JobCentre Plus

Discussions relating to jobs and working, including finding work, interviews, the work place etc.

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tillydog
Getting settled in
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:53 am

Re: JobCentre Plus

Post by tillydog »

Here there is the 'Work for the Dole' scheme which I had to partake in some years ago. The agency that was running it for this area were useless. I told them of my problems and that I wanted somewhere I could do admin work, they basically screwed up and I ended up being placed in an Aged Care Hostel helping the Activities Co-ordinator. I hated it, was in constant pain, they had me on the floor putting out games and stuff, they had me making teas and coffees (hot water and hot drinks arent my friend!!). I ended up ringing up sick all the time as I couldnt cope.
I have it on my Neurologist's report that he thinks that I'm not capable of working, but Centrelink's (our version of the JobCentre) Job Capacity Assessors think that I am capable of some sort of work, so in July 2013 when my 2 yearly review for Disability Pension comes up, I'll show them what it says on the report.
Moot
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Posts: 255
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 2:43 pm
Location: England

Re: JobCentre Plus

Post by Moot »

Argh - the Job Centre are awful! My mum forced me to go under two years ago which I was really unhappy about. I wanted my mum to go in with me but she wasn't allowed so I felt such a fish out of water. I didn't say anything about dyspraxia. The sort of jobs they expected me to apply for were not suitable, etc. There was a time I was going to have work experience and they made me feel like it was the worst thing ever that I was actually taking steps to improve my employability?? After a few more weeks going it ended up that because I didn't apply for some job I actually felt like I was being treated like a criminal, they made me fill out a 'why didn't you apply' appeal thing, and then they stopped my money. BUT I still had to sign on each week. Where's the incentive in that??? It's pretty grim there anyway what with guards at the door and everyone's a chav. Might be partially where I live. In spite of this ****, my mum's threatening for me to go again. I cannot go through this. =;
Hopefully not making too many moot points... heh... *ahem* :D
AlleyCat
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Posts: 293
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:07 pm

Re: JobCentre Plus

Post by AlleyCat »

I know what you mean about being pressurised to sign on by a parent. I ended up signing on after my dad was aggressive towards me, telling me I was taking the p@$£ out of him by not getting money he thinks I'm entitled to! I told him that some parents actually discourage their children from signing on, as they regard it as being something which is shameful, but he seems to think the Government is somehow to blame for everything that's happened regarding me not being able to establish myself in a career. I'm lucky in that I live in a rural area and can at least sign on by post, so I don't have to go through all the interrogation crap that a lot of people seem to go through at the hands of Job Centre 'advisers'.

Where dyspraxia is concerned, I don't know if the Job Centre would help you to find something suitable or not. I agree that the vast majority of jobs advertised on their website are not suitable for people with dyspraxia, but unfortunately Job Centre 'advisers' will often pressurise claimants into accepting any old job just to get them off benefits. They probably wouldn't accept you telling them that you had dyspraxia unless you had a recent diagnosis to show them (probably from at least within the past couple of years). They would definitely still expect you to be seeking work, as even people who are half-dead are being judged by Atos as being fit to work :S In fact, those who have a disability are particularly likely to be referred to do a slave placement on Workfare, as they don't even need to have been signing on for any particular length of time before they can be mandated to take part in such a scheme by the Job Centre. What really concerns me about Workfare placements (apart from the fact that no one should have to work for a slave wage) is that if an employer decides that the slave's work isn't up to standard (eg they're too slow), they can inform the Job Centre, and then the unfortunate person (who may have been too slow because of a disability such as dyspraxia) could end up being sanctioned. The whole thing stinks!
Philip
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Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:20 pm
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Re: JobCentre Plus

Post by Philip »

I live with my parents, but I hate claiming benefits,

Before I was on LWCRA , I have had a number of short temporary data entry job with employment agencies working at different companies in the past,

I have been on a number of programmes the job centre have sent me on, Remploy, Action4employment etc etc, and the last one before covid19 was a local one. my Dad went to the one to one appointments and he was shock with her knowledge and bed side manner. being in a class on some of these courses, we all had different needs, some people may needed more tailor help to find suitable work , A4e was like one size fix all, take any job,

I also remember as a test I took my Mum to one of these appointments a few years earlier. her bed side manner towards my Mum,

Job centre and courses , accept anything so you can get off benefits, providers claim outcome payments.


I done work experience and at the end of it, I get told there is no job at the end of it a few weeks later another person is at the company doing the same placement. (working for their benefits)

Before work coaches you saw a different advisor each time at the job centre,
Timbee
Getting settled in
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:43 pm

Re: JobCentre Plus

Post by Timbee »

The JobCentre’s more about ticking boxes than actually helping. They push you into anything, even if it’s not a good fit, and those work experience placements? No real job at the end. Feels
Tom fod
Administrator
Posts: 3077
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 9:05 pm
Location: SW UK

Re: JobCentre Plus

Post by Tom fod »

I very fortunately haven't had to go to the job centre since 1999. Often found the old cards stayed up even after positions had been filled so used to apply for jobs advertised in local paper. I could usually get through the application form but then crashed and burned at the interview. I never trusted employment agencies.


I can only guess that the Job Coaches read the Daily Mail and have a gold framed photo of Pauline the Restart Officer from The League Of Gentlemen in the staff room.

Hoping Jobcentre 'services' are reviewed and companies are banned from using the unemployed as cheap labour.
Tom
Moderator/Administrator

With a foot full of bullets I tried to run faster but I just hobbled on to the next disaster.
(from Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Foot Full of Bullets)
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