact, I specifically asked what 'markers' (e.g. 1 year or 6 months) were to be set for re-referral and, so far, we have been told none.

I assume, the present incumbents do not want to be seen to be going back to the Jobcentre/New Deal merry-go-round that the last lot ended up with. At least not until after the election.

D

john539

looby75 wrote: »

Apparently I'll be getting a one on one appointment with a new "permanent" adviser that will be able to give me any help I need. That will be about the 9th permanent adviser I've had now :rotfl:

& round & round it all goes on the merry go round.

AP007

I am on my 11th and still not seen the one I was meant to way back in Nov when my last REAL advisor left