Group Work "Jobs II" Programme

Another new employment programme being trialled.

Overview of Group Work “JOBS II”
1.06 DWP is aiming to test the Group Work “JOBS II” Programme in the UK labour
market. The test is part of a wider DWP research exercise aimed at claimants
who struggle with their job search or work related activity. This is a voluntary
provision and therefore no sanctions will apply if a claimant decides not to
attend or to withdraw from the Programme. Providers will collect some of the
claimant’s employment, job search and wellbeing data, as directed by DWP
analysts, and a separate research organisation will be procured in order to
collect follow-up and comparison data and collate the research evidence.
1.07 The Group Work “JOBS II” is a week-long, facilitated employment Programme
that uses active learning techniques. Participants attend five, four-hour
sessions designed to develop their job search skills, confidence, and ability to
cope with set-backs.
1.08 JOBS II research findings broadly show that the Programme significantly
decreased depression, improved job search capability, emotional functioning
and also increased rates and quality of re-employment. The Programme was
designed to be a preventative intervention for those at risk of depression as a
result of job loss and additional research indicates a restorative effect for
those with Mental Health Issues.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/627611/group-work-provider-guidance-chapter-1.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/group-work-jobs-ii-provider-guidance

From the above link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/193392/rrep810.pdf



This link provides some of the research which informed the programme / provider guidance.

McManus et al wrote:Key findings
• People who started a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claim in the first quarter of 2011 had worse mental health than people of working age in the population as a whole.
• After standardising the JSA claimant cohort to the age and sex profile of the general population, 14.7 per cent were found to have severe neurotic symptoms. This is nearly
twice the rate for the general population (8.5 per cent).
• More than a fifth (22.6 per cent) of the cohort had a common mental disorder (CMD) like anxiety or depression.
• In the months after a claim commenced the mental health of men in this cohort remained poor, while that of women improved. This association is explored further in Chapter 7, in analyses that control for other factors.
• Overall, two-thirds of JSA claimants believed that working leads to better health. Very few felt that working leads to worse health (0.9 per cent).
• JSA claimants with CMD held more negative views about work. They had less self-confidence about their work-search abilities than claimants without CMD and had generally much lower levels of optimism about the future.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/193392/rrep810.pdf

The Clinical Interview Schedule – Revised (CIS-R) is an interview instrument designed to measure neurotic symptoms and disorders, such as anxiety and depression. It comprises of 14 sections each covering a particular type of neurotic symptom. Scores are obtained for each symptom based on frequency, duration and severity in the last week. Individual symptoms scores can be summed to provide an overall score for the level of neurotic symptoms.

Have they ever subjected work coaches to this level of scrutiny?  

Some claimants did not see themselves as having a mental health problem; others acknowledged a problem but preferred not to talk about their health and wellbeing.

Some DWP employees do not see themselves as having a narcissistic personality disorder or that they act in aggressive ways towards claimants, particularly after a claimant complains about their behaviour. DWP employees close ranks, preferring to hide behind their managers, all of whom ignore their own behavioural problems, allowing the complaint to escalate to ICE where "compensation" is awarded rather than the behaviour stamped out.

Although she described some of the Personal Adviser (PAs) in positive terms, she had also had some bad experiences, when she felt that she had been spoken to rudely and disrespectfully, which she found very upsetting.

"experiences" - plural - so they were nasty to this particular claimant more than once.

Speak to them "rudely and disrespectfully" and they call on the UCB policy. If they speak to you rudely and disrespectfully (common in my experience) they get away with it.  

The impact of the threat of starvation via a sanction isn't addressed.

"Deception is a state of mind and the mind of the State” – James Jesus Angleton

Putting to one side the nonsense I have mixed views about this programme, which is voluntary during the trial period.

Based on experience the vulnerable and/or non suspecting benefit claimant trusts the system, leaving people wide open to sanctions due to unachievable work related activity and/or job/work search requirements.  

The people I have assisted have been incapable of achieving the activities within their Jobseeker's Agreement/claimant commitment.  However, with the right help and support they might be able to comply, but I doubt a short intervention would be sufficient for most people with a mental health condition and /or learning difficulties.

My key concern is, that DWP officials do not possess the relevant skills to agree appropriate work related activities/claimant commitments for a very diverse group of people.  In many cases the blame lies squarely with the Secretary of State, who expects too much from so many of his grossly under qualified officials  

A UBI is the solution!

I feel one point to watch is the these "group works" do not get combined with signing appointment! As the JCP have tried before with me on the "digital job club", to which with FV   help I was able to avoid, god bless her cotton socks...

"1.07 The Group Work “JOBS II” is a week-long, facilitated employment Programme
that uses active learning techniques. Participants attend five, four-hour
sessions"

El-dudeareno wrote:I feel one point to watch is the these "group works" do not get combined with signing appointment! As the JCP have tried before with me on the "digital job club", to which with FV   help I was able to avoid, god bless her cotton socks...

"1.07 The Group Work “JOBS II” is a week-long, facilitated employment Programme
that uses active learning techniques. Participants attend five, four-hour
sessions"

Every intervention is an opportunity to trip the unsuspecting individual up!

I have not read too much recently about these unlawful Digital Jobclubs etc.

I have not read too much recently about these unlawful Digital Jobclubs etc.

Nor have I H-H (sorry could be bothered to type Helping-Hand), put you know how these schemes have a habit of returning under different names.

El-dudeareno wrote:........you know how these schemes have a habit of returning under different names.  

DWP takes recycling a bit too far

DWP takes recycling a bit too far

Sound like recycled toilet paper to me Caker...



Ps: Sorry if that has offended anyone.......

.....no offence taken, we actually need an icon for toilet paper when discussing ZHC.