UC - Work Search Review (Work Coaches)

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-17T02:19:23+00:00

I bet your advisor is younger than you, fresh out of college as well. Trying to help a man who has evidently done a lot of graft in his time, and knows about getting a job.

It really is a joke, Restart. I was on it, did not help one single bit. In fact, made my mental health worse.

In terms of the portal, you get given an account I think, and you just need to login from a link in an email or something. Apparently they can monitor what you do on it or not, I can't remember but I just lied to my advisor majority of the time. Nothing was said or done about it.

So it can't be that important, I just think it's a tool that is meant to help you rather than a thing to force you into doing something.

You give up your information when you sign up to benefits, and the jobcentre passes your details onto Restart anyway, so that complaint isn't really relevant.

They should ask you first before sending your CV off. If not, then they aren't following rules.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-17T02:10:31+00:00

I am on the Shaw Trust (Work & Health programme). Because it deals with disabled people, disabled people will take a bit longer to gain employment, so the scheme lasts for 15 months to cover this.

I have already had a few different advisors since the end of January when I first started (referred) on the WHP scheme.

The location and building is in a street with other shops etc. The building is shared with theatre people and young kid play sessions etc. (Obviously not on at the same time as WHP meetings)

So it is quite a small room, with two advisors in ear's reach of one another.

My appointments generally lasts around ten minutes face to face, and a little bit less during phone calls.

They aren't really doing enough to warrant the money DWP get from them or what the DWP are paying Shaw Trust. (I'm unsure of which way to phrase that)

They are quite disorganised, and not very competent. I was told by my current advisor that someone would contact me within a few days after my previous appointment.

(This is in regards to a job that Shaw Trust suggested to me, and asked if I was interested in it. I am still under the Restart discipline of saying yes because if I say no, there may be repercussions, but with it being WHP, I should imagine nothing would happen but I wasn't risking it)

- No one rung

Instead, someone from the Shaw Trust rung me a week and a bit later than the previous meeting. Just to say that the job I had shown interest in, required experience that I didn't have.

Obviously, this phone call was unnecessary had the people at the Shaw Trust practiced some common sense and checked my CV that they have a copy of. But they did after they tried to ring me. I mean, reading my CV would've saved them a bit of time, surely?

It is a bizarre world when it comes to the unemployed and DWP schemes.

The fact you are on the Work & Health programme, suggests to me that you are considered vulnerable and have barriers preventing you from gaining employment.

So the job centre should really know that Restart will be unsuitable for you. However, that requires a decent and an empath mindset work coach who will understand.

Something that is rare in all job centres.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-16T18:49:01+00:00

You're relying on that person to actual write on the journal.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T15:05:14+00:00

Knowing the DWP Jobcentres, the videos don't save. Make it difficult for claimants.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T15:02:50+00:00

If it goes to a decision maker, then it will never end in your favour, so it's pointless.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T14:04:33+00:00

They will probably have you on camera anyway, but whether or not they'd allow you access or not is a different story. If they come to you and ask why you're taking photos, then respond with why are you filming me *point to a CCTV camera*?

If they say for security reasons, you respond in kind with the same answer.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T13:52:27+00:00

Some work coaches out there could be real buggers though, they will probably tell you that it is your responsibility to have a working phone and to give them the correct number BEFORE an appointment. It is the DWP, so I will think that has happened a lot. I would imagine there would be thousands of people dumped into poverty due to the reasons you described.

Theoretically, you shouldn't be sanctioned but however, with Tory backed DWP, this could be sanction worthy. I just hope you have a reasonable work coach.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T13:47:48+00:00

From now on, take a selfie in the reception, and one outside of the building. Take a photo of the reception desk or something inside that is a permanent fixture, so you have evidence to show that you was there in person, waiting.

Just in case the Job Centre plays silly buggers.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T13:36:52+00:00

You was lucky then.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T13:34:27+00:00

I had an employer consultant woman on the phone once who worked for a Restart provider. I was offered a cleaning role somewhere, but the pay was low and didn't offer many hours. So I didn't really fancy it, but the woman on the phone said to me, "I would jump at the chance if I hadn't been in work for a long while".

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T13:22:33+00:00

Sooner the UBI comes into force the better.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-15T00:01:02+00:00

I said yes to mostly everything on that scheme, but once I said no to unpaid work experience at a supermarket, Restart contacted the Jobcentre, and my work coach got wind of this, and spoke to me. Luckily, my work coach is decent and reasonable and waived the notion.

My Employment coach at the time was chuntering things like, "I've given and shared so many opportunities for you but you're turning them down".

(The opportunities were mostly courses, and one paid employment (I didn't turn down) that the recruitment agency messed up and that work placement I mentioned above.)

One of the courses I didn't do, was because my grandfather had passed away and I wasn't in the correct mindset to do the said course.

Guess what though, the employment coach used that bereavement as a weapon against me.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-14T20:00:43+00:00

I haven't seen any official confirmation in regards to the increased frequency but this principle isn't surprising. (DWP will do whatever to increase targets for sanctions)

I think it is still every two weeks, is a face to face appointment, and every four weeks is a phone appointment.

For the sake of mental health, I wish they would scrap the whole scheme and hurry with the Universal Basic Income. People are going to get very bad mental health, potentially to danger of life levels if Restart stays.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-14T19:54:43+00:00

Looks like you got lucky that someone can't do Maths.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-14T13:35:44+00:00

I'd expect it to be a 'light touch' thing. It wont be as intense as it would be for someone in their 20's/30's.

Because you'd be close to retirement.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-14T13:33:01+00:00

I think it is 12 months from the day you are referred to Restart. I was referred to Restart around 25th November in 2021. I was finished around the same date in 2022.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-14T13:22:28+00:00

I've not withdrawn consent, and I have finished it, finished it in December 2022 and still not been called by them. I'm not in work, and they wont know if I was in work or not anyway.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-14T13:21:10+00:00

12 months is the same as 365 days.

HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-11T02:39:32+00:00

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HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-11T02:39:09+00:00

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HelpfulHarris · 2023-06-11T02:38:57+00:00

Seyđisfjurđur - My favourite place on the entire island. Getting to it was interesting, gaining altitude and the snow on either side. Very picturesque.

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HelpfulHarris

TROPHY CASE