Lies about Restart

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmworpen/216/216.pdf

In the above document there is a footnote that links to a letter that Coffey sent to the Social Security Committee in January 2021: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/6379/documents/69996/default/

Restart will complement, and not replace, existing specialist programmes for disabled people and longer-term unemployed individuals who may have multiple and complex challenges in their path to finding work. Indeed, for many of these customers, the support offered by the Work and Health Programme and Individual Personalised Employment Support may be more appropriate.

Restart is specifically designed for those who are fit for work and in need of that extra support to get back into sustained employment.

Referring the targeted cohort - ensuring that Work Coaches refer those who are very far from the labour market to other more intensive or specialist support where appropriate .

Restart is specifically targeted at UC claimants who have been in the Intensive Worksearch Regime for 12 months or more. These claimants are considered able to work and required to actively seek employment, and Restart providers will tailor their support offer to meet the needs of those claimants.

Given this design, people with more complex barriers to employment who may be in other conditionality regimes – such as the Work Preparation and No Work Related Requirements regimes – will not be eligible to access Restart. For these claimants, the Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme are already in place, and supporting thousands to move closer to the labour market.

Nevertheless, claimants with disabilities and health conditions who are in the Intensive Worksearch Regime and who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be referred to Restart. For these claimants, the Restart provider must ensure they deliver support in line with the Equality Act 2010 to enable them to access the provision equally. Restart providers will be responsible for travel and ‘additional support’ costs while claimants are participating in the provision. ‘Additional support’ is defined as extra help that allows a claimant to attend and participate fully in provision (for example clothing, childcare and specialist equipment).

I do wonder how many goal posts Coffey is going to eventually move and why the SSAC doesn't simply put Coffey's letters in the bin for the garbage that they are. Restart now includes mandating people who are unable to work, who aren't required to be ASE, who are disabled, and who are very long term unemployed onto the scheme under a completely different benefit type. It's such a marvelous scheme that it's all things to all people, apparently. Restart will do it all and more nullifying that pesky voluntary thing for disabled claimants "referred" to the WHP.

Why were those in the UC Work Preparation only group (LCW) not eligible in January 2021 yet in April 2022 they were?  

Did anyone in government bother look at the Restart contractors list for conflict of interest? Apparently not.

Maximus runs all Work Capability Assessments.

Maximus runs Restart in South and West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and South and East London.

This contractor has another branch of their company that can declare a person fit for work while they are on that company's mandatory Restart scheme.  

Maximus stands to gain from failing people in every single WCA in the areas I've listed, including my own.

When Coffey told the SSAC that Restart did not include sick people that meant it was ok for the same contractor to run both the WCA and the Restart scheme in the same area. There was no conflict of interest. When Coffey changed it to include sick people waiting for the result of their WCA and who are not required to look for work she created the situation where people on the Restart scheme in the above listed areas are being assessed by the same company that is pressuring them to get a job and who stand to gain when that person is found "fit for work".

It is interesting to note that according to Coffey the provider is to pay for specialist equipment to enable disabled claimants to attend and fully participate in Restart. That could be a very expensive reasonable adjustment that the provider is going to have to make. Inability for the provider to provide specialist equipment = no access and therefore no sanction.  

Access to Work, which aims to help more disabled people start or stay in work, will remain in place.

Coffey shoves this into her letter as if Access to Work funding has anything to do with Restart. It doesn't. Access to Work funding is similar to UC - no compulsion to apply for it. Restart does not include mandating any claimant to apply for work, only "encouraging" them. We all know what that word actually means - bullying. Where AtoW is concerned the employer can't apply for it. The provider can't apply for it. There is no sanction for refusing to claim Access to Work funding. A roach actually had the temerity to use Access to Work potential funding, that only I can apply for once I've got a job, against me rather than for me. It would be an interesting court case if the DWP did sanction a disabled person for refusing to claim Access to Work funding. That would be punishing someone for refusing to beg the DWP for help.

Maximus doesn't hold both the WCA contract and the Restart contracts in all areas, but it's worth noting those areas where there is potential for a judicial review regarding conflict of interests. It's worth noting how much Coffey moved the goal posts after her January 2021 assurances that disabled and sick people would not be negatively impacted by the Restart scheme towards the opposite stance in April and May 2022.

It's all a scam

The Catwoman wrote:It's all a scam

It's not entirely about the money Maximus will make, although it is potentially 3 times from the same claimant. 1. Restart monthly attendance payment. 2. WCA payment (no matter what the outcome is). 3. Potential Restart job outcome payment.

Maximus holding both contracts will result in someone raising it at a FTT or mandatory reconsideration at some point. It's inevitable. It could even be the judge that notices it.

Claimant gets a "not fit for work" fit note from their GP.
DWP switches off claimant's requirement to be ASE.
Claimant now in LCW group (work preparation only).
Maximus WCA booked.
DWP mandates claimant onto Maximus Restart.  
Maximus WCA results in "fit for work" (70% chance).
Claimant now required to be fully ASE while still on Maximus Restart and while still being ill.
Claimant requests Mandatory Reconsideration of the Maximus WCA while on Maximus Restart. DWP says no. Claimant files claim with the First Tier Tribunal challenging the Maximus WCA result.
Maximus Restart mandates the claimant to an activity under threat of a sanction for non-compliance.
Claimant refuses to co-operate with a branch of a company that just erroneously found them fit for work.
DWP sanctions the claimant.

No-one should ever be mandated to a Restart scheme run by the same contractor that is also conducting WCAs in the area. Maximus has both the power to trigger a sanction pre-WCA and to knock the claimant back at the WCA. This prevents any claimant from even bothering to go to their GP for a fit note while they are on Restart knowing that the same company that can get them sanctioned can also find them "fit for work".

At a tribunal the DWP may try to claim that neither branch of Maximus has anything to do with the other, but there is no doubt at all that Maximus can do what I have outlined above when they hold both contracts.

"It is interesting to note that according to Coffey the provider is to pay for specialist equipment to enable disabled claimants to attend and fully participate in Restart. "

The points you make are very disturbing Absolut. And feel a tribunal would look very closely at such tactics being used to ultimately force people to comply with any schemes. Especially if any NHS medical experts had found them to have limited capability for work pre WCA and post WCA ? Legally speaking I am now wondering how much of a middle finger can any provider companies and the like give to Drs ? I mean, fit notes seem to have no baring where roach shop are concerned and yet, when presented to any employer in the uk they take notice.

Funny dwp etc always have the extra cash to pay for things when used as a whipping tool, but never for a bag of carrots .

A scam indeed all these 'schemes' are. Maybe, their now have access to discounted Hospital medical equipment on site at provider hq and use morons to operate them. Although, this would put claimants in a very dangerous  position.

Over 12 years,  we've ended up with millions in work earning "a hand to mouth existence" and those at the bottom end, working or not, are about to feel the pain of how literally working for nothing feels.
But fear not,  they had to introduce UC as effectively we are living within a false economy propped up by high property prices and low wages. Equity release will be a boom business in the coming years for those who are mortgage free with a never ending shrinking pension pot.

How do these people suggest people will find the bus fares, fuel for cars etc to attend such schemes/courses.

What qualified medics are on hand should someone become ill while being mandated to attend these premises. I see a good few law-suits coming if they want to play this sick game...excuse the pun.

Sorry for my rant, but,  see these provider sharks no more than a 3rd party,like a 'recruitment' agency. How much can we get/make out of you rather than,  "what can we do for you." The latter, has never been my personal experience .

I personally won't think twice of taking action against these type of companies should they try taking the piss out of me and  forcing me to risk my health through their idealisms .

jobberpw wrote:Especially if any NHS medical experts had found them to have limited capability for work pre WCA and post WCA ?"

Fit note = no ASE or anything else until the fit note is agreed or disagreed with at a WCA. If disagreed with the claimant can appeal to a FTT.

When a roach sets parameters as LCW (in order to still be able to mandate them onto Restart) who does the claimant appeal that decision to?

It's not the claimant that must wait for a WCA to be able to disagree with a roach setting them as LCW, it is the roach that must wait for the WCA to be able to set the claimant as anything but LCWRA! Regarding pre-WCA mandation to Restart, until the DWP third party contractor disagrees with the assessment that the claimant is not fit for work (and that includes work preparation too btw) the DWP cannot arbitrarily make their own judgements about it, such as London123's roach did.

Legally speaking I am now wondering how much of a middle finger can any provider companies and the like give to Drs ? I mean, fit notes seem to have no baring where roach shop are concerned and yet, when presented to any employer in the uk they take notice.

Neither the provider nor a roach has the authority to over-rule a fit note. They are not GPs. They can't even spell properly half the time, never mind make a decision about someone's health. The DWP decided to mandate claimants with a fit note onto Restart, pre-WCA. Restart was designed as IWSR only and it is not designed for claimants not already on the scheme when they get a fit note.

Contrary to what it says in the provider documents Restart was not designed with sick and disabled people in mind. In fact, they were specifically excluded.

If a claimant is already on Restart and in the IWSR and then shifts to the LCW group Restart should be suspended until the result of the WCA, but they are doing the opposite. They are keeping the claimant on Restart until the result of the WCA. This is backwards.

Can the DWP be sued if the claimant is found to be LCWRA while on Restart and they can prove that the scheme added to their ill health? Yes.

Maybe, their now have access to discounted Hospital medical equipment on site at provider hq and use morons to operate them. Although, this would put claimants in a very dangerous  position.

They can't possibly pay for individual items that the claimant might have had specifically made for them and which the claimant is not willing to provide free of charge. Restart does not work for ill or disabled people if it's not voluntary.  

How do these morons suggest people will find the bus fares, fuel for cars etc to attend such schemes/courses.

Good question.

What qualified medics are on hand should someone become ill while being mandated to attend these providers premises. I see a good few law suits coming for these  provider companies etc if they want to play this sick game...excuse the pun.

Maximus Restart advert in my area - not even the need to have a First Aid certificate.

When they contracted to undertake Restart LCW and LCWRA were not included. JSA IB was not included.

1.38. The Restart Scheme is designed to meet the needs of claimants who are on the health journey or have an ongoing medical issue. Having a health condition does not, of itself, preclude claimants from participation on the Restart Scheme and is not a reason to reject the referral. You should accept all referrals of Potential Participants who are deemed suitable by the Job Centre Plus work coach. If you have any concerns about the suitability of a Potential Participant, you should speak to your Jobcentre Plus Single Point of Contact or the Potential Participant’s work coach.

Restart is not designed to meet the needs of those on the health journey or have ongoing medical issues. It was designed to cater to those in the IWSR with no health needs or medical issues! The paragraph above is simply an outright lie. I decide what what my needs are where employment is concerned, not the DWP and not their contractor.

Tell you what does preclude a claimant with a health condition or ongoing medical issue from participating in Restart - when both Restart and the WCA are being run by the same firm!

Sorry for my rant, but,  i truly despise these provider sharks. Nothing more than a 3rd party 'recruitment' agency. How much can we get/make out of you rather than,  "what can we do for you." The latter, has never been my personal experience .

No need to be sorry and you are not ranting. I despise them too. 2 years on the WP was more than enough to convince me that it was money for old rope. They did naff all for me and that was before 2 operations and further injuries. The idea that Restart employees can help me in any way is a joke. Here's a quote from a Restart ex-employee:

There is an extremely low morale amongst employees, with a high turnover of staff. No consistency on best practice zero support. No progression either. During our training we were told we would be helping people who have lost there job due to the pandemic- this is simply not true, there are people on our caseload who are near retirement age and have never had a job or others who have been unemployed for 10+ years (the majority of our caseloads). Everyone on my team have either left or are actively looking for new employment.

Here's another:

Management is all over the place and hardly ever genuine. The organisation has people developing interventions for participants when they have no background or expertise in the subject areas (i.e., mental health). They are propagating harmful advice and toxic mentalities to participants, whether intentional or not.

And another:

Don't feel like I really made a big difference too people as I wanted too as felt pressured to just get them into jobs that may not be right for them.

Being able to spell might help!

I personally wont think twice of taking action against these type of companies should they try taking the piss out of me and  forcing me to risk my health through their idealisms .

Ditto

Thanks so much for the above info on all these circuses Absolut.

All you posted gives me & others a better idea as to what's what, so to speak. They've invented this whole bureaucratic system as a financial trap imo, fall down it, and we're all deep in the crap .

If they spent as much time and money on ring fencing specific people who could help to fill the skills shortage they would be seen as doing something effectively but no...cant have that, can we. Let them eat cake and work for nothing in any old crap heap of a job and once there there they can stay.

The unfortunate few conversations i was unlucky to have with WP employees reminded me of visiting a Drs waiting room. Similar to roach shops.

Every time I hear them all banging on about specific, tailored, intensive support, i just want to puke. Have they any idea, how stupid all this sounds when in reality, what's on offer is the exact opposite Maybe they have a secret place in the corner of their offices for the 'specific people' for the, ''secret jobs'' Yes, i kid you not, some plank actually said that to me while on the WP. ''We have a list of 'secret jobs'. '' I said is the secret, that no one has been able to find one yet...a bit like hide and seek then, I said. Woman's face was a picture


My experience on the WP was very similar to yours Absolut, and no doubt, many many others. It seems due to what's on offer depending on peoples situations, once unemployed is either a case of work for nothing, return to your old sector if you can or, literally retrain from scratch for a specialist skill which takes years. Afraid i am in my older years and few years left to retirement but, that dosent stop them with their endless bullshit year in year out. Its ceased for now, and its been good when not having to engage with them every bloody week talking about nothing. But the few years i have to go until i retire will be gruelling while trapped in this system.

I dont mean this in a condescending way, but i feel really sorry for any 25-35 year olds just staring out with a mortgage and family etc, trying to stay afloat in todays world. I've never seen things worse . When we have complete Morons telling us all, we need to learn to budget, and learn to cook for pennies . I'd send that Muppet to work in a food bank for 6 months. They may learn something from the real world .

I'd like to see the performance statistics of these Scheme's ... As memory serves me the 'Work Program', was only effective for 1 in 10 of participants at a cost of Thousands of £Poundsper person ... Not exactly money well spent???

Yes, i read the stats on the ONS web site a while back and they were as suspected piss poor. Especially the amount of people chasing work 50+. The mortgage free now doing 1 or 2 days in B &q etc for instance are all doing fine still, but, the rest are stuffed. Or soon will be