After the Work Programme

busy_mom_2

Jerry_Mander wrote: »

Perhaps you could help me then with some insider information. I have a dispute running with the Jobcentre that revolves around the targets that advisers are set. I need to know how the DWP are hiding the fact that there are definite targets being set for sanctioning jobseekers.

I know that all JCP advisers have "expectations" which in everyday language are targets but I am unsure how these expectations are monitored and to what extent they can affect an adviser's day to day interaction with a jobseeker. I do know that offloads or off-flows are monitored per adviser but are these the only measure by which an adviser's performance is being monitored?

Rather than go on and tell you what I know perhaps you could expand on what I've said and fill in the gaps for me? This will be a test of whether you're here to really help the downtrodden jobseeker or whether you are here, as I suspect, to promote the party line.

Everything an adviser does is recorded on the sytem, at the end of each day you can print from the system a full list of activities.
This will explain how many customers thay have interviewed, what they refered them to in terms of provision, what jobs they have been issued with and the a'll important referral' to a decision maker. It also shows if actions have been missed, ie if the customers failed to attend, failed to attend a mandatory referral to training was the correct action taken which could result in a sanction. Was a jobseeker directionissued and followed, how many interviews have been booked, cancelled or rearranged, yes big brother!

Offices are measured on performance of all levels, off flow, referrals to provision, youth contract, wage incentives, attendance management and yes sanctions. I see no difference between expectations and targets. As for are they hidden? Yes probably or why else would the figures be of interest to anyone?

I am not saying some advisers are not making inappropriate referrals but there are genuinly people who are not seeking work.
To give an example, I had to see a customer this week who complained he felt he was being picked on for his jobsearch (2 week period) said he had handed a C.V. into superdrug on the high street, I asked him to show me exactly where since superdrug had closed over 6mnths ago. He had filled in an application form for Tesco, asked in a charity shop and looked in bargain pages but not found anything suitable. This is no where near enough to get JSA. This gentleman has been unemployed over 5 years, he lives with his mom, and sees this amount of jobsearch as reasonable. People will jump on my post and say he needs support etc but he has been offered support, this to me is an example of what should be sanctioned.
Anyway, does that answer your questions or you still think Im just a party promoter?

AP007

busy_mom wrote: »

To give an example, I had to see a customer this week who complained he felt he was being picked on for his jobsearch (2 week period) said he had handed a C.V. into superdrug on the high street, I asked him to show me exactly where since superdrug had closed over 6mnths ago. He had filled in an application form for Tesco, asked in a charity shop and looked in bargain pages but not found anything suitable. This is no where near enough to get JSA. This gentleman has been unemployed over 5 years, he lives with his mom, and sees this amount of jobsearch as reasonable. People will jump on my post and say he needs support etc but he has been offered support, this to me is an example of what should be sanctioned.
Anyway, does that answer your questions or you still think Im just a party promoter?

What support has he been offered? Support to look for a job?

Sound like he cant be bothered to look for work at all. Give us others a bad name.

busy_mom_2

AP007 wrote: »

What support has he been offered? Support to look for a job?

Sound like he cant be bothered to look for work at all. Give us others a bad name.

He falls under the youth contract so would have been offered supported jobsearch, supported interviews and applications, work experience, apprentiships and taster apprentiships. sector based work placements and training. 13 week princes trust course. He has completed work programme and now returned so re-eligble for all the first items.

AP007

busy_mom wrote: »

He falls under the youth contract so would have been offered supported jobsearch, supported interviews and applications, work experience, apprentiships and taster apprentiships. sector based work placements and training. 13 week princes trust course. He has completed work programme and now returned so re-eligble for all the first items.

If you aren't a 'youth' you are offered nothing

donnajunkie

busy_mom wrote: »

I am not saying some advisers are not making inappropriate referrals but there are genuinly people who are not seeking work.
To give an example, I had to see a customer this week who complained he felt he was being picked on for his jobsearch (2 week period) said he had handed a C.V. into superdrug on the high street, I asked him to show me exactly where since superdrug had closed over 6mnths ago. He had filled in an application form for Tesco, asked in a charity shop and looked in bargain pages but not found anything suitable. This is no where near enough to get JSA. This gentleman has been unemployed over 5 years, he lives with his mom, and sees this amount of jobsearch as reasonable. People will jump on my post and say he needs support etc but he has been offered support, this to me is an example of what should be sanctioned.
Anyway, does that answer your questions or you still think Im just a party promoter?

surely what matters is did he fulfill his jsa agreement or not. if not perhaps it would be best to inform them they must fulfill their jsa agreement and if they fail to do so again it may lead to a sanction. make a note on the system and give them a chance to put things right before going straight for the sanction.

donnajunkie

AP007 wrote: »

If you aren't a 'youth' you are offered nothing

i'm going to get sent on a careers advice course which will no doubt clash with my voluntary work.

Jerry_Mander

AP007 wrote: »

If you aren't a 'youth' you are offered nothing

Oh I wouldn't say that. You can be offered at last four weeks unpaid labour to line the ever expanding pockets of the providers and their government chums! :mad:

AP007

Jerry_Mander wrote: »

Oh I wouldn't say that. You can be offered at last four weeks unpaid labour to line the ever expanding pockets of the providers and their government chums! :mad:

LOL ah I guess but I haven't been offered anything but lies.

Johnnytwostep

busy_mom wrote: »

I never said i agreed with any of the courses or journey, I never said I agreed with UJ. I in fact hate UJ, I disagree with the WP and obviously time will tell if community action programme will work.

What i do dislike it the way JCP get the blame for the governments failings in dealing with the unemployed. We are paid to deliver a service, we have no say it what we ask of a customer or staff face improvement plans.

What really the MP's need to realise is there really are two different jobseekers those who do and those who do not. JSA should be the last resort but there are some who see it as a choice and those are the ones who need the likes of mandatory work, increase steps and possible sanctions. others need some luck and some moral support. Employers should be forced to interview a percentage of unemployed and forced to take larger numbers of unemployed when recruiting.

I would say there are a lot who just like that fact they can have a choice in not working, and do the very minimum to get there job seekers allowance and all that comes with it

Johnnytwostep

The welfare system plays its malign part, providing perverse incentives for people to remain jobless because benefits can pay as much as a salary, and reinforcing a culture of dependency where thousands of youngsters grow up in households where no one has ever worked.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2399301/LUKE-JOHNSON-Too-young-British-job-seekers-lack-grit-Thats-bosses-end-hiring-foreigners.html#ixzz2e7u8kndL