Work Programme Radar

[Hexcaster]

So I have a somewhat unique issue here. I'm supposed to be with a work programme, starting from last year. Since before Christmas they seem to have lost my scent and forgotten all about me, no appointments or anything. That's actually not the problem.

 

I'm happy to have been forgotten by them because they make you travel a fair distance to sit at a computer for a minimum of 2 hours; job searching. Something easily done at home.

 

Recently, however, a job centre adviser has decided to pick on me; saying that I don't apply for enough jobs per week. The last time I said there were no retail jobs I could apply for, she typed retail into indeed and tried to represent the 10'000 matches as jobs that I could apply for. I've not worked before, and my lack of experience doesn't put me in the best position for any job, but I'm confident that the multitude of management jobs aren't suitable. Nor are the one's in London it suggests for my Glasgow postcode. She's said the work programme should be helping, and that I should get on to them and tell them I'm close to being sanctioned. She's booked me in to see her next time I sign on and she's going to go through things with me with a "fine toothcomb". The woman's attitude is condescending, and despite her saying she isn't challenging me one week. The next she is saying I'm either not putting down everything I'm doing, or I'm just not doing it. I'm either incompetent or a liar, clearly.

 

I just wonder if she really can sanction me for not being "proactive" enough, in her words. I asked her to give me a number of jobs I should apply for, she said that a set number is a fallacy. So then how can I not be applying for enough?

 

Regardless, should I contact the Work programme and put myself on their radar again or is there a set number of jobs I should apply for realistically? Do the jobcentre and work programmes even keep in touch with each other about you? They seem to communicate to each other through the client.

 

Most importantly, how much trouble can I get in for letting the work programme forget about me for so long?

 

Edit: If there is scrutiny and it's discovered I haven't been to the work programme, should I be punished? My agreement says I have to go to all work programme appointments, but I haven't actually had any to go to.

[antone]

Regarding the Work Programme, you can't be "punished" (sanctioned) for not attending if they haven't asked you to. It's not up to you to chase them - if they want you to do something, they need to issue you with a Mandatory Activity Notification that complies with the regulations. They must either hand such a notice to you in person, or send it to you by post and allow you at least 48 hours notice from receipt of the letter. If they haven't done this and aren't calling you in, you're under no obligation to contact them and ask for appointments. So you can't get in any trouble at all for "letting the WP forget about you" - it's the WP provider's job to engage with you, not the other way round.

 

When it comes to your Jobcentre adviser, well, it's unfortunate that she's taking that attitude. In general, what you're required to do should be guided by the Jobseekers Agreement you signed when you first made your claim. You might well still have a copy of that - if not, ask your Jobcentre adviser to print one out for you.

[Hexcaster]

I do have a copy. It says I have to do 10 "things" (whatever that means) a week. It says I'll access jobsites at least 5 times per week to apply for all suitable vacancies. Which is what I do.

 

The first time she took issue with me was because I'd written down the times I'd looked and found nothing to apply for, which was more than I'd found jobs to apply for when I managed to land myself with her. The next week she'd booked me in to review my job seeker's agreement (which we didn't do. She spent the time with me refuting what I was telling her, constantly saying "nope" to everything I was telling her) I didn't write down when I've looked at a site and haven't found any to apply for, I just put down that I'd been looking at the sites over the fortnight and noted the jobs I'd applied for. That's when she decided to book time with me the next time I signed on, sigh.

 

How much paper and ink do they want me to use? Do they want me to make things up, or apply for unrealistic jobs to pad it out I wonder?

 

Edit: I'd also like to point out how bizarre it is that she thinks there are 1000's of jobs for me to apply for, she was insinuating having to send out 100 CVs a week (but that's just her). Tons of the jobs I find on job searches are management jobs, others require experience and particularly on UJM there are like 7 entries of the exact same job. Should I make an application for the same job 7 times to keep her happy? They have different job ID's/ref numbers, so are they technically a different job to a job centre adviser?

Edited June 3, 2013 by Hexcaster

[citizenkain]

no doubt eventually these people will catch on to you,you say you have never worked,is that how you want to go on??,playing some silly game?,at the end of the day you will be the loser,kick these people out the way and sort yourself a decent job and get the fck away from them!

[Hexcaster]

That's exactly what I'm trying to do, but if I can keep the work programme inconvenience away while dealing with the job centre at the same time then I'm all for that.

[antone]

no doubt eventually these people will catch on to you,you say you have never worked,is that how you want to go on??,playing some silly game?,at the end of the day you will be the loser,kick these people out the way and sort yourself a decent job and get the fck away from them!

 

I'm not sure that saying "Get a job!" is really all that helpful. I presume Hexcaster already realises that the purpose of this exercise is to find employment, and I imagine that if he or she could simply start work and stick two fingers up at the WP and JCP, he or she would have done so already.

 

Do you have any constructive advice to offer? I try to help, but I'm not an expert on JSA matters - if there's something useful you could add, it would be appreciated.

[outa10]

Citizen kain lives in the dark ages ! Of course this person is looking for SUITABLE employment - have you any idea what it's like applying for jobs every day when a lot of the employers haven't even the decency to send an email or letter saying sorry but you were not successful this time !

[antone]

Hexcaster, sometimes you have to play the game. I don't know how old you are, but if you've never worked you're probably fairly young. So yes, I think you should apply for jobs you have no chance of getting if it leads to a quiet life with your JCP adviser.

[Mr.P]

Regardless, should I contact the Work programme and put myself on their radar again or is there a set number of jobs I should apply for realistically? Do the jobcentre and work programmes even keep in touch with each other about you? They seem to communicate to each other through the client.

 

As antone has already said, it is for the WP provider to keep in contact with you, not the other way round. As far as the JCP goes, once you have been placed on the Work Programme, they effectively wash their hands of you and should be leaving the responsibility of checking your job search activity to the WP provider. If this isn't the case and the JCP want a copy of your job search, put down everything. Each time you visit a web site, click on the "work for us" link (even if it isn't in the UK), record it as "contacting an employer via the internet". Each time you go out shopping, ask at the checkout "any jobs", record this as "visiting a potential employer". Then do your usual job searches & applications.

 

It is unfortunate that there is little in terms of real jobs out there, but a few shops are taking on part time staff round here. Keep at it and you will find something eventually.

[biggeorge]

Always go by your JSA Agreement, If it says 10 things then do 10 things and they can't get you.

1: Online job search - May not find any suitable jobs but put down what takes your eye and then the reason why not applied- No SIA Licence - No driving licence etc..

2: Papers

3: Spec Letters (they never know if you have or not)

4: Spec phone calls (they never know if you have or not)

5: Spec call in to certain premises

 

If your job search record lists at least 10 things they will be unable to touch you as you will have completed your

requirements, Write them down or use excel and print them out, I have never had a problem with mine unless

I forget to take my sheet with me.

 

Also you need to avoid signing up to UJM, its a sanction machine with no human feelings and do something wrong on that system

and find yourself with a sanction.

 

George

[san_d]

no doubt eventually these people will catch on to you,you say you have never worked,is that how you want to go on??,playing some silly game?,at the end of the day you will be the loser,kick these people out the way and sort yourself a decent job and get the fck away from them!

You accidentally logged on the CAG forum instead of your usual Daily Wail comments and rants page. Now can you please fidget off!

[joeski]

no doubt eventually these people will catch on to you,you say you have never worked,is that how you want to go on??,playing some silly game?,at the end of the day you will be the loser,kick these people out the way and sort yourself a decent job and get the fck away from them!

 

if you can't say anything useful then don't say anything at all, we all want to work but everyone faces different barriers..you views are not welcome here so byeee

[citizenkain]

I live in the real world joeski,you wanna try it now and then,the Op said initially he was basically fed up with the job centre people,who aint,personally Id sooner go shoplifting than jump through the hoops these people set up! and you san_d you are a bit silly coming onto a consumer forum and not realising that every different person has a different point of view to you! lol, you are so simple its funny!,lol

[Hexcaster]

Always go by your JSA Agreement, If it says 10 things then do 10 things and they can't get you.

1: Online job search - May not find any suitable jobs but put down what takes your eye and then the reason why not applied- No SIA Licence - No driving licence etc..

2: Papers

3: Spec Letters (they never know if you have or not)

4: Spec phone calls (they never know if you have or not)

5: Spec call in to certain premises

 

If your job search record lists at least 10 things they will be unable to touch you as you will have completed your

requirements, Write them down or use excel and print them out, I have never had a problem with mine unless

I forget to take my sheet with me.

 

Also you need to avoid signing up to UJM, its a sanction machine with no human feelings and do something wrong on that system

and find yourself with a sanction.

 

George

 

They've asked me before about UJM, something along the lines of am I registered. I am registered, I just haven't shared my details with them.. I think the work programme was supposed to get a hold of that. Lol. Besides my account with UJM doesn't work, no matter what I do it says I've put in a wrong ID and password, even though I have emails with password reset requests and the like. It's all just a travesty.

[citizenkain]

that ujm thing is a waste a time,Ive got nothing new on that for 3 months,there must be new jobs since,ive tried renewing the whole thing,see if that works