Management Expertise

I enjoyed this post on the Guardian page for John Harris' video on the Guardian website.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/discussion/comment-permalink/14588036

Fail to attend

Inform

Following the events of my post, Reluctant "Yes", I decided to call Avanta to inform them I was unhappy with being told the PET (Pre-Employment Training) course was optional, and then being mandated to turn up. I called on Thursday 16/02/12 and left a message with reception, who informed me my adviser would call me back.

My call was returned at about 3pm today. I explained to my adviser (or 'Job Coach') what had happened, that I feel the course is a waste of time and I was planning not to turn up. I explained that I had been told it was optional and that the tutor was actually trying to convince me to join, and asking if I would agree to being put down as a "reluctant yes".

My adviser responded by telling me it is mandatory and, if I don't turn up, he'd have to tell the Job Centre and my benefit will be sanctioned. I told him that I intend to tell the Job Centre the same thing if they ask why I didn't turn up, and he responded by saying "You can tell them that, but we can just tell them we didn't say it was optional and it's very likely they'll sanction you".

He hurried away, saying "I have to go now, bye" and hung up before I could reply.

The Work Programme and the search for 'hidden jobs'

Is work and pensions minister Maria Miller right to say 'there isn't a shortage of jobs'? John Harris goes behind the scenes at the government's Work Programme in Warrington, meeting some unemployed people and those tasked with helping them find jobs. He then dusts off his CV and goes hunting for 'hidden jobs' in the town.

Deadline

When I first started Avanta, they said something along the lines of "Ok, we're going to aim to get you into work by November (2011), so that's your back-to-work deadline" - this was entered into their system.

Now you'd think this was fair enough; a nice little goal to motivate you and them. Nothing too formal, just "yeah, November would be good".

But this is Avanta, and logic goes out the window when you enter the door.

Now this date has passed, I've had this conversation:

Adviser: Are you aware you've passed your back-to-work deadline?

Me: You mean the date you put on the system?

Adviser: Yes. You were supposed to be in work by November. Since that date has passed, we're really going to have to push you now.

Me: But that's just a date somebody plucked out of the air. Typing a month into a computer doesn't make it any more likely that I'll be employed by then.

[the fact I'd only seen Avanta like 4 or 5 times at this point could also account for the date being useless]

Adviser: I see what you're saying, but we've told the Job Centre we'd have you working by November so now we have to explain to them why you're not.

Me: ... because if it was as easy as picking a date, I'd have just done that a year ago and I'd magically have a job.

Adviser: OK, well what we'll do now is set a new back-to-work date to work towards. If I can't get you into a job, it comes down on me and I'll be joining you on the dole.


At least he's honest.

Reluctant "Yes"

Just a quick one: To anyone who has read my previous post on Avanta, there's a section on 'The Course' they want me to take. It's basically a CV making, group work affair like every other "course" I've ever been on with the Job Centre. It's useless to me, if only for the fact I've done it so many times before.

To recap, I was invited to a meeting to explain the benefits of this course to me. It was initially implied that the course was mandatory but, during the meeting, the adviser was really just trying to get me to say I *wanted* to go on the course. His closing line was "shall I put you down as a 'reluctant yes'?"

When the meeting took place, I was told "Nothing is final - go away and think about it. We'll send you a letter with the information and you can decide what you want to do".

This took place on Monday 6th February. Today (15/02/12) I received this:

I think you'll agree it's quite different to what I was told. So now I'm being told it's all sorted and I have to turn up?

Then again, it does say it may be a condition of my benefit.

They're not very consistent, are they?

Follow up: http://avantablog.blogspot.com/2012/02/fail-to-attend.html

Avanta & The Work Programme

(I apologise for the length and verbosity of this post. I'm not a brilliant writer, and it's just mainly to get down everything I've experienced)


Me

I won't pretend I'm the perfect job seeker. I don't spend the majority of my time applying for everything out there I can find (which, to be fair, isn't much anyway). I'm picky. That said, I do have a desire to work, and I do actively apply for work which I feel I'd be suited to. Like most job seekers today, I rarely get a response - and when I do reach the interview stage, I get turned away for whatever reason. Better people for the job; people who haven't been unemployed for as long as myself, etc. So many others apply that the numbers are usually against me...

In the past, the Job Centre have referred me to other organisations designed to help me into work. 'Gateway to Work' is one I remember well. I've been there 3 times, and each time I got "taught" the same things. How to make a CV. How to write a letter. How to make a bunch of nails stand on top of another nail. I'd ace literacy and numeracy tests designed for a child. I understand there are people out there who need this help, but I'm not one of them, and I know there are many others in my situation who feel the same. Other referrals were the same deal. Same patter, same unneeded services. As much as I enjoy the fresh air, having the government give me extra money for travel expenses to do the same things I can do at home never really made much sense.

I've witnessed a lot of these 'back to work' schemes fail miserably and shut down. A testament, I'm sure, to their ultimate effectiveness.

Enter the divine hand of the Work Programme...