The work program

NubbyNub

Hi everyone, I hope someone here can give me some useful advice. I have been unemployed for 16 months due to me suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. I had always lived with this but it got so severe that I needed professional help and after a spell of cognitive therapy I feel ready to work again, and face the world.

The problem I am having is finding employment as many employers seem to not like that I've been out of work for so long. I was referred to the work program 4 months ago, this made me feel really optimistic as I was assured they would help me. Anyway all that they do is get me to do an action plan which really isn't anything other than saying I am going to look for a job and hand out more CV's which I already do. I have applied for 347 jobs since June and had 15 interviews, all of which were unsuccessful but I have really tried. My problem is lack of experience, all I need is a chance. I'm great with computers and fixing electrical item, all of which I taught myself. I can write javascript and have even created an app.

With the work program though they do nothing for me, my skill set got me a training placement for 2 weeks at a charity shop which has not helped me at all. I applied for loads of customer service jobs and my charity shop experience is nothing.

So is there anything I can do to make the provider actually help me? After all it is their job. When I say make them I mean a rule in the guidelines or something with clout to really wake them up!

dandelionclock30

If I were you I would be looking for meaningfull voluntary work myself and get myself on a PT college course of some description.You could do computing if your good a that.Then at least you will have upto date experience for employers.
Places like Mind are worth a try as they have a variety of different things going on. Do that as well as jobsearching and your in a better position to help yourself.
The provider wont help you as they are a scam just to get government money for themselves.

NubbyNub

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

If I were you I would be looking for meaningfull voluntary work myself and get myself on a PT college course of some description.You could do computing if your good a that.Then at least you will have upto date experience for employers.
Places like Mind are worth a try as they have a variety of different things going on. Do that as well as jobsearching and your in a better position to help yourself.

The only voluntary work the provider does is charity shops, I guess that is the easy fix right? I have been begging them to help me get on a college course but they do not even acknowledge my request. My only option is to find a job and pay for a PT course which I am more than happy to do. I'm just stuck in a rut with nobody to help me take the first step to start climbing out. The work program provider must be able to do more?

dandelionclock30

You can sort out voluntary work and PT college courses yourself, you dont need the provider. Your local voluntary action will have information or http://www.do-it.org.uk/.
You have to grasp the nettle yourself,Im afraid.
Go to your local community college and see what they are offering for people. You will get on something and it will either be free or minimum cost because you are in receipt of JSA.

AP007

OP no there is nothing you can do to make them help you. I recently completed the 2 years on the WP and all I did was attend for a 'review' once a month which ended up being done before they called me over to their desk and I signed it and then went home.

They lied to me when I started telling me they act like an agency and get jobs in from Romford to Reading and then match up peoples CV's but they didn't do any of that. In stead when I asked them to prove what they have done to help me they just produced a list of some jobs to apply for online all of which I had applied for.

The WP is a failure and you are better off looking for help elsewhere as suggested.

wwtrend

Ever considered going into business for yourself? There are free courses available from Start Up Britain, grants if you are under 25. Look up the Start Up Britain website and Enterprise Nation websites. There are lots of events going on around the country which are free or low cost which you can find on the eventbrite website. Depression is a very debilitating illness but if you are working for yourself in something you enjoy if you have a bad day you don't have the additional anxiety of losing your job, not getting in on time and generally have more control on your own life. You seem like a determined person so take a look can't hurt might help!

Chester666666

There's courses also from your local learndirect which may or may not be of use

red_devil

What would be a good alternative to the wp.

john539

NubbyNub wrote: »

Hi everyone, I hope someone here can give me some useful advice. I have been unemployed for 16 months due to me suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. I had always lived with this but it got so severe that I needed professional help and after a spell of cognitive therapy I feel ready to work again, and face the world.

The problem I am having is finding employment as many employers seem to not like that I've been out of work for so long. I was referred to the work program 4 months ago, this made me feel really optimistic as I was assured they would help me. Anyway all that they do is get me to do an action plan which really isn't anything other than saying I am going to look for a job and hand out more CV's which I already do. I have applied for 347 jobs since June and had 15 interviews, all of which were unsuccessful but I have really tried. My problem is lack of experience, all I need is a chance. I'm great with computers and fixing electrical item, all of which I taught myself. I can write javascript and have even created an app.

With the work program though they do nothing for me, my skill set got me a training placement for 2 weeks at a charity shop which has not helped me at all. I applied for loads of customer service jobs and my charity shop experience is nothing.

So is there anything I can do to make the provider actually help me? After all it is their job. When I say make them I mean a rule in the guidelines or something with clout to really wake them up!

What is your WP advisor like, how do they treat you, what do they say, what is their attitude like ?

What was the purpose of the training placement at charity shop, who decided that, how was it explained ?

What is going on in the office to other people, can you tell ?