After the Work Programme

Bella_b

I've been on a few courses that have been helpful but I explained to my new post wp advisor my situation & he has put me on another course. It's run by a local college.

I did one called Aspire before which was quite good at the same place. I think because it is a college, the staff and course are better run and taught than any training given by the job centre themselves or by the work programme. Also they will help you a lot & are very friendly. The course I'm doing now is good because it has confidence building & mock interviews as well as individual mentoring.

I can also do other selected courses at the college for free because I'm on jsa. I will have to pay a bit for some. It depends on the level because I'm over 25. I'm thinking of doing a course called the European Computer Driving Licence. Employers really like this & is great on your CV! You can do it in your own time & at home if you have Word 2010 ( which you can download a trial). I think it would just be a refresher for me but useful to have.

Maybe there are other local colleges that do this too in your area. Just thought I'd put this out there to help people. You don't have to be referred by the jobcentre to do these courses!

stix62

Bella_b wrote: »

.... I'm thinking of doing a course called the European Computer Driving Licence. Employers really like this & is great on your CV! .............

I don't know who told you that but the ECDL is a worthless qualification. It will do nothing to enhance your CV. If you want something on your CV to show you have computer skills (such as word, access, excel, powerpoint) you'd do a lot better looking for a voluntary role doing a bit of admin,,, which could lead to NVQ's.
Workplace experience, even voluntary, would look so much better.

KevInChester

ECDL is well worth doing. Any qualification that you have asked to do yourself and isn't attached to mandatory training is a good thing to do. It makes you look engaged and as somebody who genuinely wants to improve their skills.

Employers placed a lot of value on those who are actively engaged in continual development.

red_devil

Ex jobcentre staff are coming out and confirming what people are saying about the jobcentre just wanting to stop peoples money thats all they care about. Alot of them now hate the job and thosecwho want to get out cant because they are trapped with mortgages and they know how hard it is to find work. Only the lucky ones or the retiring ones can escape.

Will post link tomorrow from the guardian.

Its time this all came out the system is corrupt, where are the whistleblowing programmes on this matter.

Chester666666

http://welfarenewsservice.com/ex-jobcentre-worker-admits-staff-encouraged-protect-public-purse/
Interesting reading plus one of the comments is from an ex jobcentre staff member who admits for those who choose to set up people to be sanctioned that it is very easy to do so

red_devil

I dont know why nothing is being done about this corrupt system. There is a jobcentre mole on twitter as well .

Chester666666

red_devil wrote: »

I dont know why nothing is being done about this corrupt system. There is a jobcentre mole on twitter as well .

seems like the corruption serves the purpose to wrongly sanction people and get the numbers down by any way possible

donnajunkie

sensibleadvice wrote: »

You're acting like a 2 years old. I know you're not up on personal responsibility but do you really think job seekers need to have their hand held to such an extent they can't take responsibility for job searching for 2 days without support of an advisor?

thats not the point. the point is if its now a 7 day per week business then the service related to it should be a 7 day service. are you an adviser also? your so keen to say to one group that they must have no free time but when they suggest that another group should also not have free time you dont like it.

donnajunkie

sensibleadvice wrote: »

You're quite adept at saying it doesn't say this, it doesn't say that when it suits.

When it DOES say something like 'every' day you're also quite adept at stating what you perceive that doesn't include.

You think it's common sense that even on a 5 day week and after taking account of 8 days statutory holidays, that without allowing a further 70 days for sick and funerals pa you'd perceive it as 'get tough nonsense'.

it says everyday nothing else. i think you may find if a person puts nothing down for a bank holiday or any other day they could very well get sanctioned if their agreement says everyday. would you take that chance? no of course not. so it takes us back to my original point in relation to what if you are ill etc.

donnajunkie

sensibleadvice wrote: »

In which case you'll surely accept that is the case for advisors when they perceive sanction too.

no, as a result of what i said in the post everything should be crystal clear. nothing should be left to interpretation and anyone sanctioning due to opinion is wrong. this is because unfairness can occur.