Work Programme Provider

Claire_MUFC

I'm on the Work Programme, and a few weeks ago got changed to a new advisor. At first I was unhappy and didn't really want to change as I was happy with my old advisor, but having met my new advisor she seems alright.

The problem I've got one of the regional managers came back to me saying the reason I was getting changed to someone different was 'inappropriate behaviour'. Turns out that wasn't the reason at all, and this regional had blown it all completely out of proportion.

I ended up dead upset at the way he had worded it, and ended up getting an apology from the prime provider customer service manager to say that it should never have got that far, and they were sorry at what this regional manager had said.

Now I am completely fine with this new advisor as I say, she seems nice enough.

My problem is that going in to my Work Programme place is dead awkward for me now. I feel like I have to go in there and this old advisor and pretend he isn't there. It's only small, so not like I can avoid seeing him around the place.

Like the other day I was in reception, had a rather nice chat with some of the others that work in there - I used to work there myself last year. Old advisor comes over to reception area, and I wanted to say hello out of politeness, and let him know that one of the jobs I applied for with him had offered me an interview - good news and all that. But I just stood there proper awkward, completely trying to act as if I didn't know he was there.

Branch manager has said alls they have agreed is that he's not my advisor anymore, not that I can't speak to him.

Sounds daft all this I know. But I have a major lack of confidence, hated going in there in the first place to ask anyone for help, this just makes me hate going in there even more. Feel like I have to be dead careful who I speak to and what I say now.

SaveMeDo

You don't have to be careful, he has to be careful.

If you don't want to get him in trouble, slip him your number and ask him for a date.

You don't have to talk to him at his work place then.

BillyB

Inappropriate behaviour on your part or the advisors?

Who?_me?

Unless you / he has a restraining order, not speaking / acknowledgeing them is really rather un proffessional. We clearly don't have all the facts here, but it costs nothing and does no harm to smile and say hi. A quick "oh, just wanted to let you know that I have got an interview for X, thanks for the help" and a smile will go someway. They probably feel pretty embarrased / awquard too!We all come across people in life we don't like or have past history with, but we just have to get on with it.

Claire_MUFC

The inappropriate behaviour was on no-one's part. That was what the regional manager had come back and said.

But after a meeting with the branch manager and the new advisor, I found out that was not the reason at all. It got miscommunicated to this regional manager.

The reason my old advisor suggested changing me to this new person apparently is because he feels she can help more with the confidence/interview side of things.

So seems there's no problems with anyone on the branch. Just what the regional manager said the issue was makes me feel awkward.

Who?_me?

Well, thats all good news then! Pleased for you and nice that your previous adviser had the sense to swop you to someone who can help you with other things. Personally, my adviser just lets me get on with things and prevents me from going through irrelevent muppetry. Problem is that a lot of the issues with the work program are based on miss communications that are causing stresses and things.
Really pleased all has turned out Ok for you and good luck with the interview.

Claire_MUFC

The branch manager actually said to me, alls we have agreed is that your old advisor won't be your advisor anymore, not that you can't speak to him.

She wouldn't have said that if there were any problems would she really ?

Dogger69

It is not that you can't speak to him, but rather you don't need to speak to him anymore. He is there to work with his clients, you are there to work with your adviser. No reason for any difficulty between you, but there's not really a reason to speak to him anymore?

If it was me I would acknowledge him if I saw him, but I wouldn't try to make conversation. Tell you new adviser your news instead, it will give you something to build your relationship on.

Claire_MUFC

Oh yeah, I'm not meaning I'd start chatting if he had people with him.

But having worked there last year, I get on with them all. So naturally when I see people about or if they aren't busy I'll say hello out of politness and stuff.

But I feel dead uncomfortable going in there now after the regional manager worded it as 'inappropriate behaviour', when people in the branch said it was nothing like that at all.

Go in now feeling like I've done something awfully wrong, even though the branch manager said I haven't.