MyWorkSearch change of name

The controversial MyWorkSearch that integrates with Universal Jobmatch changes name.

DWP is a client. Mmm...

Formerly known as MyWorkSearch, Aptem is the market-leading online service that helps transform employment programmes. It is a single platform that delivers everything a provider requires: employer contact management, case management, performance and contract management, skills, job search resources, tracking and reporting. It eliminates the need to purchase different systems for the various elements of your programmes, whilst ensuring all your data is in one convenient place. Proven in numerous contracts in the UK and Australia, Aptem saves providers time and money whilst improving outcomes.

http://www.mwstechnology.com/welfare-to-work/

Richard Alberg, Chair of North Herts College...

http://www.thecomet.net/comet-life/founder-of-firm-which-helps-get-people-into-work-takes-the-chair-at-north-herts-college-1-4135700

i remember that site it got a right ripping apart on unemployment movement site and there admin came on site

at end he didnt like the answers or the replies he got from the site

he also refused to answer my questions put forward to them as they have something to hide

the site speaks of tracking its users and informing of them to dwp minions

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/my_work_search_website_httpwwwmy

https://wwwrefuteddotorgdotuk.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/clones/

I cannot remember that particular discussion.  Was it before 2014 by any chance? I discovered UM in that year so I may have missed that thread.

My understanding is that no one is obliged to register with MWS site and it is strongly advised that people refuse to do so, to avoid stalking tracking.

one of um's members posted that they had been mandated by the wp system to create an account with the myworksearch.co.uk site around 22 Apr 2015

a lot of its members told them they didn't have to do as its a private company so was by consent basis at the time and still is

it went through the full 10 pages and myworksearch admin owner was trying to promote the site what they didn't expect was the users telling them they had no right and couldn't make users consent to the site

in end myworksearch admin refused to post anymore on the site but the argument went over onto its twitter account until that got shut down as well

abc and many other members that have joined here will remember that website

Admin wrote:one of um's members posted that they had been mandated by the wp system to create an account with the myworksearch.co.uk site around 22 Apr 2015

I had similar when I was first on CWP, the "advisor" I'd been placed under one of the first things she said during the "induction" was that I'd be required to open an account with this site. When I (not so politely) informed her I had no intention of registering with such a site she took an instant dislike to me which she carried through the 3 fractious months I suffered under this CWP provider.

And yes I remember the cretin who came into UM praising this site, he rightfully got all the abuse deserved!

I just cant remember if it was Richard ceo or the other one that tried to make there site look really good on um

they just answered the answers they wanted to advise upon never did like the truth or some of the questions that they was asked to answer

I welcome any of the ceo of myworksearch.co.uk or Aptem to go for round 2

abuse no they got the truth just that they didn't like it or being told what they cant do either

.....Ah! yes, I have a vague recollection now. I just could not recall the MWS person.

i found his blog

https://blog.alberg.co.uk/category/jobcentre-plus/

In February 2009 I founded Myworksearch Ltd - which in January 2016 changed to MWS Technology Ltd (http://www.mwstechnology.com). We have created an online technology platform that welfare to work and vocational training providers use to deliver their various programmes.

I am very interested in education and chair the board at North Hertfordshire College (www.nhc.ac.uk).

https://blog.alberg.co.uk/category/entrepreneurship/

https://blog.alberg.co.uk/category/unemployment/

so from the new site too old the info is still the same

INFORMATION THAT WE COLLECT FROM YOU
When you create or use a subscription on www.mwstechnology.com or www.aptem.co.uk you may be asked to provide certain information about yourself including your name and contact details.

We may also collect information about your usage of our website as well as information about you from messages you post to the website and e-mails or letters you send to us.

To maintain customer service standards and to assist staff training, we may record and monitor incoming calls.

DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION
The information you provide to us may be accessed by or given to third parties who act for us for the purposes set out in this policy or for other purposes approved by you. Those parties process information, fulfil and deliver orders, process credit card payments and provide support services on our behalf. We may also pass aggregate information on the usage of our website to third parties but this will not include information that can be used to identify you.

Where your subscription has been provided by a third party, such as your previous employer or a college or training provider, we will upon this third party’s request provide them with details of your usage of the service or access to this information.

Finally, if our business enters into a joint venture with or is sold to or merged with another business entity, your information may be disclosed to our new business partners or owners.

Unless required to do so by law, we will not otherwise share, sell or distribute any of the information you provide to us without your consent.

I am very interested in education and chair the board at North Hertfordshire College (www.nhc.ac.uk).

So which one is he then?

http://www.nhc.ac.uk/about/our-governors/


I presume he has resigned from the 'board' at North Hertfordshire College. Did anyone check him out at the time of the discussion, to verify his claim? Was he found to be genuine?

for myworksearch.co.uk yes the site was verified and also the twitter account was verified to belong to them
but not sure on other sites out there

however i do think its the reason for the name change soon after it was on um

loads went to town on him on um just keeping it on track alone was hard enough

I don't doubt that the MWS site and twitter were verified as genuine but I was wondering about his claim to be 'chair of the board' at North Hertfordshire College.

Happily there is a FOI:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/has_richard_alberg_ever_been_cha

I do recall the fuss that this caused on UM at the time. I seem to remember that we could refuse to use this system but can't remember on what basis. As I'm fully expecting to be put on the work and health programme, even though it's supposed to be randomly allocated, and this is likely to be used by the providers can anyone remember why we don't have to use it?

its down to consent abc its a private system so comes under different requirements

anyone can refuse its use or have to use it

Thanks gadily. What argument would we use though? If we just refuse they'll no doubt raise a doubt. What is it about it being a private system that makes it possible for us to say we aren't going to use it and not be sanctioned?

its the same reference you cannot be mandated to use those systems

Admin wrote:a very good example avanta jobsearch
Work Programme Provider Avanta has created a clone of Universal Jobmatch (UJ) called Avanta Jobs (AJ), unlike UJ, AJ does not appear to give the

choice of not giving permission for anyone voluntarily using or mandated to use AJ of not allowing Avanta staff full or read only access to an account

users activity and personal data. What is also not made clear is that all personal data entered onto AJ belongs to the DWP as the Data Controller.

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/22/avantajobs/

gadily wrote:https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/avanta_access_to_claimants_accou

Firstly it may be helpful if I explain that Work Programme participants are not mandated to use AvantaJobs and can therefore choose not to use this site to help them get a job. Work Programme participants can and do only use Universal Jobmatch if they so wish however this will reduce the amount of support that Avanta can provide in getting them into a job.

so kindly take note that a claimant has the right to deny access to the provider

and another

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/219088/response/542978/attach/html/3/3068%203061%20Response.pdf.html

It is not the case that all participants are specifically required (mandated) to register and login
to ppdg.welfare2work.co.uk. This will depend on the specific action plan developed for the
individual participant.

on top of that its a sanction tool at that and more so when they make it very clear they provide everything to the payer of the system which happnes to be a third party system
all by consent though
on top of that ico make it very clear that a system cannot be used as a sanction tool but can if you consent to it thats why ujm had to be consent based for an advisor to have access to the ujm account

a private system is way different hence why the provider of welfare to work didnt like many of us on um he refused to answer any of my comments at the time and all the other comments he answer some but refused many other comments to answer also didnt like being told that they couldnt use that system or provide it as they then become a third party supplier
which has more refusal than the provider for dwp

https://respectfulbenefits.forumotion.com/t39-how-to-respond-to-breaches-in-law-policy-committed-by-jcp-dwp

ABC

I would suggest another FOI request.

Edit:

Claimants can only be mandated to use a cookie enabled device to apply for jobs via Universal Jobmatch ONLY in certain circumstances.

117.If you do not have any available internet enabled devices on which cookies have been
accepted for the participant to use, you cannot mandate the participant to apply for a
job in UJ where the method of application is to select a CV in UJ and send it on line
through the service. However, you will be able to take the action described.

118.If a participant is not given this choice, they may choose not to comply with the
requirement to use UJ on grounds that cookies would be unlawfully placed on their
device and may also complain to the Information Commissioner that the UJ website has
placed cookies on their device without their freely given consent

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505310/wp-pg-chapter-3a.pdf