work programme after 2 years

[Lorise]

2 year work programme! Whaaaaa? When i did it, it was for 3 months in scope. How long do you have to be on job seekers for before this happens? 2 years take the ****!

 

I think if I remember right under 25s 3/6mths on JSA then they go on 2yr programme over 25, 12mths on JSA then they go on programme.

[Bakatcha]

Do not confuse the Work Programme with Mandatory Work Activity. Two different things. I Have nearly completed 2 years on the Work Programme but (as yet) I have not done any forced unpaid work.

[Nystagmite]

I think if I remember right under 25s 3/6mths on JSA then they go on 2yr programme over 25, 12mths on JSA then they go on programme.

 

Unless it's changed, it was 9 months for under 25s when I was sent on the work programme. (September 2011)

[cubertf]

well - that was that!

 

I went to my exit review, along with 20 to 25 other people ,my provider had failed to find work for during the 2 years on the scheme.

 

there where 3 members of staff trying to get us to sign up to yet another scheme, 'to identify our current opportunities, weaknesses and problems, in order to come up with a programme to combat them'. I asked them if that was what the Workfare scheme should have done in the past 2 years, to which they ummed and arred.

 

Hijacking the meeting, I said I was not interested, and if the sales pitch was it, could I leave, as I was under the impression it was an exit review. one of the staff checked with the office, and said that all we had to do for the exit review was put our names, date of birth, phone numbers and email addresses on an individual piece of paper, and we could leave.... I and around 15 others who had brought our own pens did, and left after claiming out travel expenses.

 

So! my exit review was not a review, it was a sales pitch for them to get you to sign up to yet another 12 month 'free' course, funded by the councils, which duplicated what they should have done on the work programme... apart from providing them with job seeker activities.

 

the sales people, and those in the office had no idea what is after the work programme. a couple of other participants said it was a 1 to 1 under a DWP advisor, instead of the 20 second normal signing activity, every 2 weeks, but I wait with baited breath..

 

anything cannot be as bad as the work programme, as even if I start it again, I know more now than I did in the beginning, so can stand up for my rights...

[LongHairedLily]

well - that was that!

 

I went to my exit review, along with 20 to 25 other people ,my provider had failed to find work for during the 2 years on the scheme.

 

there where 3 members of staff trying to get us to sign up to yet another scheme, 'to identify our current opportunities, weaknesses and problems, in order to come up with a programme to combat them'. I asked them if that was what the Workfare scheme should have done in the past 2 years, to which they ummed and arred.

 

Hijacking the meeting, I said I was not interested, and if the sales pitch was it, could I leave, as I was under the impression it was an exit review. one of the staff checked with the office, and said that all we had to do for the exit review was put our names, date of birth, phone numbers and email addresses on an individual piece of paper, and we could leave.... I and around 15 others who had brought our own pens did, and left after claiming out travel expenses.

 

So! my exit review was not a review, it was a sales pitch for them to get you to sign up to yet another 12 month 'free' course, funded by the councils, which duplicated what they should have done on the work programme... apart from providing them with job seeker activities.

 

the sales people, and those in the office had no idea what is after the work programme. a couple of other participants said it was a 1 to 1 under a DWP advisor, instead of the 20 second normal signing activity, every 2 weeks, but I wait with baited breath..

 

anything cannot be as bad as the work programme, as even if I start it again, I know more now than I did in the beginning, so can stand up for my rights...

 

Hi Cubert,

 

The chap I used to see for the signing at the JCP changed he was great, the new chap I've had for the last three signings grills me and goes through my jobsearch will a fine toothed comb. My signing I wish was less than a minute-it's now 10 mins minimum! Due to finish WP 4th July.

[RebeccaPidgeon]

well - that was that!

 

I went to my exit review, along with 20 to 25 other people ,my provider had failed to find work for during the 2 years on the scheme.

 

there where 3 members of staff trying to get us to sign up to yet another scheme, 'to identify our current opportunities, weaknesses and problems, in order to come up with a programme to combat them'. I asked them if that was what the Workfare scheme should have done in the past 2 years, to which they ummed and arred.

 

Hijacking the meeting, I said I was not interested, and if the sales pitch was it, could I leave, as I was under the impression it was an exit review. one of the staff checked with the office, and said that all we had to do for the exit review was put our names, date of birth, phone numbers and email addresses on an individual piece of paper, and we could leave.... I and around 15 others who had brought our own pens did, and left after claiming out travel expenses.

 

So! my exit review was not a review, it was a sales pitch for them to get you to sign up to yet another 12 month 'free' course, funded by the councils, which duplicated what they should have done on the work programme... apart from providing them with job seeker activities.

 

the sales people, and those in the office had no idea what is after the work programme. a couple of other participants said it was a 1 to 1 under a DWP advisor, instead of the 20 second normal signing activity, every 2 weeks, but I wait with baited breath..

 

anything cannot be as bad as the work programme, as even if I start it again, I know more now than I did in the beginning, so can stand up for my rights...

Perhaps you should have signed the Welfare To Work Clerks onto a programme to address their own deficiencies, particularly their evidential failure to develop contact within Employer Networks, and to exploit those contacts to arrange face to face interviews with candidates, rather than indulge the misguided belief that the candidate was at fault.

 

However, I am surprised that any candidate in attendance would indulge any request for personal details (name, date of birth, phone number, email address) given that the drone would already have access to this information.

Edited June 30, 2013 by citizenB

[cubertf]

I am surprised that any candidate in attendance would indulge any request for personal details (name, date of birth, phone number, email address) given that the drone would already have access to this information.

 

I did think about it, but only gave my landline to their likes, as I do not give my mobile out to anyone, apart from friends. I have call recognition, so can ignore them, and even put then in my spam pile.

Edited June 30, 2013 by citizenB

[Charlotte_Henderson]

I did think about it, but only gave my landline to their likes, as I do not give my mobile out to anyone, apart from friends. I have call recognition, so can ignore them, and even put then in my spam pile.

 

I dont give my mobile number out to anyone at job centre or Ingeus i told them when they asked. i couldnt afford to run a mobile

[Jmulv]

I dont give my mobile number out to anyone at job centre or Ingeus i told them when they asked. i couldnt afford to run a mobile

 

Yeah,

 

I told them to change my mobile cause I couldn't afford it any more (lie) to my landline so I don't have voicemails telling me to attend crapp.... they can send me a letter.

[Mr.P]

Perhaps you should have signed the Welfare To Work Clerks onto a programme to address their own deficiencies

 

On one visit, got handed a list of "courses" run by the provider - Basic CV writing, rudimentary maths, and top of the list, a four week course on basic english grammar and spelling... Handed that one back to the "adviser" and suggested that he, and some of his colleagues would benefit more from that particular "course".

[cubertf]

As far as the DWP are concerned, I tell them (on the jobs log book / form) every time I receive an automated job search email, and if I apply for a job from it or not... it is still a job search activity, even if there is a negative result.

 

I receive 6 automated messages a day, but check them every 2 to 3 days. it means that, without trying ( or getting out of bed) , I do at least 72 job search actions per 2 week period. I am obligated to do 3 per week, but I expect that will change when I do what ever is next.

[Bakatcha]

I think the providers and DWP may be about to encounter a few problems with their "exit report".

http://watchinga4e.blogspot.co.uk/

[Charlotte_Henderson]

Yeah,

 

I told them to change my mobile cause I couldn't afford it any more (lie) to my landline so I don't have voicemails telling me to attend crapp.... they can send me a letter.

 

They have only ever had my landline number, i know several people who get pestered weekly on their mobile by the JC and ingeus etc.

 

When ever i go on a course or anything my mobile is in my pocket switched on silent.

[cubertf]

good luck to my provider on commenting on my time with them. - over my 2 years, my previous 3 'advisors' left the company, and were replaced. my latest a new employee, I met once - 4 weeks ago. he or they cancelled my last appointment with him, and did not let me know until I was there.

 

when I next sign at the DWP, I will make enquiries to see if I have really finished the WP, as my exit 'interview' was strange! (as mentioned above)!

[jasta11]

I think the providers and DWP may be about to encounter a few problems with their "exit report".

http://watchinga4e.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Yes, I'm sure it's one document neither the WP nor the DWP would like us to see! Make you you ALL get your copy of it..and also ask to see the DWP's copy too, to make sure they're identical.

 

Also - make sure you put your comments about the WP on the form too. If they haven't given space for this (and I bet they haven't) then attach a seperate sheet. I'm sure some people will just be glad it's all over and not bother to make any comments on the WP but it's very important that people do - that's the only way things will ever change.

[hadenough!]

The nightmare begins after the 2 year WP is up.I've been told by someone that it will be a daily visit to DWP office, if they offer you a job and you refuse it you will be given a 3 month sanction.The daily visit to the dWP is compulsory because they said that if you were working you would be going to work daily. Yes and you'd be getting paid monthly and able to afford daily bus fares.

[hadenough!]

well - that was that!

 

I went to my exit review, along with 20 to 25 other people ,my provider had failed to find work for during the 2 years on the scheme.

 

there where 3 members of staff trying to get us to sign up to yet another scheme, 'to identify our current opportunities, weaknesses and problems, in order to come up with a programme to combat them'. I asked them if that was what the Workfare scheme should have done in the past 2 years, to which they ummed and arred.

 

Hijacking the meeting, I said I was not interested, and if the sales pitch was it, could I leave, as I was under the impression it was an exit review. one of the staff checked with the office, and said that all we had to do for the exit review was put our names, date of birth, phone numbers and email addresses on an individual piece of paper, and we could leave.... I and around 15 others who had brought our own pens did, and left after claiming out travel expenses.

 

So! my exit review was not a review, it was a sales pitch for them to get you to sign up to yet another 12 month 'free' course, funded by the councils, which duplicated what they should have done on the work programme... apart from providing them with job seeker activities.

 

the sales people, and those in the office had no idea what is after the work programme. a couple of other participants said it was a 1 to 1 under a DWP advisor, instead of the 20 second normal signing activity, every 2 weeks, but I wait with baited breath..

 

anything cannot be as bad as the work programme, as even if I start it again, I know more now than I did in the beginning, so can stand up for my rights...

 

Hi Cubert,

 

The chap I used to see for the signing at the JCP changed he was great, the new chap I've had for the last three signings grills me and goes through my jobsearch will a fine toothed comb. My signing I wish was less than a minute-it's now 10 mins minimum! Due to finish WP 4th July.

 

 

It seems that things are about to get tougher for those leaving the two year WP.I've been told that those leaving the WP will be made to go to the DWP office on a daily basis and any job offer refused will result in 3 month sanctions.The reason we must go to the DWP on a daily basis is because if we were working we would be going to work daily.

[bcham]

The nightmare begins after the 2 year WP is up.I've been told by someone that it will be a daily visit to DWP office, if they offer you a job and you refuse it you will be given a 3 month sanction.The daily visit to the dWP is compulsory because they said that if you were working you would be going to work daily. Yes and you'd be getting paid monthly and able to afford daily bus fares.

surely the bus fair will be refunded,if not thats another £20 of my pittance along with the council tax and bedroom tax,ill be left with £32 a week to live on.

[san_d]

if they offer you a job and you refuse it you will be given a 3 month sanction.

Which job? I was never offered a job by the Yob Centre.

[cubertf]

surely the bus fair will be refunded,if not thats another £20 of my pittance along with the council tax and bedroom tax,ill be left with £32 a week to live on.

 

£2.16p for me!!!!!!!!

[RebeccaPidgeon]

The nightmare begins after the 2 year WP is up.I've been told by someone that it will be a daily visit to DWP office, if they offer you a job and you refuse it you will be given a 3 month sanction.The daily visit to the dWP is compulsory because they said that if you were working you would be going to work daily. Yes and you'd be getting paid monthly and able to afford daily bus fares.

According to a June 3 2013 press release

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-details-of-post-work-programme-support

Work Programme leavers targeted by specialist advisers as part of a tough approach to get them into a job.

 

Work Programme leavers will be targeted by a hit squad of specialist advisers as part of a tough approach to get them into a job.

 

Up to 5 specialist advisers will be based in individual Jobcentres dedicated to working with people not in sustained work after 2 years on the Work Programme.

 

Claimants will be given an end-of-term report from their Work Programme provider assessing what progress they have made and their ongoing needs, to inform their new adviser before facing the toughest Jobcentre regime to help them find work. At their first appointment they will have to agree a binding back-to-work plan laying out what they are required to do.

 

Minister for Employment Mark Hoban said:

 

The Work Programme is getting some of the hardest to help claimants into work despite a tough economic climate.

 

We always knew that there would be some who would require further support after the Work Programme, which is why we’re introducing this intensive and uncompromising regime.

 

We’ll be stepping up the pressure on claimants, who will be expected to attend the Jobcentre more frequently, with rigorous monitoring to ensure they are doing everything they can to find work.

 

Claimants will be expected to be on a training scheme, Mandatory Work Activity placement or intensive work preparation within days of finishing on the Work Programme – losing their benefit if they fail to comply. An extra £30m will be available to pay for extra training and specialist help to prepare them for work, for instance counselling for people dependent on drug and alcohol.

 

Claimants will also have to attend the Jobcentre far more frequently than other jobseekers, with weekly signing on being routine and some people being required to meet their adviser every day.

 

The advisers, who will be focused on working with those returning from the Work Programme, will take a tough approach to monitoring whether claimants are sticking to their plan with anyone failing to participate losing their benefits.

 

The programme comes after Jobcentres involved in a trailblazer found that claimants targeted by an intensive approach were much less likely to stay on benefit.

 

Every Work Programme returner will also be required to register with Universal Jobmatch to aid work search and job matching. This will allow their adviser to check their work search activity online should the claimant give permission.

 

The tough sanctions regime will see anyone failing to comply with mandatory activity lose benefit for 4 weeks for a first failure, with penalties of up to 3 years for serial offenders.

 

The intensive support will last for 6 months, and will be used for all Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants returning from the Work Programme who need more intensive support.

 

 

If you are the only member of your Job Centre who is coming off the Work Programme, then you might be required to attend daily. However, depending on the volume of candidates, I suspect that attendance once every week would be reasonable.

[Chester6]

According to a June 3 2013 press release

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-details-of-post-work-programme-support

 

 

If you are the only member of your Job Centre who is coming off the Work Programme, then you might be required to attend daily. However, depending on the volume of candidates, I suspect that attendance once every week would be reasonable.

Considering the failure rate last year then they would need to employ loads of people for the ones coming away from this failure of a scheme so I think it'll be either once a week or fortnightly

[Lorise]

I was told by my 8th advisor last week that when I finish I will be sent back to the JC and put on this mandatory work programme thing, but he said he didn't have all the details as they had just been told that day, Now I did voluntary work few years back and it was with a charity funded community centre as that is the only kind of place to can volunteer at, the whole time I was told off the JC to leave, now they want us all to work for free again, and where will all these charity funded places pop up from or will the rules change now and big companies will get free workers in to do the jobs that we all have been looking for in the last 2yrs on work programme that weren't available....drives me mad...hate Ingeus with a passion the place drags me into a depression every time I have to go there.

[bcham]

I was told by my 8th advisor last week that when I finish I will be sent back to the JC and put on this mandatory work programme thing, but he said he didn't have all the details as they had just been told that day, Now I did voluntary work few years back and it was with a charity funded community centre as that is the only kind of place to can volunteer at, the whole time I was told off the JC to leave, now they want us all to work for free again, and where will all these charity funded places pop up from or will the rules change now and big companies will get free workers in to do the jobs that we all have been looking for in the last 2yrs on work programme that weren't available....drives me mad...hate Ingeus with a passion the place drags me into a depression every time I have to go there.

 

 

most people who attend the work program hate it me included, but they want you to hate it ,so you will do anything to get a job,only thing is there aint any,and they know it.

[Lorise]

most people who attend the work program hate it me included, but they want you to hate it ,so you will do anything to get a job,only thing is there aint any,and they know it.

 

I wouldn't mind if every week when I go there I was given by my advisor a list of live jobs in the area that I am looking for, at least then they are trying, but no my first 7 advisors hardly ever spoke to them they just made me do job searches on the slow PCs now i am on my 8th advisor, when I met him for the 1st time last week he was 15mins late and because I pulled him up on it he is making me do a CV drop into stores and to obtain contact numbers so he can check up on the CV drops and he wants me to travel to 3 or 4 areas which will take more than one day to achieve, which of course means bus fares which i just don't have as i am a single mum and don't have money to spare, was also told he was being nice to me and could if he wanted to double the amount of CVs he wanted done. I have applied for a couple of jobs today i just hope one of those comes through for me as this place is draining my personality...i used to be a happy lass ha.