The Jobcentre: Update
This article was originally uploaded on 16 December 2010, as Jobcentre: Help Or Hinder? We contacted The Department For Work & Pensions for a response, which you can read in the comments section below the article.
There is also now a new update comment from Eddie.
Jobcentres: do they help, or do they hinder?
Well, in my personal opinion I feel that they are a hindrance.
I have experienced this first hand. Over the past 2-3 months I have attempted to get a meeting with an adviser in regards to returning to work while caring for someone.
Now, I know that every Jobcentre has something that is known as a Carers' Champion. These are a government initiative to help carers to return to work, or to just give advice.
But with me, I have attempted six times to get an appointment with the Carers' Champion in my local Jobcentre, and every time I have failed (or should I say that they have failed?).
I have requested meetings via phone, email and actually going to the Jobcentre and asking the person on the front desk to pass a message on to them, but every time I have waited about a week for a reply, but nothing, nada, zip. Not a single word.
Yes, the Jobcentres are good because you can find out about what jobs are in the area, and yes if you're lucky there may be someone on the front desk who could help you with those touchscreen computers they have, but usually it is only a security guard, who tells you, "Wait by there".
To me this is just as bad as not having a service.
The other problem I find is that if you suffer from dyslexia or dyspraxia then the forms they ask you to fill out are very difficult, it is also the same if you are simply a young person who is either NEET (Not In Education, Employment Or Training) or who finished school as an under achiever.
This is sickening to me, to know that an organisation that is funded and supported by the Government is failing at several objectives, and falling short of the responsibilities that have been entrusted to them.
Sorry all if this seems like a rant, but this is something that I think all young people should be able to have a comment on, especially on how their local Jobcentre Plus is supporting them, and whether if they are seeing the same sorts of problems as I have.
Thank you all for reading.
CLIC Employment & Training Pages
11 Comments – Post a comment
National Editor
Commented 29 months ago - 16th December 2010 - 12:25pm
Sorry to hear about your lousy experiences at your local Jobcentre, eddie. I'm going to email them with a link to your article and request a response - watch this space! :0)
eddie secretary
Commented 29 months ago - 16th December 2010 - 23:39pm
Cheers Ryan
Easily_Distracted
Commented 29 months ago - 30th December 2010 - 16:58pm
I completely agree with you. I know people who have had problems with the job centre concerning many areas of the "services" they provide, including "No fixed abode" payments and even job centre staff taking down the wrong bank information so peoples' payments go into someone else's bank (with absolutely no compensation for the person receiving no money for the duration this blunder went unchecked).
I also know first hand the uselessness of the million training courses and never ending unnecessary meetings and reviews they force people to attend.
They do however seem to be trying to improve in at least some ways. I am no longer expected to walk 8 miles to apply for a 6 hour a week minimum wage job.
Pasternak
Commented 29 months ago - 31st December 2010 - 16:19pm
I was on JSA and benefits for about a year after finishing university. When I found work (part-time), instead of giving me a pat on the back for finding a job the advisor told me that I would be better off financially to *not* take the job, because of all the benefits I would lose as a result of taking up part-time work.
Absolutely terrible lesson to teach. Of course, it wasn't the advisor's fault; they were just being honest and giving genuine advice. The problem is with the system which rewards those who do nothing more than those who *try* and get what work they can.
Pasternak
Commented 29 months ago - 31st December 2010 - 16:23pm
PS: I'd love to write about the New Deal course I was made to go on, to warn others about what it was like. But I'm afraid you'd censor it (for starters, it would have to be called "Diary of Chav Land").
eddie secretary
Commented 29 months ago - 1st January 2011 - 01:38am
Personally i would Say "Write your article Let the World Hear your Voice" and in the words of Dr Pepper *Coca Cola* "Whats the Worst that can happen"
Please Write the Article i would love to read it to hear what you have to say
National Editor
Commented 28 months ago - 4th January 2011 - 12:53pm
Okay, we have had a response from the press officer at the Department For Work & Pensions, along with a direct contact for you, Eddie, which I will email to you now...
The response:
The Carer Champions at Jobcentre Plus are committed to supporting carers looking to return to work, and are more than happy to sit down with eligible people who want their help.
Info on advice and support for carers preparing for work can be found here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/CarersAndEmployment/DG_182917
Customers with learning difficulties who are having trouble accessing Jobcentre services can request a face-to-face appointment with a member of their local Benefit Enquiry Team, who can help with any issues they have.
This appointment can be arranged by phoning 0845 6043719, or via the customer service manager at their local Jobcentre.
eddie secretary
Commented 28 months ago - 14th January 2011 - 00:54am
Thank you Ryan for Achieving this Response, since this went live i also contacted my local Free Press about the situation, they got me in touch with my local carers group who supported me in acquiring a meeting with the adviser for my area, this was due to happen on the 22nd December, however due to the Snow Situation the Job Centre Phoned me up and cancelled that appointment due to there being a lack of workers in the centre at that day (Due to Snow), they re-arranged it for tomorrow (Friday 14th), so we shall see what support they manage to Provide.
Watch this Space for Updates
Cheers Eddie
eddie secretary
Commented 28 months ago - 18th January 2011 - 09:46am
Hello Readers
so the Update is that i managed to go to the Job Centre and have my meeting, the quickest meeting of my life if i might add, 7 minutes from start to finish, 2 minutes up stairs talking to the adviser to only be told "cant really help you here, talk to the Girl down stairs", went down stairs, filled out a sheet of paper (Statement form) to tell the Carers Allowance what i intend to do, that took 5 minutes, so all in all, it took me 3 months to get a 7 Minute Meeting, Hmmmm, ill let my readers Decide if they think that this is a Suitable Time Frame
Cheers all, and Happy Reading
CLICdan
Commented 28 months ago - 20th January 2011 - 14:20pm
An older article about the Jobcentre I think you'll find interesting (this one got a slightly longer response, too):
http://www.thesprout.co.uk/en/news/benefits-shmenefits/00660.html
eddie secretary
Commented 28 months ago - 22nd January 2011 - 21:31pm
hmmm, i read that article on the Sprout and it is Very Enlightening, and i can see that yes the Job Centre that Maggie Thacher Set up in the Old Days is Very different to the one we have today
And now for a further update
i have received about 8 letters from the Job centre now, 6 of which saying exactly the same thing word for word, (No Joke, its Exactly the Same) and two others that say different things, one of which being a set of forms that i have to fill out to say: How much am i earning, When did i start working, and all jazz like that, now i cant say how much i am earning or when i start earning because at this moment in time i do not know as i havent received my Contract yet so i dont know, which as it happens is what i wrote on the form, all i have to do now is post it off and hope for the best, but thats still gonna cost be 36p in a stamp lol
lets hope i dont get too many more letters saying the same thing lol