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The Work Programme - Interviewees from across Britain -
"At the end of last year I carried interviews with single parents in Bristol looking at their experience of transferring onto the Work Programme. I am now doing a follow up project in partnership with Oxfam UK interviewing single parents across Britain to find out their experience of the Work Programme.
We had great response to this, so don't need any more interviewees. Thanks everyone!
hi il av ago at itxx
Send an email to Laura then, kiera, and she will get the ball rolling 
I have my first Work Programme appointment this thurs, and Im feeling really anxious. Will be sending Laura an email, to try and set up an interview, as it will be good to share the experience.
Great stuff, helpmenow and good luck for Thursday
Dear all,
I am just drawing up a timetable for interviewing single parents about their experience good and bad of the Work Programme. Do get in touch if you want to be interviewed. There is a £20 voucher on offer for around half an hour of your time. The interview is conducted over the telephone at a convenient time for you (day or evening). If you are a single parent currently on the Work Programme and have a child or children under 16 then I would love to hear from you. I will not share your personal details and the results of the research could help improve the services offered to other single parents and their children.
Laura
Hi Laura
I was referred to the work programme on 4/9/12 by the JCP and have received my first letter from my work programme provider A4e today, dated the 5/9/12. Very prompt of them.
I'm Stunned!!! I cannot believe the threat content. Not only that but they are accusing me already of not responding to a previous letter that i havent and couldnt have received as I was only referred two days ago!!!!! They also state that they have tried to contact me on several occasions!!! Again, untrue!
If this is the level of incompetence of this company then what hope is there for me or other single mothers in the same situation. I'm furious and now the last thing I wish to do is contact this company to arrange my appointment. In the frame of mind I'm in at the moment they may take it as I'm being hostile because I'll tell them exactly how I feel. What am I to do? Please help!
Cherry 12,
Sorry to hear about your poor experience of transfer onto the Work Programme. One of the themes shared from other single parents on this forum is the lack of co-ordination between Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme. Something that SPAN, the charity that runs One Space, are campaigning to improve.
I can understand your frustration but the poor administration that you have experienced about your appointment might not be an indication of the service that you could get from the Work Programme provider once you get there. I agree the tone of the letters that Work Providers send out can be rather accusing and very annoying to be told you have not responded when you have not been given a chance.
The dates on the letters you have been sent clearly do not make sense so you are as well to keep these (as well as the envelopes with the postmarks if you have these). I would contact the Work Programme Provider to make a new appointment. When you go for your appointment I would get them to write down the details of your experience so far (I would also get JCP to make note of this when you next sign on). This should help if problems arise in the future. I would also ask to see a copy of the complaints procedure at the Work Programme in case further problems occur and you want to make a formal complaint.
Hope this helps and good luck with your transfer. Do let me know how you get on.
Laura
Kiera,
If you would like to be interviewed about the Work Programme do get in touch. Go on have your say! Send me an email to arrange a suitable time to be interviewed.
Laura
I have had similar experiences with A4E and complained to JC to be told take it up with WP as they dont deal with us like they used to now we are on the WP. I get asked everytime i go to sign on how the WP is going and tell them I am unhappy with the way we are treated and how it is run. I get told oh well you will just have to go along with them now and that the JC doesnt do anything other than sign us on and pay us the JS, the WP get the funding to deal with us now.
Fedup_mumof1
Please get in touch it would be good to interview you for our project. We are keen to share where things are working well and the where providers need to improve. Our findings will be presented to Government where we hope to influence how services are delivered on the Work Programme. Do get in touch and have your say. I will not share your personal details and you will be given a £20 shop voucher for your time (half an hour over the phone).
Laura
Hi Laura,
I will email you as soon as I have calmed down, I have just received a letter of the WP saying that I have been booked into a video CV workshop! this wednesday, plus that had booked me in tomorrow for a motivation workshop. I had informed them last week that i had started college and couldnt do Tuesdays or Wednesdays and they told me they come first so college doesnt matter. I am trying to update my qualifircations to better my job prospects and they treat us like this.
I am so angry right now but I had to reply to you.
Hi Fedup_mumof1
It sounds like you maybe being misinformed, i would call back and get a second opinion, ask to speak with a manager and state what you have told us, this usually works for others.
Fedup_mumof1
How frustrating! Do get in touch when you feel ready. It would be great to interview you about your experience of the Work Programme.
Laura
Hi Laura,
Just wondering what you need off me in the email I send to you so you can get in touch with me for your study?
Regards
Selina.
Fedup_mumof1
I just need a phone number and the best time of day or evening to contact you. This week I could interview you this evening or tomorrow (day or evening), or Wednesday morning. You should also confim that you are currently on the Work Programme and have at least one child under 16.
Many thanks. I look forward to hearing from you.
Laura
Hi Laura.
Thanks for quick response, I have emailed details over to you just now.
Look forward to chatting with you.
Selina
Would just like to say Thank you to Laura and that I hope I have helped in your study of the work programme.
To anyone who is thinking of being part of the study, please do get in touch with Laura and have your say so she can complete her study. The more people she has to speak too, the better for us and her. The questions are easy to answer and Laura is really friendly and its like you have known her for ages and you are just having a conversation with a friend on the phone.
Thanks again Laura was lovely to speak with you.
Selina
Thanks so much for that positive feedback! 
Fedup_mumof1
Thank you for giving your time to be interviewed. It is important to find out about the experiences of single parents who are on the Work Programme so that good practice can be shared and bad practice can be addressed.
All the very best to you in your job search and keep on One Spacing!
Laura
Dear all,
Parliament have announced that they are going to do an enquiry (ending in December) into how different groups of people are doing under the Work Programme. This is a great opportunity for me to let them know about single parents and the Work Programme! It makes it even more important for me to find out your experiences of the Work Programme as this will help to influence Government. The timescale is tight so dont delay. If you want to be interviewed over the telephone I can offer a £20 shop voucher. It takes about 30 minutes and can be arranged day or evening. I will not share your personal details.
Laura
Ive been sent to the work programme, i have my first meeting on monday . Im so worried. im not even sure what its all about. Im a mum of 2, aged 8 and 9 and have no help from their father. This first metting ive been told by letter is a group meeting. im confused as i thought it would be a one to one to evaluate my needs and abilities to get back to work. Do i have any rights? the letters ive recieved so far all seem to be very patronising and unhelpfull. Im a 40 yr old woman of 2 yey i feel like some naughty criminal. This carnt be how it should be surely.
Hi confused mum, you have received a detailed reply from both myself and Anna on the other thread, click here to see
I am due to finish my two year sentence at the WP Ingeus on the 4th July, according to the next set of punishment metered out by the JCP -it's going to be worse! Why the hell are they punishing us the unemployed for a recession created by the banking industry?
Helly,
The two years have gone quick. You are not alone single parents on the Work Programme have not moved into work. As a group they do worse than other jobseekers at moving into work. Today SPAN the charity that runs One Space has published a report where we interviewed single parents about their experience of the Work Programme. We set out why the services at Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme need to change if back to work services are to work better for single parents (and protect their children). We will do all we can to improve how services are designed for single parents - as at present they are not! Here is the report. Please read and share http://spanuk.org.uk/2013/06/18/work-programme-call-for-changes-to-sanctions/
Do also let us know how you get on when you are referred back to Jobcentre Plus. They need to take account of you and your children's needs and the flexibilities open to you as a single parent. I will set up a new thread soon to gather evidence about the experience of single parents transferring back to the Work Programme. I will share with the policy people at the DWP.
Laura
Hi Laura,
Johnny Void has published information gleaned from the request form the DWP under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the new Universal Credit and the client commitment. I would just punch in Johnny Void and he has an article on there. It makes for disturbing reading for single mums and single people infact anyone. I smell riots and revolution. I don't think whatever you stick under the DWP's nose regarding fair treatment is looked at. The DWP are there to get us off benefits by whatever means preferably sanctions.
Helly 13
Will look up Johny Void stuff.
The DWP might start taking note as the current system does not help single parents into work and so their unemployment figures are looking bad. Single parents are a significant group.
Laura
i actually found my exp on the works prog ok, dont want to worry ppl but its what comes after it thats worse i feel like job centre are now trying to bully and shame me into looking for unsuitable hours had 3 job centre appointments since and dont know if its true but advisor is saying i cant just look for work within school hours no more and last week he asked me to come up with a plan to find more realistic job roles that suited me when i told him all job roles are difficult to find within school hours he told me i had not thought it through properly and if i did not write down proper roles for next week i would probably get sanctioned once it went upstairs so it seems i may be getting sanctioned for being a little bit thick next week unless i say you no what i give up i will now look for full time work then i can find lots of realistic job roles it seems like i have the goalposts moved despite only 3 weeks ago another advisor told me not to worry i would not be asked to work any hours out off school hours. sorry just had to get it off my chest cause i have come back feeling really horrible about myself
Hi amars
It seems to be a worrying trend for job centre staff to give out conflicting information, thats why Laura our Parlimentary Officer is working hard to gather peoples experiences so that there will be clearer guidelines for jobseekers.
Have they written down on your Jobseekers agreement what they require you to do? as far as i know they can't force you to look for full time work if you have child under 11 but this could depend what you Jobseeker agreement states.
As for them asking you to look at employment that your not qualified or skilled for thats something they see as a reasonable request, they will give you a period of time to find a job with the skills and qualifications that you have, after that there is an expectation that you will start to look at other areas of employment.
Not sure if this is much help, but do have a look at your agreement and if they have given you any additional paperwork look at that too, to see if they have outlined any of these requests in writing.
If they do sanction you and they have not written any of this down on your agreement/paperwork you can appeal their decision.
hi when i had my 1st appointment when works prog finished they took the agreement off me and said now im on this intensive course we dont use the agreement anymore instead i get a work plan where i am given tasks every week and i have to plan how i should attain these goals i.e the one i am struggling with consider the roles you can practically apply for based on your child care circumstances, she did put my hours onto her computer and told me i would not be forced to do hours after the hours i had agreed 9-3 but he says i have misunderstood what i was told.so it looks like i will have to search for a child minder for after school hours hoping to see a career advisor before my next job centre visit thanks
Hi amars, I'm afraid I don't have any inside information on this issue. It seems highly unfair though. How old are your children?
my lad is 10 i keep telling them once he starts primary school in august and has to start getting himself to school i will be able to think about longer hours but i am thinking they dont care has i have completed works prog and still unemployed they are now on a mission to sanction me i dont want to come across as poor me but i am getting reallly scared every week is a struggle to feed my lad if i am sanctioned i might have no choice but to put him in care or ask his mum to look after him as both these options are not good for him. also been given a sales job i have to apply for i told so called advisor that this was not a good job to apply for cause i would fail to make a wage by hitting sales targets but i am afraid its get me off benefits at all costs
Amars
I am sorry to hear about your experience on returning to the Jobcentre after the Work Programme. The Government are introducing a series of measures for people returning after their time on the Work Programme. From April this will be called "help to work". When I saw the stricter provisions including community work and daily signings I questioned the DWP about the provisions for single parents. They assured me that single parents would only been instructed to do activities that also took account of their need to look after their child.
In terms of looking for work during school hours you should be protected in the legislation. Sorry if I get a bit technical about the law but it might help if you can give the chapter and verse to your adviser. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains as provision to protect the wellbeing of children, the Welfare Reform Act 2012 states that if you are a single parent with a child under 13 you have the right to restrict the hours you are available to work to those of your child's normal school hours. The DWP that runs jobcentres have also stated the legal right in their own guidance.
It is really important that your jobseeker's agreement reflects your circumstances. If for instance you write in it that you are going to look for jobs full-time then you can be held to that and be sanctioned for not doing so. If you dont agree with what you are being asked to sign then dont. Complain, ask to speak to the manager (they should have a complaints procedure) including asking for a different adviser, you might want to request an adviser with 'lone parent' experience. From our own survey of single parents and their Agreements there was a wide variety in what they are asked to agree to putting some at a greater risk of a sanction.
Do let me know how you get on. I have a meeting in a couple of weeks with the DWP so would be happy to highlight if there are continuing problems.
Laura
Hi Laura, thanks for the response, it is great that there is some legislation that amars can quote to his advisor.
Amars have you signed anything saying that you will look for full time work? Do you feel able to quote the Welfare Reform Acts that Laura explains above?
thx laura you have been helpful i am going to stand my ground and insist i want hours between 9-3 i have not signed or agreed to do full time work i dont know if you ever been bullied but thats how i felt after the last meeting i was so angry at what he was telling me at the same time i felt so low about myself i think my lad also picked up on it cause he was himself very quiet bless him has been nice to talk to you about it i will jot that welfare reform acts down i am rubbish in arguments but i got to try and stand up for myself mad thing is he implied the jobs i and lots of others had applied for we had applied with no intention of ever taking them yet the truth is if he said there you go minimum wage job for you 9/3 i would be happy they seem to forget every job i am applying for got hundred of other applicants putting in for job also i know i am moaning and going on a bit i will stop now
Hope it all goes well for you at your next appointment amars, keep us updated on how you get on.
Hi amars, good luck from me too, practice what you want to say. And a good thing to remember is that when someone is trying to dissuade you from doing something that you want, just keep repeating your request and if you feel uncomfortable signing something, tell them you are going to get further advice.
When is your next appointment?
thx anna dreading next monday lol, and i am gonna check anything i sign carefully keep having horrible thought all those signings what if they duped me into signing for full time but they cant be that bad?
thx sarah have you guys or girls got a twitter page i will follow you but have to wait till tomorrow having a deactivation day today in support of stan collymore
Hi amars, it is so wrong that so many of us are filled with fear......by the job centre! Money is our life force, when we have so little and have the threat of losing our only meagre income it can affect our day to day life.
However believe in yourself. You are doing all that is expected of you and you won't have the wool pulled over your eyes.
We do have a twitter page, if you go to the homepage, you can click follow on the Tweets (middle column at the bottom). I just had a look at Stan Collymore news stories, poor bloke, but good for him for taking stand.
may i just ask, my advisor told me i had to put in for a sales assistant job i told him i didnt think that was a good position for me to take cause i did not like the idea of having to make sales to earn a wage too put food in my child`s mouth he told me it was a position i could realistically do and gave me the usual warning about sanction if i did not apply.so i have applied and perhaps fortunatly not heard back from them but i would like to know if i have any say in taking a self employed sales job if i didnt feel i could earn enough sales?
I don't know the answer to that, amars, but anyone (whether a parent or not) needs to know what their wages would be, for things like Working Tax Credit as well as for budgeting so it seems reasonable that you need to know you have at least minimum wage coming in.
Can I suggest you write down the law that Laura has quoted to you? It would help you to remember but also look rather impressive if you got a card out of your pocket with it written on!
written the part you quoted about the welfare reform act 2012 down
Well done, let us know how you get on.
just letting you know got a different advisor today and he actually pointed out it was in my agreement to do 20 to 25 hours so was telling me complete opposite of the other 1 but he as told me on my diary now i have to explain every job that i dont apply for why which is going to be time consuming if for example there are over 200 jobs in a day i am suppose to write in detail why i didnt apply seems like they are having a serious crackdown on me to help david cameron make it more uncomftable for me on benefits i get the bully back next week i know whatever jobs i i apply for he wont be satisfied. i can see why some ppl suffer deep depression going through all this anyway for now i survive another week phew apart from the extra work off explaining why each job as unsuitable hours or i dont have the skills
Hi amars, you are not alone with feeling the extreme pressure the job centre are putting you under.
If you have to explain a reason for each job, have a couple of pat answers and just put those ie: unrealistic hours, under qualified, unsuitable travelling distance.
It sounds as though you are spending a lot of time looking for work?
i am but feel like im have not got a clear run at applying for the jobs i want to go for because im going to have to spend time writing the ref numbers and reasons off all those i cant apply for. i am starting to wish they would bring that scheme in about having to work for benefits at least then ppl cant tell me i am a benefit scrounger if i am out there doing work they might back off a bit its so fustrating i am a old guy that having not worked since my lad was 3 employers just dont seem to want that kind of employee esp when he still has parenting duties i dont think its all my fault i cant find work but my country seems to be telling me different ooh well
Have you thought about doing some voluntary work? i know that may seem pretty impossible with all that you already have to do amars but some people have found this a benefical stepping stone into work.
i might consider more voluntary i once got a food hamper from our local church and ever since i visit them from time to time pulling up roots out of their garden but with the cold weather have not visited them for awhile problem with the church is the vicar prefers me to do any work for them while they are doing food hampers for ppl so my time is pretty limited 12pm tues 2pm friday sometimes i dont always get chance to go at those times if they let me go after i took my lad to school 9am i could do much more for them shame really it does make me feel better like i contributed something into the community
Amars
I note that the Jobcentre are pushing you towards jobs that are on a commission basis. It is only right that any job that you go into you will have a clear idea of what wage you will take home. They should do a 'better off in work' calculation for you. Jobcentres should allow you to turn down work where you will be worse off in that job.
In terms of the number of jobs that they expect you to apply for each week have they set this out in your Jobseeker's Agreement? An Agreement needs to be realistic. You want to be able to have enough time to go for the jobs that are right and not spend all your time going through unsuitable jobs.
Laura
It would great for parents to be involved in this!