Job Centre complaints procedure.

barryov

Hi. I have just returned to this post and i would like to thank everyone for there input. I guess the length of the post was confusing to some people who appeared to miss the point of my complaint. I can totally understand why! On an almost daily basis my brother will receive a letter or a phone call from the job centre. If he is the only one present then he will answer, the job centre will ask him to write down the address he needs to go to... He cant! they send him a letter in the post and say if there are problems get in touch... he cant! One he cant read 90% of the letter the other his speech defect means he cant phone either as they will have no idea of what he is talking about. He as been going to the same job centre for 23 years, and i find it impossible to believe that in all that time no one there has raised the issue. It is either incompetence or apathy which ever it is not good enough. The problem is, outwardly he looks physically healthy, but inside he has died long ago. He is off the scale as far as depression goes, but unless a doctor picks up on it he cant go and explain himself. It is a never ending circle that can not be broken, basically because no one gives a dam and he knows it. As his brother it breaks my heart to see such a broken man, but i can not see a change for the better, and he is resigned to his life now. Thank you for every ones contribution, it is much appreciated.

TELLIT01

I think you (your brother) can request that all communication be made in writing citing his speech and other problems as justification. At least then other family members may be able to assist.
My brother had similar problems, although nothing like as severe, because he also looked and acted 'normal' but had great difficulty assimilating information following severe head injuries in a car crash. He also didn't like to admit that he didn't understand what was required of him and would leave after an appointment without the slightest idea what had happened.
Sadly, he has no need to deal with the JC any more.

jobbingmusician

i_want_to_believe wrote: »

If he is geting little or no help from the JCP he may want to consider asking the DEA at the Job Centre to refer him to Work Choice
https://www.gov.uk/work-choice/overview

This is great advice, but sort of misses out a step.

DEA stands for Disability Employment Adviser, and this is your first step. Ask for your brother to be referred to one of these - he should be working with a DEA and not with a regular jobcentre adviser!

Also, barryov, what people are finding difficult is not the length of your (very good) post, it's the fact that you don't press return a couple of times after every few sentences. If you break up the text like this reply and most of the others, it is much easier for people to read.

(None of this reply is designed to stop you complaining about the JC, by the way. Sounds as if they are behaving appallingly!)

TELLIT01

DEA's are like hen's teeth these days. All advisors are supposed to be multiskilled which really translates as having no specialist knowledge of any area!

busy_mom_2

The DEA role is going as TELLIT01 has said advisers are supposed to be all singing all dancing.

Please bear in mind the pressure of staff to get people off benefit regardless of which one they are claiming. This will get worse with the new governement in force.

My advice is try to go to your brothers next adviser meeting, not signing slot ask for a meeting with his adviser, go along with your brother and let them tell you what they are told they must expect from your brother.
See hwat steps are agreed on claimant commitment and if they arent achiveable ask for it to be reviwed.

This governement do not accept cant or unable only wont or unwilling!

Welfare rights also a good call.