Aggressive Jobcentre Advisor?

Mrs_Ryan

Care Work is blinking hard. I was fortunate in that I worked in a hospital where the conditions were marginally better but it is physically and mentally draining. You need real strength and real character to do it. If is most certainly not an easy option! This woman sounds like a right nasty piece of work.

sportsarb

This advisor sounds like an absolute idiot. I know from my brief time as a personal advisor that some of them like to think that they are amateur psychologists and that they think the know more than they do. They don't in the vast majority of cases.

Personally, given the language used both in your case and the overheard phone call, I would make a complaint and ask to be seen by a different member of staff.

In amongst a lot of stuff I didn't particularly care for, Les79 did say something I do agree with, which was that if its been 8 months then having a look at what's going wrong might be an idea.

ThemeOne

This advisor probably thinks she can get you off unemployment and into care work quickly and the problem is you've been looking for admin work for 8 months without success which is a fair amount of time.

I agree with the suggestion of trying to get some temporary agency office work. It will get this woman off your back, and jobs the agency says are just for a few weeks can often continue for months, and sometimes lead to an offer of permanent work.

I actually agree with the advisor's comment about work coming before family, though it depends what the context was. I've come across so many people that want the money from working, yet due to their private / family commitments don't really seem to have the ability to do the hours required i.e. always wanting time off for one thing or another, coming in late, leaving early etc. Maybe that's what she meant.

Cyclamen

I have been told by the local charity that support me that the government is having a 'drive to get more care staff'.

I employ my own carer/PA's and it has been really hard to fill shifts. The agencies in this area all seem to be recruiting. So I do wonder if this is the case and there is a 'push' to suggest this work to jobseekers.

However as someone who employs her own carers and has used care agencies in the past. Please don't go into the field unless you want the work. A reluctant carer can cause all sorts of upset, distress and worry intentional or otherwise to the 'employer /customer'.

I hope you find a job for you that you enjoy soon.

dekaspace

I have had my fair share of agressive DWP employees many years ago I had an autistic friend who in the 15 years now I have known him has only been out of work twice, once when he lived with his father in a house 8 miles from nearest bus stop and 20 miles or so from nearest JC, and 2nd time for a few weeks when he moved in with me to get a job, and currently been working 10 years now since, when he went to sign on his advisor said he was lying when he said he was using his bike to travel to nearby towns and applying for 10-20 jobs a week and threatened him with sanctions, him being autistic would go quiet and she interpreted it as guilt, he was telling truth as I went with him once to witness it and she was abusive to me too calling him a child who can't look after himself, I asked to speak to a supervisor and she pretty much said the same things and said he should stand up for himself and not be a child, her advisor had done no wrong, and I wasn't allowed to be with my friend anyway.

A few years later after I left uni I had same advisor who cancelled my appointment as she left early and the branch refused to let me sign, then got a letter a week later saying my claim was closed due to non attendance, when I spoke to JC I was told it was my responsibility to ask to let me sign!

Some advisors are just a pain.

spanish_inquisition

Plantation7 wrote: »

Currently out of work doing 2 days volunteering as a Cancer Administrator and 1 day IT course, i am following a plan i used last time to get back into work and impress employers.

Unfortunately the new adviser has told me that i must aim for Care Work and forget about Admin, Refuse and Litter picking or Cleaning that i did in the past.

She says although i have never done Care Work before i must go in this direction as She told me i'm not confident enough or intelligent enough for Admin and simply won't get the other options on my agreement and so need to aim very low, She claims She might be able to get me a zero hour contract in Care Work.

I do get about 2 Interviews every fortnight on average and i'm doing the Volunteering to give myself solid references and i do feel very low being told i'm not good enough to back into Admin.
I witnessed her talking to another client over the phone telling him not to ever put family before work, She told him Work comes first and Family comes second out aloud on the phone, this attitude seems wrong to me but in this situation i just feel like an Ant:(

Hi Plantation 7

I suspect if you are unhappy with the advice given you have a right to speak to another advisor.

It may be worthwhile to let the current advisor know your feelings and ask them to properly explain their advice.

If you remain unhappy exercise your right to change advisor.

Good luck