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Thank you Louise and Anna.
There is such inconsistency between the Work Programme providers. The one I have been referred to insists on everyone doing the same thing (in fact it's mandatory). I have a friend who has been referred to a much more helpful provider who does not insist on mandatory courses if their clients don't need them.
I have not received any help from my WP provider whatsoever. I have not been given "tailored and personalised support". That is what upsets me so much. It is a complete waste of my time (and money, because they don't pay my travelling expenses).
Sorry for another rant.
Its fine Good Enough Mum, you rant away, it is bizarre how randomly different each provider is, hopefully in time it will become more uniform. Don't hold your breath though 
hi i was recently moved on to the work programme had my first appointment sent out for (9 0 clock start which was a school day and due to lack of childcare i couldnt make it.
i then phoned into the avanta and told them my reason.
i been out of work now for 7 years threw depression and recently signed myself off to get back on my feet as i have shared custody of my daughter.
the only income i get is jobseekers and currently rent house.
when i made my phone call to the work programme they took my reason as i cant get childcare on a morning and made me a new appointment.
now since i never made it to the first appointment the jobcentre then went and sanctioned my money and now im sleeping on my mams floor with my daughter as we cant afford to live i get no money till may threw this.
i beleive this is 1 big mess and they dont realise what impact its having on people mentally and physically.
Hi andrewgrayson
It can be terribly traumatic and scary when your money gets sanctioned.
Firstly you say you have shared custody of your daughter. Would it be better for your daughter to stay with her mum until your housing gets sorted, rather than sleeping on her grandmothers floor?
Secondly contact our Housing Expert and see what your housing options are.
I am not sure if you can, but you could ask our Money Expert whether you can appeal against this sanction.
Hi Andrew... I'm really sorry to hear you have been sanctioned for such a riddiculous reason... this is typical of the Work Programme.
I am also with Avanta but I go to one of their offshoot branches which is a different company more local to me. The first appointment I received was also for 9am, and when I explained it clashes with the school run I was basically told 'tuff' I was lucky that I had a family member to help me that day, but we should not be sanctioned if we are asking for an appointment to be rescheduled for good reason, that is not refusing to attend!
I think you should perhaps go the CAB and ask their advice... I think they are well accustomend to advice about santions.
I received a P45 in the post from the DWP 2 weeks ago! I phoned up and they told me that it was because I failed to sign, but then when the woman looked into the computer records she could clearly see that I HAD signed.. this was also backed up with proof that I had and the JC woman I had signed with. One stupid man had caused me to go without money for 3 weeks, and my housing benefit was also stopped... they have sorted it out now, I had to fill in a form and do a rapid reclaim... but got innundated with letters from the council telling me my rent was in arrears... luckily that has just been sorted out now too.
I wish you the very best and hope it gets sorted out soon!
yes i am very dissapionted on how they decide to do this.
this is leaving me in an impossible posittion and really am getting very stressed over this whole situation.
I could leave her with her mam and have tried but she refuses to do stuff for me on my time when i quite clearly need the help another part of my life which is very stressfull not for this.
this is 1 big mess for me and i will appeal the sanction with a gl24 form and hope to get my money back.
and just hope it sorts out its the fact i cant have my daughter for a month which is disgraceful.
Hi ami, it sounds as though you went through the mill, it seems that we are far more on top of what is going on than the professionals! Glad that everthing got sorted. You have to keep bothering them, its a shame we don't get money back for the phone bill though eh?!
andrewgrayson, so is your daughter with her mother right now?
she is with me till friday then 4 days with her mam but things arnt easy with childcare arrangements.
so i just keep head up and get on with it shud be sorted get some money on the 16th may
thing will be ok i hope.
Hi andrewgrayson, is your mum able to lend you some money to see you through, a month is a long time eh?
she is doing her best but she has 2 young ones as well to look after so things arnt eay for her to lend me money ..... Its a blip and i will get threw it...and in the meanwhile fight my case
Hi, I'm new,
I had to check the date of the first post and I am annoyed it's almost 12 months old and things with the Work Programme have not improved regarding appointment times conflicting with with school drop off. I was given a 9.15am appointment at a centre half an hour away from my son's school which opens at 9.10. I was made to feel inadequate for not being able to make arrangements for him to be taken by someone else. I was told if I failed to attend I would lose entitlement to benefits. I suggested in that case I would bring him with me. I was informed the centre wasn't insured for children and if I attended with him I would be marked as failed to attend. I asked to speak to a supervisor and I asked her how I complain about the company. She informed me that if I wanted to complain I could contact JCP or my MP. There is a Work Programme within walking distance from my home but instead I have to travel via bus to one much further away but they will not change the location. I have, after 4 telephone calls and 2 emails arranged a 10am appointment. I have been informed that the bus leaves at 9.26 and it is a 27 minute journey and a 5 minute walk to the centre. I have never attended before but if I am late I will be marked as failed to attend.
Sorry for the long silence everyone.
I'm really horrified by your stories andrewgrayson and clickertea. When I was put on the WP I armed myself with the info that single parents were allowed reasonable travel distance and that school drop off/pick ups had to be taken into consideration under the 'Job Seekers Single Parent Flexibilities' (there is a link to them on this site). But having been told I now have to apply for jobs up to 90 mins travel - each way, I no longer know if these flexibilites exist. The JC advisor I saw at that time told me there were no such flexibilies, except the right to restrict your workin hours to school times (however that surely should still include time needed to drop and pick a child up???. If they do exist, they are being blatantly and possibly illegally ignored, or staff so badly trained they do not know and probably do not care.
Have you both reviewed your jobseekers agreements at the JC? It would be worth amending it as it is possibly wrong and you can tell them about the flexibilities at the same time.
I had mine recently reviewed. Under the section for 'any children?' someone had entered 'not known' on the system, yet I have clearly stated - on many occassions - that I have a child and given her date of birth etc. She even attends signing on with me in the school hols.
PS is it me, or are there even less jobs around to apply for at the moment?
Love to all xx
Hello J6767
Nice to see you again and I hope you are feeling OK
I just want to draw everyone's attention to a thread in Media requests, where they are wanting to interview people who have had trouble navigating the benefit system, including during the search for work. It seems to me that this may be an opportunity to highlight on TV the difficulties that the Work Programme has presented. See here for the thread.
Dear All,
Sorry to hear all your recent experiences at the Jobcentre and the Work Programme. In terms of journey times the rules have changes for all job seekers. Previously in the first 13 weeks of a claim you could restrict your travel time to an hour. Once you reached thirteen weeks you would have to increase this to 90 minutes each way. The rules have now changed for all job seekers that journey times of 90 minutes each way are expected from day one of a claim. However, as single parents those journey times need to take account of not only your journey times to and from work but also your additional time needed to take and drop off your child at school or childcare. It would also seem unreasonable that for a parent of younger children under 13 where you can only work during school hours that it would be counterproductive to get someone to travel 90 minutes each way when you could only working a few hours. By the time you got to work it would time to get home!
In terms of appointment times clashing with school drop off's this is becoming an increasing theme. This is something I am campaigning about. I am raising yet again with the DWP when I meet with them next month. I will bring the evidence from One Space about this to the meeting and ask for their response.
J6767 you make an interesting point about jobs. A recent report by Women Like Us found that if you wanted a quality part-time job (ie paying 20 k full time equivalent) that you had one job to apply for to compared to 18 jobs if you were wanted to work part-time.
Please can people keep posting about their experiences of the Work Programme, I will do my best to raise your concerns with Government.
Laura 
Thanks Laura, it is brilliant to know that you are on side and sharing our views with the people who matter. Keep up the good work and thank you.
I know I shouldn't prejudge these "money for old rope schemes". But I have been on so many before and of my own volition. I hoped each time i'd gain something from them and each time I ended up listening to someone state the obvious via a whiteboard. Anyway my appointment with Avanta is next Friday and I will update you all on what will hopefully be a wonderful. eye-opening and fulfilling experience.
I do feel as though the JCP have given up on me and are now sending me to the WP as a last ditch attempt to reform me before I'm banished to the cellar like some relative that reflects badly on the family. It is a case of shifting the problem elsewhere because as my JCP advisor told me "We used to have 20 minuted with a client. That was cut to 15 and then 10. Of the 10, 5 minutes was taken up arranging appointment times. Perhaps they could employ more advisors.
I don't know what the answer is, clickertea. Hope your course isn't too excruciating, let us know.
Ladies hope all is well on the Work Programme! I'm with Scientiam in Preston, its ok....I have a great advisor who turned out to go my old School and knows a lot of the people I know.
She asked me to work for Scientiam so is trying to arrange some work experience with their training house in Liverpool1 Training Academy, assisting the students in delivering the Retail and Visual Merchandising courses.
I'm also being assisted in locating jobs within the Assessor route for retail.
That's interesting, and WELL DONE to you. You will be able to bring great insights to the roles, too
Well done Helly13, that is excellent!!
After making a complaint, I am hoping that things will be much better for me now with my provider. I shall keep you informed!
Hope everyone is okay
Fantastic news HELLY13!
As they say, it is not always what you know, but who you know - can't wait to hear more - keep positive
Hi all, Im new to this site. Just been searching the web, after worrying about my Work Programme, waiting to hear about first appointment with Avanta. Have been on jobseekers for a year, after separating from my husband. I have had quite a few part-time jobs in that year, but finding it hard to get to the 16hrs, as I dont want to leave my 11 year old for too long in school hols, or eves/weekends. What about the school holidays? I manage to get someone to look after him for a few hrs, but 16 every week! Cant find childminders to have a 11 yr old, and dont think he would want to go even if I did!. Getting myself worked up now. Want to work, but my children will always come first.
Hi
It is a very difficult position to be in.
I know that one teacher where I live (North West Wales) has set up a holiday school at her home. She will take children up to age 16. She's done it off her own bat, knowing there's a need, but goodness knows what her prices are.
If you do find childcare don't forget that working tax credits will help towards the fees.
It's something I don't agree with, I have to say, when you don't have family support to cover those long holidays.
Hi help me now, I totally understand how you are feeling - I too used to worry about it, but you will be surprised how the years pass and somehow you manage to juggle it.
Does your son have a good school friend who he could perhaps go to a few evenings a week? My daughter actually preferred to stay home alone - although she became addicted to Desperate Housewives at the age of 13. 
Have you spoken with your son about this? Ask him 'if you had to go to work and come home at 5.30, how would he feel about it?'
It is unfair and our Parliamentary Officer will no doubt be online and comment on your thread next week.
We have talked about it before. I have left him for about an hr max, and he doesnt even like that. I have applied for jobs in schools, so I can be home in hols, but there isnt many of them around. I also have a 15yr old daughter, but she has afterschool/revision/btec classes after school most days, so she cant collect him or look after him for me. I know in a year or 2 he will be fine on his own, so it will be much easier, but that doesnt help now, especially with all the pressure we are under to find work. I have done part-time work for most of the year that I have been on jsa, and as only a few hrs, its easier to find someone to look after him in hols. Today received my work programme insight appoinment, and guess what? 1-4pm, so will clash with school run straight away. Not sure if to phone them to see if they can change, dont want to be sanctioned, but what am i meant to do? + looks as if he is coming down with flu at mo.
We have talked about it before. I have left him for about an hr max, and he doesnt even like that. I have applied for jobs in schools, so I can be home in hols, but there isnt many of them around. I also have a 15yr old daughter, but she has afterschool/revision/btec classes after school most days, so she cant collect him or look after him for me. I know in a year or 2 he will be fine on his own, so it will be much easier, but that doesnt help now, especially with all the pressure we are under to find work. I have done part-time work for most of the year that I have been on jsa, and as only a few hrs, its easier to find someone to look after him in hols. Today received my work programme insight appoinment, and guess what? 1-4pm, so will clash with school run straight away. Not sure if to phone them to see if they can change, dont want to be sanctioned, but what am i meant to do? + looks as if he is coming down with flu at mo.
Hello to all. What a fantastic site! Stumbled across it when trying to gather some information about the work programme. I have just attended a 'presentation' on how wonderful the programme is. Thats half an hour of my life I wont get back. I have my appointment to be assigned to either Ingeus or A4E on the 29th May and was worried what to expect so thanks for all the great advice on here.
Hi Molliesmum,
I only stumbled on here yesterday, whilst looking for info on the work programme. My first appointment is on the 24th May, and will last 2-3hrs (yay, cant wait!) Feels good having other mums going through same thing, and to report back to. Good luck with yours, I will let you know how I get on.
Hi to you too. Please do let me know how it goes. Today was all about all the sactions we could face and not much about how, in my part of the world, (Liverpool) there are over 20 job seekers per one vacancy. I am worried because Im on my own with the two children and no family to help mind them and I have been told their ages 11 and 12 mean I have to be available for full time work covering any hours 
so it will be interesting to compare experiences! Good Luck for the 24th
Yeah Im in pretty much the same situation, I have a great family, but they are over 60miles away, so cant help out regularly. My jobseekers agreement states that I can only work 9.30-2.30, due to school run, so Im hoping the work programme will do the same. Are you sure they can make you work other hours? I will be pretty angry if they do tell me to do other hours, as Im not leaving my 11yr old alone. Its so difficult with this age, as no childminders want them, yet they are not quite ready to be alone.
To be honest I dont know what they will say because there is no age limit in law for leaving children alone. I was told they will say I can work full time bya man who I was talking to re some training, he doesnt work for them so hopefully he is wrong. I have to say I would not be comfortable leaving my two alone for long and I am going to be very interested to hear what the work programme person says on the issue because I shall be pressing for a categorical answer on this from him/her. That should be fun!
Hi everyone, hope you're all OK today.
There's a section on childcare on this link, page 3. It's a DWP doc:
www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/work-programme-faqs.pdf
However I don't know what age range they are talking about.
On the NSCCP site they say:
"The law does not set a minimum age at which children can be left alone. However, it is an offence to leave a child alone when doing so puts him or her at risk.
Children under the age of 12 should not be left alone for more than a very short time; remember to put all obvious dangers out of reach, such as medicines, matches, and sharp objects. For older children, make sure they know what to do in an emergency and who to contact. We recommend that children under the age of 16 are not left alone overnight."
It is outrageous for WP Providers book appts for single parents out of school hours without due consideration and then to threaten sanctions. Has anyone asked Social Services what they think?
Good luck xx
Thanks for that link J6767.
Hi Molliesmum and help me now, I will be in touch with Laura tomorrow to see if she can shed any further light on the situation.
Hi MolliesMum,
You live not too far away from me. I wish I was up against 20 applicants. Have a look at an email that was sent by my recruitment consultant regarding a job I had a applied for. I've alwasy been shortlisted, however not on this time! (note how many applied for the job!)
BR******* | SALES MERCHANDISER | Northern UK
I appreciate you coming back to me and confirming with me your enthusiasm and wish to be considered for the above role.
As I am sure you can understand, with such a fantastic Brand - response for this role has been overwhelming (over c.1000 applicants) and all of a very high calibre.
Further selection decisions have been tough for us here at ???? as we have had many good people like yourself apply, however our role is to present a small, highly relevant selection to the client and after much thought it was felt that a couple other candidates possessed that ‘edge’ over your own profile.
For these reasons, we are unable to progress with your application, but as mentioned in our original email we would like to retain your details here at ??? so that when other similar roles come along we are in a position to consider your details amongst selection.
I trust you understand,
Thank you again so much for your interest shown.
Wow HELLY13, that is a lot of applicants.
I have to say that I am impressed that have written a letter to say that you were unsuccessful at this time and also they do sound sincerely apologetic - however if you are on the receiveing end of that letter I am sure you were shouting - NO I dont understand...
Hi Anna
To be honest watch brands are not my thing, jewellery is my passion and I can talk about it for ages. I think I'm an ol'fashioned gal, men to watches , women to jewellery! Money was good tho!
Dear All,
Lots has been happening while I have been away from One Space for a few days.
In terms of leaving children home alone, it must be up to the parents of children as they know them best. You are legally responsible for the care of your children until they are 16, and so as such you are best to decide how safe and capable they are. This is something that JCP and Work Programme providers give inconsistant advice about and do not seem to be in line with advice from Social Services Depts who would be more cautious. At SPAN, the charity that runs One Space we are concerned about the well-being of children including those at seconday school. You might be interested in the article that I was interviewed for in the publication 'Children and Young People Now'. www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1044596/single-parents-advice-leaving-children-unattended
I am also campaigning on the issue of appointment times for single parents. It is a continuing theme that parents are being offered appointments at unsuitable times (such as school drop off times) and some are being threatened with sanctions (this is not acceptable). I have done what is called a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Department of Work and Pensions to clarify about this issue. I will hear back by the 21st May and let you know the response on One Space.
Yesterday, SPAN launched a new research report in Parliament about the experience of single parents moving over to Jobseekers Allowance. You can see a copy of the report. In the recommendations you can see the areas where we campaigning for single parents and their children. We also took two single parents who were involved in the research to talk about their experiences and recommendations.
The Work Programme remains an important issue for single parents and is also a policy priority for me. In the next week or so I will be advertising for single parents across to be interviewed over the phone about their experiences, both good and bad. This will be advertised on One Space.
All the best
Laura
Meant to say in the last paragraph, across Britain.
Laura
Hi Laura,
I post on the Consumer Action Group/Ingeus forum. With regard to the DWP and from conversations had with my advisers at the JCP, they loathe the WP providers. Its got to the point its created an us (DWP) and them (WP) situation. On the basis of sanctions the WP has to come up with a pretty water tight and good reason why they refer for sanction now as it appears the decision maker.
Helly 13,
I think even where sanctions are not applied that the threat of sanctions is used against single parents, and that these parents do not want to run the risk of doing something wrong and having their benefits potentially cut. It would be great to have a link to the forum that you refer to.
Would you be interested in being interviewed about the Work Programme?
Laura
Hi Laura I would be more than happy to be interviewed.
The link is:
www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?309173-Ingeus/page36
The forum is currently running at 36 pages and so would be wise to read from numero uno!
On a side note Flumps poster works for the DWP and is a valuable source of 'insider' knowledge. Also the Bandits to the Wefare to Work forum is a great too that needs a google work for word.!
Helly 13
Many thanks.
Could you let me know what part of the country you live? Could you also let me know what a sales merchandiser role involves? I might tweet about this issue.
Laura
Laura its so good that you are able to take this information to the Minister. Would be good if they listened...
Helly, I'm sorry you didn't get the job, but glad that they replied to you.
Sparkinglime
I will let you know how I get on with the Ministers response.
Helly 13
I meant to say the issue of competition for jobs as opposed to the issue of sales merchandiser!
Laura
Hi Laura
NOTE FROM MODERATOR: For anonymity and confidentiality of all our users, your locality has been deleted, however Laura has been notified of the information.
With regards to the Area Visual Merchandiser/Trainer there's huge competition, however it's not just about candidate competition it's also about the company and its ageist attitudes. I'm 42 with a huge amount of retail, B2B, training and VV work. In the past I applied for companies such as Pandora and Calvin Klein only to be usurped by young less experienced candidates. Recruiters have told me off the record I had too much experience. So when looking at companies to apply to it's not just about apply and be damned, you have to look at the company profile, young trendy not suitable for a woman at my age etc
The general word in the press is there are 20 applicants for each job, must be an average, add a nought to that figure and that would be nearer the truth. Even in the good ol'days I was up againt 50 applicants. The problem with postal applicants is not so much making the C.V stand out, but getting the envelope to be opened would be a start, being inventive is key!! I am aware the of the time constraints recruitment and retail staff have on them and just sifting through a mountain of C.V would test anyones patience!
Hi Sparklinglime, I am sorry for not getting the chance to be interviewed, however the interviews cost a small fortune. The venue's are usually off the beaten track, one was 5 miles out of York! Plus the interview stages sometimes are three, initial in the north, second in London with the Brand Manager and HR, then sometimes a third presentation to Director level. I'm not complaining as the cost of taking on someone and subsequent training/mentoring costs thousands and they need to be sure. I never ask for financial help from the DWP or WP don't want them sticking their noses in and ruining my chances!
Hi everyone, I thought I'd just share a bit of my story, I've been the sole carer of my now 9 year old all of her life. We have faced many difficulties, mostly down to finances & housing & I now have a health condition called fibromyalgia. This is very tricky when it comes to the benefits system, I was transferred to jobseekers allowance last year & am somehow expected to get employment, this being highly unlikely as a lone parent with mobility issues.
Applying for esa makes me fearful as I was on it before & the medical assessor took me off it for apparently not being ill enough. What am I supposed to do? I could have appealed but this would have taken months & I don't have savings. I'd love to study & work eventually but every avenue I've explored has led to a dead end.
I sometimes feel that as a single parent with no money, nothing I do is right & my efforts to better myself & our life are sneered upon by those in charge. I have now been signed onto the work programme & have to go to sessions on motivation. I'm not lacking motivation, just opportunities.
Feedback most welcome on this subject!
Just wanted to introduce myself. A lone mum of a 4 year old daughter, currently home educated and soon to be 5. I am desperately seeking advice from others that may be or have been in a similar situation.
I had my final "triggered" meeting with the job centre today. I can expect my final meeting with them as a recipient of income support around mid June when I will be expected to make a plan of action with the advisor and claims for JSA to begin in August. The meeting today was wholly pointless. The advisor did not wish to discuss options with me, gave me a list of incentives I may be eligible for if I go back to work before the move to JSA with no explanation or discussion about what they entailed, told me I would be unable to home ed!, that I would have to be prepared to travel 1 and half hours each way to a job as well as work the min 16 hours.
I saw a previous thread about the JSA flexibilities but there was no answer to the question where had they gone. Could anyone please clarify for me how it stands now regarding the travel and will it change again after May 21st with the forthcoming changes for parents of children of 5 years of age?
Roseblossom
In terms of travel times the regulations (the legal guidance) has changed for all job seekers. It used to be that travel times when you first went on JSA were up to an hour. After 13 weeks this would increase to 90 minutes. The new rules mean that you have to be prepared to travel 90 minutes each way from day one of your claim. Although this is for all job seekers the DWP people do recognise that for someone that can restrict their hours like single parents that their circumstances need to be taken into account. So for instance someone like you who has a young child and can work school hours it will be impractical to travel such a distance (as by the time you got to work you would need to come home - oh and pick up your child on the way). Jobcentre Plus advisers should take this into account and should include in your journey time the distance you need to travel to take and pick up your child from childcare.
In terms of home education I would contact the organisations that support home schoolers because I know that they were involved in discussions of the welfare legislation. They would be best placed to say what your rights are in relation to educating your child at home.
In terms of the broader flexibilities the only one written in stone is that if you are a single parent you can restrict your working hours to school hours. The other flexibilities are up for negotiation such as whether a job can be turned down if there is no suitable childcare (you would need to say that there is no suitable childcare and provide evidence and the adviser would need to judge whether what you say is reasonable).
The DWP should publish their guidance on the flexibilities shortly and we hope to produce something by the end of June. I note that your daughter will turn 5 in August.
Laura
Bad luck Good Enough Mum, it can feel so soul destroying can't it. Just try not to take it too personally, as Louise says it is just box ticking for the Job Centre.