Friday, 19 October 2012
"Descending into chaos"
So says the Financial Times about the Work programme. Mind you, they're quoting Labour's Liam Byrne. But the verdict is based on a slump in the number of people being referred to the WP, down from 65,000 in February to 40,000 in August. "Opinion is divided as to why," they say. Some think that the pattern of employment is responsible, with fewer people being out of work for the 9 months stretch which would get them referred. Certainly this would have an effect if there is a big increase in temporary jobs and unwanted part-time jobs. Another view is that the Jobcentres have lost so many staff that they are not able to keep up with the referrals. Whatever the reason, it's "beginning to worry the market", says Kirsty McHugh of the ERSA. Mark Hoban, the minister, isn't worried. He says that referrals are higher than predicted when the companies bid for the contracts. Byrne is pushing for publication of the performance data - and so are we all.
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Everyone (including all the newspapers and TV media) now should put unrelenting pressure on the DWP to publish the Work Programme statistics on every single Private Provider's performance throughout the UK (Ingeus, A4E, Serco, G4S, Interserve etc) to see just what percentage of unemployed people sent to them by Jobcentre Plus have actually gained full time employment under their guidance.
ReplyDeleteI suspect it will be less than 3 percent, 5 percent at best, if this turns out to be the case, then close them all down immediately because they will all be in breach of contract with the DWP.
I have noticed recently that my bi-weekly appointments have fallen from a 45 minute one to one session to a ten minute "Why have you not found a job" and a warning that new sanctions will apply for any violation of the Work contract.The new document that I had to sign listed all types of violations/warnings,including that I must actively take part in all training available..great I asked JCP and the WP what is available? None..Then why include this? To keep up the impression that there is training?
ReplyDeleteAt least you get fornightly appointments! That said, I'd rather not go at all, than go once a month!
DeleteStrangely enough, since I withdrew my consent for a4e to share my personal information(Cv, etc) their attitude towards me seems to have softened somewhat.
I went to sign today, I asked what was happening with this 'universal jobmatch' - they didn't know, and said I'd be best off asking the WP provider - so I'll find out sometime next june, I expect!
However, I was issued with a letter about the new sanctions regime, and once again, they couldn't tell me what'd happen if I witheld my consent for the DWP to contact the potential employers/vacancies that they or a4e put me on to.
The whole lot of it's a 'dog's breakfast' but as long as some private enterpise or other is makin' a mint out of it, it'll carry on no matter what colour of government, or the format of provision.
Doleitevermin: "they couldn't tell me what'd happen if I witheld my consent for the DWP to contact the potential employers/vacancies that they or a4e put me on to".
DeleteThey can't do anything due to data protection legislation. Even if you gave the DWP permission to contact a prospective employer to confirm you'd applied for a job, you would still need to give that employer permission to share you details with the DWP.
And if that prospective employer shared your details with the DWP without your permission they would also be in breach of data protection.
The full performance figs are out on the 22nd November. Heard at ERSA this week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. I'd heard it was the end of November.
DeleteIt starts to occur to me that desperation has set in,calls from the WP are almost daily and desperate,today I was asked to apply for a position in Porthcawl,although not that far away,40 miles,transportation is the problem, after consulting the time table..0530 train,0627 bus ,arrive 0847..job starts at 0800"You still to make an effort"...I agree,but if this time table does not work why?,Answer,you may find somebody to catch a ride with, fair enough,but if not and you refuse to take this position you will be sanctioned...slightly confused it is a no win situation..
ReplyDeleteHi mkmky
ReplyDeleteYou say " I was asked to apply for a position in Porthcawl". Is that "asked" or were you properly "mandated"? The former you can ignore the latter you need to take more seriously.
I think google maps (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps) has the functionality of plotting a journey (with the public transport option) and showing the travel time. Again (from memory - it's late!) JCP cannot compel more than 90 mins travel each way (3 hours total!). So if the public transport times - at the times you would need to travel- totals more than 3 hours - then you could (politely but smugly) decline their kind offer with a valid reason.
Discussion about what is viable in terms of travel is fine, and important. But please avoid the impression that it's great if you can score a victory over JCP.
DeleteHistorian,this is not meant to be about anything but securing employment that makes sense,if it is impossible to arrive on time the employer will not be a happy camper,my adviser was suppose to E-mail me the details ,which i am still awaiting, the attitude that prevails seems to be not about "finding sustainable employment" but rather finding anything to ensure that the WP (not to be confused with the JCP) produces a result.
DeleteAbsolutely, it wasn't you I was aiming at.
DeleteIs that 3 hours total travelling time door-to-door?
DeleteYes - I believe so - I cannot see any other way of measuring it. For instance it would be illogical to take the train time from one city to another (e.g. 55 minutes) without taking inot account that you may have to catch a bus to get to the station at one end (say 30 mins) and a bus at the other end (say another 20 mins) thus taking you over the 1 and ahalf hours (one way time). From memory JCP guidelines were altered a few years back - it used to be 1 hour each way.
DeleteThis post is certified free of all references (non complimentary or otherwise) to JCP and WP provider staff.
G.
"Whatever the reason, it's "beginning to worry the market", says Kirsty McHugh of the ERSA. Mark Hoban, the minister, isn't worried. He says that referrals are higher than predicted when the companies bid for the contracts."
ReplyDeleteWhen the companies bid for the contracts, Minister, your Government had promised the companies that there would be stacks of referrals of sick & disabled Benefits claimants. Those are the people who potentially yield the highest amount of profit for the Work Programme contractors.
That promise has not been kept by your own Government. Instead, the Govt has spent about £50 million on Legal Aid so that people could fight the adverse and often ludicrous assessments of their medical conditions by Atos and the DWP.
Trying to obfuscate by yammering irrelevantly about "totals" is dishonest, isn't it, Minister?
Someone anonymous left a comment which begins: " I am 56 y old. I was looking for a job for one year-hundreds of applications and no response."
ReplyDeleteI don't want to publish it as it is, but I would very much like to check some things with the writer. If you can send me a "not for publication" comment with your email address we can discuss this. All completely confidential, of course.
The providers themselves know it is not working. I think they are gearing up to ask for more handouts as evidenced in the latest Private Eye which reports Working Links 'sponsoring' a number of speakers at the recent Tory conference.
ReplyDelete