A Keen Jobseeker's Story

One of our bloggers would like to share with Unheard Holler a complaint she is making about the long, difficult experience she has had as a Jobseeker.

There’s lots of details below about the mental distress she has suffered, what she calls the ‘incompetence’ of JobCentre staff, the debt she has got into following repeated, ‘unfair’ sanctions and miscommunications.

Read on to find out the reality of being a keen, dedicated Jobseeker...

To Whom It May Concern

I write to you to raise a complaint on the treatment I have received from both Job Centre Plus and Prospects staff whilst I have been on the work programme.

I have been on the work programme since June 2011, to date I am yet to be assisted to locate suitable employment or training opportunities to increase my chances of employment via the job centre and the work programme. I have been deeply dissatisfied with the treatment I have received from staff at both Job centre plus and Prospects my reasons are detailed below.

· I was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK and had provided a letter from the home office to confirm this at the start of the work programme in June 2011. I also advised my JSA advisor that I had a letter confirming my indefinite leave to remain status but was never asked to provide this information and instead was placed on a sanction in July 2012.

· I was never advised reason for the sanction or how this could be appealed until I requested a letter be sent detailing the reason for the sanction. This was sent on the 21/08/2012 over a month since the sanction was put in place.

· Following a meeting with a JSA advisor and Job Centre Plus manager it was established that the job centre advisor had made a note on the system“claimant not looking for work” and raised a sanction.

· On the 21/09/2012 a letter of appeal was made this included copies of indefinite leave to remain letter from the home office, letters from the home office confirming they were looking into an application for a duplicate passport, and a copy of my sign on book that documented my efforts to search and apply for jobs on a weekly basis.

· The manager advised that this would be looked into and a decision made within 1 week from the 21/09/2012.

· No decision was made until the 19/10/2012 following meeting with another Job Centre Plus manager. The information presented in the appeal on the 21/09/2012 was presented again to the Job Centre manager and he recommended the sanction be lifted and a back payment was made for £923 the following week. The manager advised this sanction was raised following a miscommunication.

· It has established during the above meeting with the Job Centre Plus manager that another sanctioned had been applied for failure to apply for two jobs, yet no letter had been sent to confirm this and was first aware of this whilst in the meeting with the Job Centre Plus manager.

· Following a phone call to DWP I was advised the sanction would be lifted on the 07/11/2012.

During my time with the work programme my IT and literacy skills have not been addressed. Despite requesting help to locate training, to improve my chances of employment opportunities I am yet to have these needs met.

During my visits to the job centre, I was made to feel like a second class citizen. I often felt like I was being spoken to like something on the bottom of the staff’s shoe. Advisors never ensured I had a good understanding of what I was required to do. I would often get confused in sessions with advisors and relied on the assistance of my support worker to ensure I understood the content of the meetings with JSA advisors.

Due to the issues I have had in the past with the Job Centre Plus it was recommended by a Job Centre Manager that I attend all work programme and Job Centre sessions with my support worker. However when I requested my support worker be present at my next work programme meeting it was refused by the Prospects manager, I was aware my advisor contacted Prospects to discuss my sanction and action plan but Prospect staff were not forthcoming and I can only assume that Prospects do not approve of clients receiving support from other agencies.

This left me feeling extremely frustrated and annoyed that the manager of Prospects was denying my right to have my needs met by allowing my support worker to be present to ensure I had a full understanding of my role in my action plan with the work programme advisor and to advocate on my behalf ensuring my voice was heard in the action plan and the action plan was been completed.

I have no faith or assurance in Job Centre Plus or the Work Programme. I fear my benefits can be cut at any moment for no good reason.

Staff ignore me or show me attitude when attending the Job Centre. Once whilst in the Job Centre completing a job search I over heard a manager gossiping about me to an advisor in relation to my right to work in the UK.

During my sanction I felt I was going throw a mental breakdown and visited my GP about my state of mind, consequently I was advised that my cholesterol was high and was offered counselling.

I borrowed money from family members, which caused an already difficult domestic situation to become worse and put me at greater risk. Eventually my family ignored my calls for help, and I succumbed to pressure to take out a high rate cash loan, in order to cover fulfilments to my council tax and rent as I was being threatened with court action.

Whilst on my sanction I had to walk to all appointments, job interviews, as I was without money and often without food, but as I feared there would be further consequences to my benefits so I persevered with the walking. The constant walking has consequently caused health problems to my feet.

I have been on an action plan with the Work Programme for over a year and I have received more comprehensive support from my support work in aiding me to be in a better position to obtain work which include attend ETE workshops, locating suitable training opportunities, as well as emotional support around the sanction and dealing with job centre and work programme advisors.

The key points that I would like to make in this complaint are:

- I have not received basic support to prepare for work.

- I attended every single appointment and fulfilled job search requirements whilst on sanction.

- I was sanctioned unfairly, through Job Centre Plus staff incompetence.

- I did not receive communication of either sanction to my benefits.

- The sanction which was applied incorrectly was only corrected because I and my support worker challenged the sanction.

- My lack of knowledge of what I am entitled to and lack of confidence to challenge staff means I rely on my support worker and this was denied by Prospect staff.

- I was left with large debt following my sanction.

- My mental state was hugely affected by events that followed from the sanction to my benefits.

Signed,

 

A Keen Jobseeker