Work Programme - appealling eligibilty?

ilikewatch

Hello all, am posting this on behalf of a friend to see if anyone has any experience or info to help him.

My friend was made redundant from a very well paid and specialised role in December after 10 years with the company, at the same time 2 of his colleagues in the same role were also made redundant.

My friend didn't sign on immediately as he had no financial need to, though his 2 colleagues immediately claimed JSA. My friend decided at the beginning of March to make a claim to JSA as he had decided that getting a job in his previous industry was unlikely in the current climate and he felt he might benefit from help from the Jobcentre if he was starting to look for work in a new sector.

A couple of weeks ago my friend met up with his 2 ex colleagues, both of them were over the moon as they had been referred to the Work Programme, both of them almost immediately got a chance to do some work experience with a local firm in a different sector (but which uses a lot of the skills learned in their previous role), and following a short period of work experience both had been offered a permanent job, with better pay, conditions and prospects than the previous role.

My friend was immediately excited about this, and hopeful that he could follow the same path. Unfortunately he has run into a brick wall, his Jobcentre advisor has told him that he cannot be referred to the Work Programme at the moment, and it may be almost a year before he is eligible! He has questioned this with the manager of the Jobcentre who confirmed this, and stated that he would not be able/willing to excercise any discretion in this matter as my friend is "work ready" and the Work Programme is being used to help those "furthest removed from the labour market".

My friend has also contacted the company who hired his 2 colleagues, they are looking for someone else, and after a lengthy meeting have told him that he sounds ideal for the role. Unfortunately they have also told him that they will only employ people referred to them by the Work Programme provider who referred his colleagues, and they will not make any exceptions to this - basically, he has been told that as long as he can get on the Work Programme, get referred to the employer and satisfactorily complete a couple of weeks work experience, then he's got the job.

Does anyone have any ideas how he can appeal the decision not to allow him the opportunity to take part in the Work Programme, or have the original decision re-examined?

just_trying

I would say your friend has no chance of being put on the work programme. The work programme is for the long term unemployed normally those who have been unemployed for a year. Don't understand why the employer is saying he has a vacancy but will only give it to someone refered to him through the work programme.

dave030445

ilikewatch wrote: »

Hello all, am posting this on behalf of a friend to see if anyone has any experience or info to help him.

My friend was made redundant from a very well paid and specialised role in December after 10 years with the company, at the same time 2 of his colleagues in the same role were also made redundant.

My friend didn't sign on immediately as he had no financial need to, though his 2 colleagues immediately claimed JSA. My friend decided at the beginning of March to make a claim to JSA as he had decided that getting a job in his previous industry was unlikely in the current climate and he felt he might benefit from help from the Jobcentre if he was starting to look for work in a new sector.

A couple of weeks ago my friend met up with his 2 ex colleagues, both of them were over the moon as they had been referred to the Work Programme, both of them almost immediately got a chance to do some work experience with a local firm in a different sector (but which uses a lot of the skills learned in their previous role), and following a short period of work experience both had been offered a permanent job, with better pay, conditions and prospects than the previous role.

My friend was immediately excited about this, and hopeful that he could follow the same path. Unfortunately he has run into a brick wall, his Jobcentre advisor has told him that he cannot be referred to the Work Programme at the moment, and it may be almost a year before he is eligible! He has questioned this with the manager of the Jobcentre who confirmed this, and stated that he would not be able/willing to excercise any discretion in this matter as my friend is "work ready" and the Work Programme is being used to help those "furthest removed from the labour market".

My friend has also contacted the company who hired his 2 colleagues, they are looking for someone else, and after a lengthy meeting have told him that he sounds ideal for the role. Unfortunately they have also told him that they will only employ people referred to them by the Work Programme provider who referred his colleagues, and they will not make any exceptions to this - basically, he has been told that as long as he can get on the Work Programme, get referred to the employer and satisfactorily complete a couple of weeks work experience, then he's got the job.

Does anyone have any ideas how he can appeal the decision not to allow him the opportunity to take part in the Work Programme, or have the original decision re-examined?

That is disgusting that is what is wrong with this country. Here is a person who whats a job being held back by the job center. Why can't they let he on it just because he has not been signing on for a year. Cant he get the company to get in contact with these Wally's at the job center to explain that they would offer him a job if he went on the work program.
And I thought they were trying to get people of JSA.

ilikewatch

just_trying wrote: »

Don't understand why the employer is saying he has a vacancy but will only give it to someone refered to him through the work programme.

The employer said that they have been so impressed with the quality of staff referred from the Work Programme provider that they have committed to an agreement to source staff exclusively from them.

I must admit that the whole thing has surprised me - my friend is a highly skilled avionics engineer, and would expect a salary approaching 6 figures. I'm amazed that the employer (a defence contractor) would restrict themselves to only employing staff via a Welfare to Work provider as I would have thought the number of suitably skilled Work Programme participants would be minimal, however it seems to be working for them!

just_trying

I do feel sorry for your friend, he has been told he has a great chance of a job but he can't even be put forward to the work programme because he hasn't been unemployed long enough. The only thing he could do is ask his advisor when he is likely to be put forward to the work programme as his friends weren't unemployed for long before they must have been put to the work programme. Tell him to keep on at his advisor. As for your comment about suitably skilled work programme participants please remember over the last couple of years alot of people from different back grounds and with different skills have become unemployed and most of them are seeking employment also.

FBaby

I feel for your friend, it must be extremely frustrating, however, this exemple shows that there is some good that can come out of the job centre for those who are committed to make it successful. JSA is not purely about claiming the £60 odd a month, it is also about work opportunities. Many will say that this is a rarity, maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Your friend unfortunately is now paying for his decision not to deal with them from the start.

exprog

I'd say this 'friend' is an arrogant imbecile. He didn't want to go through the system but now demands special treatment to benefit from it. Happily, there is no way he can or will be allowed to queue jump.

If it is true that a company has committed to employing people from the Work Programme then it should be applauded. The main reason the long-term unemployed don't have jobs is because idiot employers will not employ people who are unemployed. Britain needs a lot more employers copying the example of this company.

Elvisia

Just a thought, are they definitely only able to take people from the WP, I would have thought they wouldn't have a written agreement with them to only take staff from there? It seems a bit weird, are you sure they weren't using that as an excuse? Normally you go on the WP after a year, so I am a bit surprised the others got on there so soon. The WP provider gets money per person who is referred to them, I think someone on here said they get £400 for every person who turns up at the initial meeting (I may well be wrong on that, but they are paid a lot for people going to them and getting into work) so it would be in the JC's interest to not send someone there who is going to immediately get into work as they'll pay for it. I was told the WP provider would love me as I would be quick to get into work and they'd get their bonus.

Either way at the end of the day the JC is still jumping through it's own hoops, and sometimes there is no rhyme or reason as to why they do what they do.

ilikewatch

Have just spoken to my friend and it looks as if the employer/provider may have found a way round the issue.

Apparently initially the provider was unable/unwilling to spend a great deal of time helping my friend because the terms of the funding that they receive from DWP/European Social Fund prevent them from assisting anyone who isn't eligible for Work Programme, however, the provider in question is a large organisation and has referred my friend to a different (non Welfare to Work) department within their business who have agreed to negotiate with the employer to set up a period of work experience which will hopefully lead to the job which has been discussed.

Apparently the reason that my friends 2 colleagues were able to access Work programme earlier was partially due to the fact that they had been signing on for 3 months, and partially due to the fact that at the time they were referred Work Programme, local referrals were below target and so advisors were allowed to use their discretion to refer people who were likely to benefit from the provision but wouldn't normally be eligible.

loony2012

just_trying wrote: »

I would say your friend has no chance of being put on the work programme. The work programme is for the long term unemployed normally those who have been unemployed for a year. Don't understand why the employer is saying he has a vacancy but will only give it to someone refered to him through the work programme.

There will be something in it for his employer. I am on the "Useless" work programme. Quite a few times i have been down and they have offered employers large sums of cash for taking people on