New Deal and Flexible New Deal Exposed

Heyas,

I have been out of work for over a year now, And have been trying desperately to find work in anything, I have mainly been turned down because I do not have a full birth certificate at present, which will be here soon.

So from the past three horrible weeks.

I got placed on this course Called the Sarina Russo Job access. I am told that they will help me by putting me in work placements and so on.

Well I turn up for the induction and meet two people … They didnt even know I was meant to be there that day. So I answer a series of questions, then THEY HAVE THE CHEEK TO TELL ME * We do not like negative thoughts, be positive*

They explained the procedures to me and tried to tell me how they arent like the other courses and I said yes they are. * I have been on these courses they are all the same , but this one might be more helpful*

Then they start about the whole sanctioning stuff and I said i have not missed one day of any of the courses i was on * which I truly havent missed one day* but they still pushed about the sanction, and i started feeling scared and thinking have i done something wrong?

They then go on to what work I want to get in to. So I tell them I really want to get into Customer services or Administration as I really enjoyed working in these sectors before.

They then go on to what limits me from certain areas of work. This bit really makes my blood boil. I clearly stated to both of them that I have a knee injury and I CAN NOT*** not *will not*, I physically can not do work that requires me to stand for long periods of time because it can affect my knee and I was told by a surgeon that if my knee goes up the creek one more time I will probably end up having key hole surgery.

(I then get a text saying that my cousin has tried to kill himself and is in hospital. So I asked if i could leave early to go see him. They then start talking about sanctions and that this will be take off my holidays.)

Well you can guess what happened next. I had to repeat myself to the person they appointed me to, who was there during the induction, and wow you guessed it he/she took no notice of what I had told them. I was placed on a work placement that involved standing up, for 6 hours! I thought ok fine i dont want trouble so i will give it a try because i normally know when my knee is going to play up so i would stop if it did. WRONG!!!! about 2 hours in i feel this HUGE RUSH OF PAIN in the back of my knee then this burning sensation at the front. I look down to notice that my knee has swelled up to nearly the size of a childs play ball, then the joint stiffened. Now i am not the type to cry in font of people, it is the way i was brought up, *tears and emotions at home, happiness and laughter in public* But i really wanted to cry because of the pain.

I asked the shop manager if i could go home and he/she even said that he/she could tell i was in pain and embarrassingly gave me a walking stick to use to keep my balance.

I get an emergency appointment and go see the doctor, he/she said that there is severe knee inflammation and that I must stay off my leg for a week to rest it and he/she gave me a note.

I then find out that i have to go see an osteopathic surgeon and there is a high possibility of key hole surgery.

I get a phone call from sarina russo asking when i will next be in and i explained the situation to them. So now they want me to take the note to them the next day …. HELLO! 45 minute bus journey and 20 minute walk? Then i get threatened with being sanctioned if i cant bring that note in the next day. so i thought fine. I got my partner to take it in for me.

now for a whole week i was doped up on pain killers and anti inflammatory, that did nothing for the pain.

I went in on last week tuesday mornin to find out that these days are going to be taken off my sick days and holidays. So i though thats fair enough, then do what was asked of me and started job searching.

Now the 2 people are standing near my desk and over heard them talking about having a chat with me and one other person. So one of them said lets go do (other person) first cause i need to smile. I was disgusted by this.

45 minutes to an hour latter they come and get me to have a ‘chat’, I felt trapped, they then go on about how one of them is a qualified councillor and how i give off a negative vibe. he/she then has the cheek to say *i do not think that you do want to get into work* i said Excuse me?!?! he/she then says*i think you want to get back into education*… did he/she really think i wouldn’t of heard what they said the first time? any ways we came up with a deal, I talk to them more, they help me more.

long story short, a load of trouble comes up with my family, as well as my partner and i were facing eviction so BIG PANIC, they did help us out a bit, which was nice and they told me to take the rest of the week off to find a home.

Finally found a place, and managed to sort things out with our current landlord. so panic over.

Get back to the place this monday all went fine .. until i find out last minute that i am being put back on the same placement( this is a placement i was led to believe that was only for a week and they would find me one relevant to the work i want to do.) but thankfully they arranged work that didnt involve me standing.

Which leads to today, I go to my placement, was all fun until i finished my work within 2 hours of being there.. so on my lunch i went to a place and asked them if they would take on a volunteer and explained about the course im on, they told to get my cv and a letter from sarina russo.

I phone sarina russo and asked for my advisor and he/she was out at lunch so i asked if i could come down to print my cv and get a letter. I was told that it would be fine to do so.

I get to sarina russo and speak to my advisor, i then get asked why am i not on my placement and i explained that i finished my work early, but i found a place that will take me on. i then get told that it has to be community based work…. I was not told this in the beginning?

I then get a series of phone calls from them this afternoon talking more about sanctioning me and i told them that the placement they have me on is boring( i am way to fast paced for this placement)

I then get told that i have to do community based work and that it will be difficult for them to get me into the work i want to do….. Which turns out i will be on this placement for 13 weeks? i was told it would be for 1 week… I then get accused of making excuses and lying about a job interview that i have tomorrow and that i have to bring proof of attending it and they were getting very nasty on the phone to me.

I have now made an appointment with my advisor at the job center and i am going to complain, because of them not listening I have gotten injured, Because of them pushing me and adding more stress on to me i feel like i can not cope!

Im even thinking of going to the papers and radio stations about this!

Hi
Sorry for not getting back sooner. Illness was flu, lasted about 2 weeks. Decision maker said there was no problem. Pheonix manager got some coaching and counciling.
The issue of them trying to discourage complaints rumbles on. There investigation said:

“In the time following this Mr Kh did not intentionally avoid correspondence with you but deferred to Miss Ka who had explained to him that she would deal with the matter. Mr Kh realised this matter as being very important but understood that it was being dealt with by Ms Ka.
We apologise if this was not clearly explained to you as we do agree that Mr Kh should have acknowledged the email and point out that this had been forwarded on accordingly. This process has now been discussed with, and is understood by, Mr Kh. We find no reason why Mr Kh tried to discourage the complaint.”

I have asked – In what world do you, having acknowledged that he just forwarded the e-mail to the person being complained about ( without even acknowledging receipt) declare that they did nothing to discourage the complaint????

Like all the “pilot” 2 week trials (seen on various TV Documentaries)his experience will be neither real or valid.Does this MP have less than 3k in the bank I wonder? How can he be entitled to any allowance? and will he be sent on a 2Flexible” ha!ha! New Deal boot camp?

I sent a letter to David Cameron pointing out the unfairness and intellectual inconsistency in “Skills & Training” and the contraventions against Human Rights leaving someone without ANY money to live on,other than being contradictory to “helping you get back to work” and his lacky wrote back telling me he had passed my comments on to the DWP! What a cop out,the DWP already know what they are doing Mr Cameron and so do you. I will be writing to Mr Cameron inviting him to a TV Channel of his choice to discuss his pre elected statement “Real help for those who genuinely want to work” I wonder if he will accept? The Flexible New Deal is a Labour legacy that Mr Cameron has no stomach to face up to or deal with…evidently. What a crock of ****!

Money in the form of revenues and profits is the only language these people understand. They know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

In the case of FND, most of the value of funds these organisations rake in from the Government is entirely dependant on participants’ Job Outcomes. But in order to go snooping on ex-participants the providers will need to have legal authorisation in the form of a Data Protection Act waiver signed by the participant. Consent for such authorisation has to be voluntary and refusal to give consent or withdrawing existing will not affect a participant’s entitlement to benefit.

I’ve been unemloyed for 7 months now and the prospect of having to attend Action4Exploitation or some other snivelling con artiste organisation is about as appealing as having my wisdom teeth removed by an alcoholic dentist. But if the worst comes to the worst I fully intend to write to the Chief Executive of the FND provider as soon as I have been notified to attend the “course” and let him/her know that my right to confidentiality and the safeguards provided by The Data Protection Act 1998 (and probably Article 8 of The Human Rights Act 1998)are neither subject to nor usurped by his/her desire to increase profits and consequently I have no intention of throwing away my rights under Data Protection legislation.

Of course I’m concerned that such action might lead to a benefit sanction by our friendly neighbourhood decision makers. But who knows ? a tribunal chairman or a Social Security commissioner might rule that under the circumstances such a sanction should not be imposed.

Dear Guys

Well its me again! So I went to the Tribunal, needless to say none of the dozens of different people that sent letters to me (you are right they cross department it so no one individual can take responsibility) didn’t turn up. I laid my case to the Judge, gave all the details under good cause:Intellectual discrimination, not “tailored” to my needs (or indeed anyone who can successfully peel a banana upwards!),quoted many of the irregulations mentioned on your site, DMG laws,Human Right,UNESCO (right to suitable education) and recounted the story of the JC Adviser and his treatment and behaviour to me.

At the end of the trial the Judge (a certain Mrs Green,best omit this in case it actually is her name) had raised eyebrows, she said (and I quote): Will you come back for a retrial? If you do I believe it will be in your interest. I assured her I would and have heard nothing since! Bare in mind my unlawfully issued sanction (6 months tacked on to the first 2 weeks without a second 2 week sanction-the DMG states this is how it should be done-so they have effectively broken their own laws, and I have “good reason”) is due to end on Sept 6th 2010 and I have already had a threat about the second 6 month sanction that has been tacked on. I asked the lady I sign with 2 weekly (yes I go and I do it) if there is a similar legal interim they (the sanctioners!) have to adhere to prior to issuing a second sanction? She does not know and says none of them do as it is the first time it has been rolled out. So I write to my new PA (Personal Adviser) to ask, heard nothing yet.

Here’s the rub, by setting yet another 6 months sanction to follow the first they are effectively assuming that The Tribunal will go in their favor, the time The Tribunal has taken since the first hearing in setting a second Trial date, is fast encroaching the end of sanction 1 and approaching sanction 2. I have been without a regular meal or ANY MONEY for 5 months now (supportive friends and family 100%behind me) but it is hard and it seems a bit collusive that the Tribunal has not hurried through this second re Trial date. Also I was told it would not be the same Judge!

It does seem like there is active collusion between the JC and The Tribunal in deliberately dragging their feet to:
A. Put me off by wearing me down.
B.To address the issue in any way
C.Reluctance to try the “Set Sanctions” and their legality.
D.To acknowledge the Human Rights and other laws that question the legality of sanctions
E To put me at risk of incurring a second 6 month sanction.

I wrote to The Tribunal asking them to be mindful of my deteriorated circumstances and to please re Trial as soon as possible. I believe I have the right to have the first matter dealt with without the risk of running on to or incurring a second sanction no?

If a second sanction of 6 months is issued this will delay everything and potentially (if I get employment and say become redundant again) leave me facing another 6 months with no money should I make a future claim. Do you or any one know the policy and procedure on this? I feel that the JC are colluding somehow and do not understand how they have not been called to the Bar by the Judge to answer my case to them. If I sign off at the end of the first 6 month sanction can I still follow up and take the matter to re Trial as ordered by the Judge? How can a second sanction be imposed if the first is still under question? Am I safe to sign off before the second sanction (if allowed) begins and my first case against the second sanction still be valid? I want to follow this through because it is damn right disgusting and as you and many subscribers have pointed out, my work search and life has been further diminished by their actions. Remember I asked for access to a suitable programme over NVQ L2, which few of the current “providers” run.

I am writing again to the Judge to ask for a speedy re trial and mentioned the same points as above to them, including the fact it makes it look collusive! I wanted to post this but could not, is someone trying to stop the truth I wonder, counter hackers? or have they all just sent me in to a paranoid awareness of how low they will go? Please post this for me. You can go under “Jane” or “Etruscan” Hope to hear some resolve and advice.

Thank you so much for making this site it is about time! You have my total admiration and support.

Unless the rules have changed, if your holiday dates clash with your normal signing day you tell the jobcentre in advance and they give you alternative dates to sign on.

Hi Martyn:
can you explain in more details of what was wrong and why?

Just started on one with Calder in North London. I have lost count of the times i’ve read or heard the word ‘sanction’. Would be nice to impose theultimate sanction on them. Going to run a weekly u[pdate on life (or lack of) at Colder.

Thats the problem they will be guaranteed new contracts… The Work Programme… for instance will be one of them.

aAt the risk of sounding bloody minded FND that sure as hell suits me. and a few other people as it shows that they FND providers aren’t prepared to pay the game and therefore theyshould be refused any workfare programmes

certainly there is evidence of this though the new deal program,and what has been published on the net overcrowding antiquated equipment,poor facilities even not bothering to update papers’ and an overall lack of,it certainly isn’t no expense spared,when in the new deal provider’s i had to drag someone out of the office to offer assistance to someone who had been stuck in front of a pc and never used one before and was completely lost,all that seemed to prioritise was the “attitude” to those forced onto this program and seize on any detail to cause trouble.i certainly felt the individual was thought improbable difficult and workshy throughout.

The number of times I have told jobcentre staff their website is rubbish.
You get 3 different sets of results depending on whether:
1. You search their website.
2. You search on the jobcentre terminals.
3. Jobcentre staff search on their computers.

Once the jobcentre advisor printed out a list of 100 jobs from all over the country, most of which were useless one way or another, but the list did not include the very suitable local job I located the previous day using their website, and had already applied for. The only two jobs on the list within 50 miles of my town, were prefixed with JUNIOR, and TRAINEE, which didn’t really match my 30 years experience.

As I live on the border of south west / south east, I just search all of Britain, then make my own judgement of how practical any travelling might be.

I search for ‘ELECTRONICS DESIGN ENGINEER’, which gets translated to ‘ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DESIGNER’, then the page goes on to list:
at least a dozen MECHANICAL ENGINEER jobs,
several ELECTRICAL ENGINEER jobs,
often an occasional KITCHEN DESIGNER job,
and sometimes an INTERIOR DESIGNER job.

When the job title is just DESIGN ENGINEER, it is not worth clicking on, because that will be a MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER job.

How can the government spend so much money, intending to help a whole nation’s unemployed get back to work, yet end up with such a crap system?

I’ve offered to fix it for them.