Work Programme

[tezzaa61]

Hi,

 

I'm on JSA and currently attending the Work Programme at Ingeus.

 

My question is about my JSA Agreement, I looked through the site yesterday and the replies

to a similar question just confused me as there were so many different answers.

 

My JSA Agreement states I have to apply for 2 jobs per week.

 

Yesterday my Advisor at the WP told me I had to apply for 8 jobs per week (3 more per week than

I have currently been applying for - I was told to apply for 5 per week when joining the WP).

 

As I live in one of the areas of the highest unemployment in the UK; applying for 8 jobs per week

is pretty much mission impossible. I was struggling to apply for 5 per week.

 

I was also told to set my sites lower and apply for entry level jobs!

 

My questions are:

is my JSA Agreement still in effect?- I read conflicting advice about this when looking for an answer yesterday. I can't remember if I signed an agreement with the WP Provider but I must have done.

 

Can the Advisor I'm dealing with (who seems to be a right a/hole) get my JSA sanctioned if

I'm unable to apply for 8 jobs per week?

 

I will appreciate any replies/advice given.

 

Thanks

[Clear33]

sorry to post here! esp. on your thread

 

could someone tell me how to open a new thread please - i cant play the instructions on my phone and i dont have a computer...

 

thanks...

 

sorry again! just cant see how to start a thread of my own.

[honeybee13]

Hi, here's a link for starting a new thread on this forum.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=160

 

HB

[Clear33]

tezzaa61 -

 

so sorry once again for borrowing you thread to learn how to start my own - thankyou v muuch

 

and very good luck finding work that you enjoy

 

honeybee - thankyou! for the thread starting link! very much appreciated

[tezzaa61]

Clear33 - hope you find the info you need - good luck.

[tezzaa61]

I'll repost my OP:

 

Hi,

 

I'm on JSA and currently attending the Work Programme at Ingeus.

 

My question is about my JSA Agreement, I looked through the site yesterday and the replies

to a similar question just confused me as there were so many different answers.

 

My JSA Agreement states I have to apply for 2 jobs per week.

 

Yesterday my Advisor at the WP told me I had to apply for 8 jobs per week (3 more per week than

I have currently been applying for - I was told to apply for 5 per week when joining the WP).

 

As I live in one of the areas of the highest unemployment in the UK; applying for 8 jobs per week

is pretty much mission impossible. I was struggling to apply for 5 per week.

 

I was also told to set my sites lower and apply for entry level jobs!

 

My questions are:

is my JSA Agreement still in effect?- I read conflicting advice about this when looking for an answer yesterday. I can't remember if I signed an agreement with the WP Provider but I must have done.

 

Can the Advisor I'm dealing with (who seems to be a right a/hole) get my JSA sanctioned if

I'm unable to apply for 8 jobs per week?

 

I will appreciate any replies/advice given.

 

Thanks

[RebeccaPidgeon]

I'll repost my OP:

 

Hi,

 

I'm on JSA and currently attending the Work Programme at Ingeus.

 

My question is about my JSA Agreement, I looked through the site yesterday and the replies

to a similar question just confused me as there were so many different answers.

 

My JSA Agreement states I have to apply for 2 jobs per week.

 

Yesterday my Advisor at the WP told me I had to apply for 8 jobs per week (3 more per week than

I have currently been applying for - I was told to apply for 5 per week when joining the WP).

 

As I live in one of the areas of the highest unemployment in the UK; applying for 8 jobs per week

is pretty much mission impossible. I was struggling to apply for 5 per week.

 

I was also told to set my sites lower and apply for entry level jobs!

 

My questions are:

is my JSA Agreement still in effect?- I read conflicting advice about this when looking for an answer yesterday. I can't remember if I signed an agreement with the WP Provider but I must have done.

 

Can the Advisor I'm dealing with (who seems to be a right a/hole) get my JSA sanctioned if

I'm unable to apply for 8 jobs per week?

 

I will appreciate any replies/advice given.

 

Thanks

Your Job Seekers Agreement remains the key document between yourself and Job Centre Plus, and whereas it may be occasionally revised by JCP Staff, you do not need to sign any other document which any Welfare To Work Provider develops. Indeed, when JCP assign you to the Work Programme, a JCP Clerk will have developed an Action Plan, within which a Job Objective was specified, and this gives the Work Programme Provider some guidance.

 

As for the number of vacancies - even in todays economic climate, by registering with any number of jobs boards, you can create an account, upload your CV, and apply for any number of jobs each day - certainly exceeding the number specified within the Job Seekers Agreement.

[biggeorge]

Hi Tezzaa61,

 

When you started the work programme did you sign the consent forms?

If yes, go here: http://consent.me.uk/ find the new letter regarding data protection and send that in to Ingeus to remove your consent.

 

You only have to complete what your JSA agreement says, take no notice of the Ingeus drone.

If your JSA Agreement says apply for 2 jobs a week then that is all you have to do to secure your entitlement to JSA.

 

If you send in/ hand in the new letter from consent me you in effect make yourself none profit to them, They can not do

any of the following:

Add anything to the computer system

Spam your CV ( if you have not given them one (don't)

Send you emails, jobs to apply for etc..

Anything that requires your personal information is then out of bounds for them.

Don't ever say no to any request, just say I will have to take further advice etc..

Never sign anything at Ingeus, even bus fare receipt, You don't have to sign anything at providers.

 

If you can when attending Ingeus always record while your there, mobile phone voice record, hidden keyfog video camera (ebay £8)

they can save you from any unfounded sanction doubts.

I never show my job search to Ingeus, I take a print out of my JSA requirements with me when I sign on, They have a look and sign it.

I am now very much parked after 14 months at Ingeus with my appointments now been 8 weeks apart.

 

George

Edited June 30, 2013 by citizenB

[Nystagmite]

If there aren't 8 jobs out there per week, there's not much that can be done. You may (I was told to do this by the job centre some years) have to put down that when you looked wherever you do, (internet, job centre, newspaper, etc) that you couldn't find anything.

[tezzaa61]

Hi Rebecca, George and Nystagmite,

 

Thank you all for your replies - I feel better armed to deal with these people now.

 

George - thank you for those tips - I very much appreciate them - I'll take on board what you have said,

I'm feeling a lot more empowered and less vulnerable thanks to you and the other posters.

 

I wish you all the best and Thanks Again

 

Best Wishes to You All

 

Tez

[tezzaa61]

Hi Tezzaa61,

 

When you started the work programme did you sign the consent forms?

If yes, go here: http://consent.me.uk/ find the new letter regarding data protection and send that in to Ingeus to remove your consent.

 

George

 

I'm not sure if I signed consent forms, I think I did.

 

Is this the letter I send http://consent.me.uk/workfareconsent/ ? Do I send all of that down to and including:

 

"Enclosed/Attached:

*Notices to Providers: Compliance with Data Protection Act and Information Disclosure

http://consentrights.wordpress.com/pages/providersnotice/"

[biggeorge]

Yes, all of it including the links on the last page.

 

George

[osdset]

The Work Programme Model is Broken and Rewards Corporate Idleness

 

Story:http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/author/johnnyvoid/

[tezzaa61]

Just an update, I received confirmation from Ingeus that my consent has been withdrawn.

 

Another question; I have to attend a Job Search workshop, as I am a fully qualified Careers Adviser and have more qualifications in this area than my WP Advisor or the guy (who I know) that will be delivering the workshop I would hazard a guess that asking me to attend this is unreasonable. In this case what would be my steps to ensuring that I can get myself out of attending this?

 

Regards,

 

Tez

[flumps1976]

tezza yes you are still required to attend all mandatory appointments at the work program even if you have withdrawn your consent.

As long as they notify you in the correct way and that has to be in writing.

[Charlotte_Henderson]

 

 

My JSA Agreement states I have to apply for 2 jobs per week.

 

 

 

On my JSA Agreement its 3 a week

as for ingeus 3 a week is never enough for them, as they expect you to apply for as many jobs as possible.

 

As the Job centre plus pay your benefits i shouldn't worry to much what ingeus tell you.

[Charlotte_Henderson]

I never show my job search to Ingeus,

 

No me either and nor will i, take my job search when i sign in but thats it

[tezzaa61]

Hi,

 

I'm not very happy with my Ingeus Adviser. He's very disrespectful, does not take into account my situation, experience, qualifications and has now put me on a Customer Service Course although I don't particularly want to do Customer Service. His attitude is very crap in my opinion.

 

Can I send a letter to the Ops Manager of the Ingeus Branch I'm at and request that my Advisor is changed. My previous one was the total opposite and respected my situation and took account of the work that I was actually looking for. The one I have now is a total t****r

 

Appreciate any replies

[bigissue]

I think you can request a new advisor but perhaps someone else will be better able to give you the correct, backed up info. Unfortunately though the work programme is not designed to take your needs into account, what you used to do doesn't interest them much, job like customer service and cleaning often have a high turnover, and they probably have corporate friends who the want to provide free or cheap labour to so that is what they will insist you do. The whole work programme is not about finding anyone long term sustainable employment it is only about making money for the providers and they get more cash when they make you do things like pointless courses it also takes you off the unemployment statistics (see ONS). In short no matter who your advisor is expect more of the same. I did actually have a nice advisor when I was on the WP at Ingeus a year ago but they got rid of her because she was to soft, when in fact she was actually trying to help people.

[tezzaa61]

Thanks for the reply - I've withdrawn my consent - so they won't get a bean when I get a job.

[bigissue]

Thanks for the reply - I've withdrawn my consent - so they won't get a bean when I get a job.

 

Glad to hear it!

[RebeccaPidgeon]

Hi,

 

I'm not very happy with my Ingeus Adviser. He's very disrespectful, does not take into account my situation, experience, qualifications and has now put me on a Customer Service Course although I don't particularly want to do Customer Service. His attitude is very crap in my opinion.

 

Can I send a letter to the Ops Manager of the Ingeus Branch I'm at and request that my Advisor is changed. My previous one was the total opposite and respected my situation and took account of the work that I was actually looking for. The one I have now is a total t****r

 

Appreciate any replies

If you already possess the skills required which would allow you to do, not only your chosen jobs, but other jobs (including the jobs which the course is designed to do), and if Ingeus are making money from you sitting on the seat in the classroom, then you may also care to report the issue to ingeus, the DWP and also your MP as perhaps a case of fraud.

[tezzaa61]

If you already possess the skills required which would allow you to do, not only your chosen jobs, but other jobs (including the jobs which the course is designed to do), and if Ingeus are making money from you sitting on the seat in the classroom, then you may also care to report the issue to ingeus, the DWP and also your MP as perhaps a case of fraud.

 

Thank you, yes I do possess the skills that the course is designed to equip me with, so I will definitely be reporting them.

 

On another issue, the course is on Friday and I am unwell (honestly I'm not trying to get out of attending!) what do I need to do, just call them and say I'm unwell? The letter I had for the initial pre-screening for entry onto the course states it's Mandatory and I do not want a sanction if I cannot attend?

 

I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow morning.

[jasta11]

The 'Mandatory' bit just means that you can't choose not to attend (if only we could!). If there are genuine circumstances, such as illness, which prevent you attending then of course you can't be made to attend - doesn't matter how much they try and tell you you 'have' to.

 

Get something in writing from your doctors, or some record of you going there (which they'll have on their system anyway) so that it backs you up.

[tezzaa61]

The 'Mandatory' bit just means that you can't choose not to attend (if only we could!). If there are genuine circumstances, such as illness, which prevent you attending then of course you can't be made to attend - doesn't matter how much they try and tell you you 'have' to.

 

Get something in writing from your doctors, or some record of you going there (which they'll have on their system anyway) so that it backs you up.

 

OK, thanks for the reply.

 

Much Appreciated