Advice needed regarding Mandatory work experience

Andrea2528

Tygermoth wrote: »

You may not be using it as an excuse to move forward... but you are not moving forward regardless.

Please reread Sangies post - he has clearly explained your issue. JSA/VOL work and why you will end up in a bigger mess if YOU dont take some control of this issue.

Speak to mental health advocates, ring schemes and services - get help either to be reviewed in ESA or to find suitable work that matches the JSA requirements or you will end up sanctioned.

You think that I haven't tried doing all of that? It sounds as though you think I've been doing nothing to try and get out of this situation.

Andrea2528

Flyonthewall wrote: »

None of us were there to know the exact conversation, the tone in which it was said, his body language or expectations previously.

So it's either:
1. He forgot the previous conversation.
2. He remembered, but is being told to push MWA and is doing so.
3. He may have said start and given you a start point, but he still expected you to do more. (Proof of applications to volunteer positions maybe. Date of interview/meeting with a volunteer place. A list of places you'd contacted and sites you'd used. Not just that you rang the place he told you about twice.)

I suspect it's likely to be a case of 2 and 3, but possibly also not remembering specifics of the previous meting with him.

Did you give him details on the suitable position found or just say they said they found something?

If you don't want him to put you on MWA next time then give him more details on the volunteering.

Even if the place say they've found somewhere go on the site I linked you to, apply for stuff, print screen applications and print them off along with any emails

Go on job sites and search volunteer positions and write down each site you've checked and when you've checked (check it numerous times).

See if there are any other organisations near you that help people find volunteer work. Contact them. If by email print that off to show. If by phone write down their contact details and when you phoned and what they said.

You haven't said exactly what's happening with the suitable position found. If unsure/you don't know contact them again to find out. Arrange a meeting or start day. Then write down when you contacted them and what was said.

If it is number 3 then you should know because he's less likely to push MWA with proof you're doing something. If it's not then it's probably 2, but at least you're still doing something to try and help yourself. You never know what you may find. Nothing to stop you doing a few hours at a couple of places or doing something else if that other opportunity isn't a guaranteed thing.

I can tell you that he definitely gave me the impression that he was happy with me moving into voluntary work. All he said was that he expected me to have started making some enquiries by the next time I was due to sign on.

geoffken

We/you are going round in circles like a b y goldfish.
Either get/take a job or sign off.
it will not get easier

Andrea2528

geoffken wrote: »

We/you are going round in circles like a b y goldfish.
Either get/take a job or sign off.
it will not get easier

I'd say this thread has made me feel even worse. I've got to face the advisor tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it.

ineed

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I'd say this thread has made me feel even worse. I've got to face the advisor tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it.

I'm sorry the thread has made you feel worse Andrea, people really are just trying to help and I know it can seem a little blunt in text but the posts are made with good intentions.

Are you all on your own dealing with this? Are there any family or friends you can talk about any of this with?

FBaby

The best thing to do is be prepared for tomorrow.

All he said was that he expected me to have started making some enquiries by the next time I was due to sign on.

If i get it right, two signs on ago, he said that you could consider voluntary work and to make inquiries to that regards. You made one.
You then had your last sign on, and he wasn't happy, probably on the basis that you made one when he expected multiples. What did he say you needed to do though for the next meeting? And have you done these?

Flyonthewall

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I can tell you that he definitely gave me the impression that he was happy with me moving into voluntary work. All he said was that he expected me to have started making some enquiries by the next time I was due to sign on.

The above still applies. That doesn't mean he hasn't been pushed by those further up to get you on MWA after that meeting. Perhaps even before that meeting, but he gave you a bit of time to find volunteer work anyway.

Yes, but that doesn't mean he didn't expect more.

They have a lot of people to see and very little time to do it. A lot of advisors have high expectations (some very unrealistic and unfair, but high all the same) and try to keep meetings short. Each meeting they try to make things progress. It's just how the Job Centre is.

I was basically in the same position. "Volunteer" for the Job Centre or find my own volunteer position. I knew I had to find something quick because if I didn't they could easily sign me up next meeting to "volunteer" for them. So I signed up to the volunteer site and I found something quick.

I applied, had a phone call in which we arranged a meeting, had the meeting and I started volunteering for them right away. There was no waiting around uncertain. If the Job Centre had asked at any point I'd have had a solid answer for them. Application proof, dates, times, a next guaranteed step, a name and contact details, a job description. There was no doubt and it was a very quick process. That's how it needs to be.

Flyonthewall

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I'd say this thread has made me feel even worse. I've got to face the advisor tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it.

Most people are just trying to help.

The question is what do you have for your advisor tomorrow?

You have nothing to worry about if you've done something. If you haven't you have until tomorrow to change that.

fluffypaws

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I'd say this thread has made me feel even worse. I've got to face the advisor tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it.

i don't blame you for feeling worse - many replies imply that you are not doing enough and people are suggesting things to cure your condition, but they don't know you and are not psychologists, so this pull yourself together advice is clearly counter productive. You clearly have been treated unfairly by your advisor and being blamed and bullied for 'not doing enough' even though with your condition you are trying your best already. I hope the advisor is ok today and that you in hope - you can recover some confidence soon. Maybe if you can talk to your GP again and/or make an appointment with the citizens advice beuro - as things here are not helping too much.

Flyonthewall

fluffypaws wrote: »

i don't blame you for feeling worse - many replies imply that you are not doing enough and people are suggesting things to cure your condition, but they don't know you and are not psychologists, so this pull yourself together advice is clearly counter productive.

They're not doing enough by the advisors expectations. The Job Centre don't care about the individual. Regardless of the anxiety that is a fact and so the only way around it is to do more. For the OP it may be very hard to do so but it doesn't change the fact of that is what they need to do.

They're not trying to cure the OP, their suggesting ways in which the OP may get help for the anxiety which in turn will help with work. There's no harm in making sure the OP has done all they can when they clearly want to try and get somewhere and the anxiety is holding them back. That's far better than people saying "just get over it" or something along them lines, they're advising professional help.

It's probably making them feel worse because it's not the answer the want to hear. They want to be told the advisor is completely in the wrong, that they can get out of MWA and get a volunteer position in their own time. However, it doesn't work that way. No one on here can change that.