After the Work Programme

Who?_me?

As so many have said, it's all about mindset and capablility to work. People who are unemployed are depressed / have mental health issues. Courses need to be in communication skills, team work, confidence and self belief. How can you submit a job application when you have no confidence in yourself? You may get to interview, but if you don't show any enthusiausm because you have been knocked back so many times, you will miss out again. It is all about positive mental attitude, but thats hard to achieve at times.
Funding also needs to be for more than a L2 qualification.

sensibleadvice

KevInChester wrote: »

I actually found my own opportunities for development - Job Centre wanted to send me on a 'Food hygeine' course after I kept on at them for training opportunities. I ended up doing the much more valuable PTLLS course instead.

I enrolled on Literacy/Numeracy 2.

I enrolled on a Supporting Teaching and Learning 2 course and partook in work experience supporting children at a local school.

Also took and completed several qualifications with regards to safeguarding, equality and diversity.

I helped people out at the work programme, the ones that were left to their own devices to 'jobsearch' without having the requisite computer skills to even use a web browser. I supported these people and helped them to learn about computers. The galling thing was the regular staff who were paid to do this were often too busy chatting about holidays they were planning rather than doing any semblance of work.

I also managed to obtain work over the Xmas period.

I didn't need the job centre or the work programme to source these opportunities, I did it all by myself. Thankfully it paid off as I am now working in the education sector.

So I do agree with you somewhat re: mindset, but sometimes what is needed is help rather than repeatedly being made to feel worthless. A positive mindset is definitely important.

Sounds like you took control of your job search rather than leave it in the hands of others which is kinda my point. You found your own training and sound positive in what you've done which resulted in finding work.

AP007

Who?_me? wrote: »

As so many have said, it's all about mindset and capablility to work. People who are unemployed are depressed / have mental health issues. Courses need to be in communication skills, team work, confidence and self belief. How can you submit a job application when you have no confidence in yourself? You may get to interview, but if you don't show any enthusiausm because you have been knocked back so many times, you will miss out again. It is all about positive mental attitude, but thats hard to achieve at times.
Funding also needs to be for more than a L2 qualification.

Not all unemployed are depressed or have mental health issues. That's really not a nice thing to assume.

What's an L2 qualification?

KevInChester

I think the pertinent part is the confidence issue, being long term unemployed does take a toll on all of those who actually want to find work.

An L2 qualification is a level 2 qualification, ie NVQ2. An NVQ2 is funded if it is the first of that level (and the client has no higher qualifications):

Your first full level 2 qualification or equivalent which means you don’t already have any of the following qualifications:

• 5 GCSEs Grade A - C

• EdExcel or BTEC First Diploma

• 5 O Levels

• OCR/RSA Diploma

• 2 AS Levels/1 A Level

• GNVQ Intermediate

• 5 CSEs Grade 1

• City and Guilds Part 2 Qualification

• NVQ Level 2

I managed to secure a PTLLS 3/4 qualification for free - 5 days in class, on the 4th day you are expected to teach a class for 30-45 minutes. I would definitely recommend it as it lends itself well to transferable skills. Local colleges may offer it for free.

AP007

KevInChester wrote: »

I think the pertinent part is the confidence issue, being long term unemployed does take a toll on all of those who actually want to find work.

An L2 qualification is a level 2 qualification, ie NVQ2. An NVQ2 is funded if it is the first of that level (and the client has no higher qualification).

I managed to secure a PTLLS 3/4 qualification for free - 5 days in class, on the 4th day you are expected to teach a class for 30-45 minutes. I would definitely recommend it as it lends itself well to transferable skills. Local colleges may offer it for free.

I would imagine the L2 whatever it may be has not much use to people with 6 O Levels all grade A and 6 CSES grade 1's.

KevInChester

They can be helpful, they are more recent and often in more specialised subjects rather than general ones. Also shows you believe in continual professional development which employers place great importance on.

red_devil

People who are looking for work already feel rejected etc, then the jc want to further kick them by taking away money. It does not help people into work.

AP007

KevInChester wrote: »

They can be helpful, they are more recent and often in more specialised subjects rather than general ones. Also shows you believe in continual professional development which employers place great importance on.

They aren't worth more than an AAT I bet

KevInChester

They aren't, but it's not about them being 'worth more'. It is about having something that you never had before. You may not even qualify as they may take the AAT into account - however could be worth a go.

An employer will deem it to be a good thing.

AP007

KevInChester wrote: »

They aren't, but it's not about them being 'worth more'. It is about having something that you never had before. You may not even qualify as they may take the AAT into account - however could be worth a go.

An employer will deem it to be a good thing.

I have been spoken to in a group about L1/L2 at Learn Direct (via the JC) and I don't qualify as I have O Levels and CSES and A Levels and AAT level 3.

Oh yes this was only offered in Maths and English - to suggest we are all thick and have no qualifications.