Universal Job Match - mandatory?

Y2Jericho

Answered

jacques_chirac

It is mandatory to use UJM if directed to do so. It is not mandatory to allow your advisor/ the JCP access to your account.

Y2Jericho

jacques_chirac wrote: »

It is mandatory to use UJM if directed to do so. It is not mandatory to allow your advisor/ the JCP access to your account.

Thank you, Jacques. That is interesting to know. It isn't written into my agreement that I need to give them access, so that is a relief at least.

If you can help with anything else of the above then please do

Y2Jericho

Hello again, I've been doing some more reading and I wondered if anyone would be kind enough to point me to an official document that gives the jobseekers rights in using the UJM system?

I have found some very useful info here: (ah, can't post a link). On a site called "scribd" under "universal-jobmatch-your-rights-march-2013".

Where it clearly states what Jacques says above about it being mandatory to sign up by direction, but not needing to allow them access to my account once created if I choose not to. But I'm not sure where this document actually comes from...

Something official would definitely help.

gay_guy

Hello Y2Jericho

As jacques stated it might be mandatory to sign up however it's 100% not mandatory to give DPW/Jobcentre access to you're account.

To make sure you haven't gived DWP/Jobcentre staff access to you're account, Sign in to you're account, on the left top corner you will see profile, click on that and go to the bottom of the page and you will see the following:

I authorise DWP to view my account, including job search activity, feedback and notes

I would like to receive DWP email messages

Make sure both of them boxes are unticked, if you have ticked them already unticked them, that way they don't have access to you're account.

If you give them access then I must warn you that you're JSA Could be sanctioned for any reason.

I haven't give them access yet as Its not mandatory.

Hope this helps.

Y2Jericho

gay_guy wrote: »

Snip

Thank you for the reply. Very much appreciated. Puts my fears to bed I haven't created my account yet, so that's all okay. I'll be sure to untick those boxes though and go from there. It's easy to get pressurized into doing /signing things, so it's good to have the info and hear from others who've kept their details private too.

Here's hoping for a nice new job soon! For us both.

skintmacflint

Y2Jericho wrote: »

Where it clearly states what Jacques says above about it being mandatory to sign up by direction, but not needing to allow them access to my account once created if I choose not to. But I'm not sure where this document actually comes from...

Something official would definitely help.

If you google Universal Jobmatch Toolkit, and take the link to the site whatdotheyknow , there's a DWP reponse to a FOI request on this info Has the document attached in a pdf file which explains the rules and regs to DWP staff in use of UJ with jobseekers.

Sorry can't work out how to post links. Takes me all my time to use the 'quote' button. lol.

slam3000

I know that it's not mandatory to give the JCP advisor access, and so far I haven't. However, I had an appointment with one today, who said that I needed to allow him access. I said I was concerned about data protection issues and he argued that they already have lots of data about claimants, which is true. I then asked if it was mandatory to give them access, which I knew it wasn't, and he said 'I'm not sure. It's the way things are going though, so you need to give it thought.'.

I tried to keep the discussion light, but I did get the impression that he wasn't happy with me at all, and there was a slight suggestion that I could be requested to attend JCP far more frequently than at present - once a fortnight to sign on, and once a fortnight to talk with an advisor. The implication was that he could make things difficult for me if I didn't give them access.

So my question is, are there any ways of responding to the issue of UJM JCP access so that you sound reasonable, other than just saying 'No. It's not mandatory.'?

Ferrybadline

Just so you are aware, if its in your Jobseekers agreement that you'll use UJM it's your responsability to prove when you sign on that you have met this condition of your contract with the DWP. If your advisor as any doubts you could find your benefit sanctioned for a number of weeks.

You don't have to give them access, but you do have to prove you've used it, so probably making things more difficult for yourself in the long run by not giving them access. The other systems they use will contain a hell of a lot more details about you than universal job match will.

Just a heads up :-)

john539

slam3000 wrote: »

So my question is, are there any ways of responding to the issue of UJM JCP access so that you sound reasonable, other than just saying 'No. It's not mandatory.'?

It's your account, it belongs to you, it's optional, that's why there's a tick box.

You don't need to explain or justify further.

slam3000

john539 wrote: »

It's your account, it belongs to you, it's optional, that's why there's a tick box.

You don't need to explain or justify further.

The thing is, he was a bit persistent and asked me a couple of times why I wouldn't allow access, to which I just kept mentioning data protection, even though I don't know if that really applies. I think not giving any justification isn't going to go down well even though, as you rightly point out, access is optional.