Can Jobcentre remove certain jobs from my work search commitments?

[careassistantjobs]

Can I have a certain type of work removed from my work search commitments?

I’m being pushed into applying for care assistance jobs and this is something I am not prepared to do. I have explained to my work coach but they are saying I have to take their recommendation to start applying for these types of jobs as well as I’ve not been successful so far and need to widen my job searches.

i have requested a GP letter detailing why I can’t do this type of work (severe sensory issues and phobias due to autism) and I’m hoping that will be enough?

Has anyone else been through this ? I feel they aren’t being understanding at all. I have limitations and I’m trying my best but there are some things I just can’t do, or do they just expect me to apply with no intention of doing it to fill the work search hours ? But if I was offered a job and declined I would be sanctioned ?

This with bells on

Apply, and if sent to interview, bomb it on purpose.

I mean my previous post was harsh - some people need harsh.

I get that you have limitations, OP, so make sure they are fully and completely communicated to the DWP and to any potential employers, and apply for as many jobs as you can. People aren't going to employ someone who needs "too many" adjustments, or clearly can't do all aspects of the job.

If it helps: i was recently unemployed for about 18 months (not UK so different rules). My strategy was to apply for 5 or 6 jobs per day - jobs that i can do, and that i am qualified for but don't necessarily love. And then one per day that i really wanted to do. for the 5 or 6 i used a general CV and had 2 or 3 template letters that i could adjust quickly. And for the one i wanted i used a tailored CV and application letter. And was successful after 300 plus applications (in a job i absolutely love)

Are there any autism organisations that help find jobs for people with autism?

Could you not just look into cleaning jobs OP? Usually work alone or with a small amount of people. After or before hours. Decent routines, gloves so you don't have to get sensory feedback. Get enough hours the Jobcentre will be off your back.

There seems to be a presumption that your are DBS fit.

You should apply for ESA in addition to your UC to get protections for your disability. This will help you push back on job coach.

I think if you have multiple hernias this would prevent you from heavy lifting ? See GP and have a note about it given to back u up

You may well find a GP refuses to write this letter unless you have a formal diagnosis and assessment that shows what specifically you cannot do.

Unfortunately given you haven’t had a single interview in a whole year, your application net is not wide enough and you need to widen it. You say you have been to CV workshops and it sounds like you have support to apply for the jobs you have done, so it seems strange you haven’t even had one interview.

Obviously the other option is you stop applying for jobs but also stop receiving financial support from the government.

OP you're not in a position to be picky. Lots of us do jobs we'd rather not. It wouldn't be call "work" if it was easy all the time.

If you are claiming benefits then I don’t see why you have the right to dictate you won’t do a certain job. If it’s 12 months + of searching you are at the stage where you need to apply for whatever you can! Most of us don’t want to work in care, you are not alone, but as someone dependent on state benefits you need to get what you can. There is work out there, a year is a long time to be searching

Sorry to read this OP.
Care work should never be done by people who have been pushed into it.
However, unless you want to be sanctioned then you would still have to apply for care work. If you are unsuitable, you wont get an interview anyway.
This is just one of those things where you have to do stuff to tick the right boxes etc.

Can you ask the work coach & GP if there are any free CBT courses etc for phobias?

They should be able to signpost you to these services & the waiting times are usually short if you are able to do online based therapy.

Lots of people with mental health & autism related disabilities can make excellent carers.

Not so sure that forcing people into caring is a great safeguarding move.

Presumably the DWP will be protected from any claims in the event of a breach ?

It’s a certain amount of hours per week I have to do work searching and I do that and often more . It shouldn’t matter what type of work as long as it’s not something I’m unable to do or unqualified for? The requirement is 35 hours of work searching which I do so I don’t feel I’ve done anything wrong?

Yes I suppose you may be right. I could tailor a cv for care applications and I then won’t get any interviews / offers

No interviews in a year so not surprised they want you to expand your search for jobs

You write well and I therefore assume you’re computer literate. Surely there are admin roles/call centre etc that would work?

Are you doing proper applications or are you just firing off a generic CV? I find it unbelievable that anyone can spend that long looking for work and get absolutely nowhere...

By rejecting the whole industry of care work, you are immediately discounting a high number of jobs.

What exactly is it about care work you feel you can't do? Because care work is different in many areas of care required ie not all care work involves personal care, if thats what puts you off.

It's hard as I can see both points...For the sake of patients, I can see why it isn't appropriate for people who don't want to work in care to work there, but for the sake of the benefits system, I can see why we can't have people rejecting working in a whole industry when they aren't in employment and haven't been for a long time

Retail and admin type jobs are probably highly sought after, and I can see why they may be preferable to care work for many people, especially ones who have never worked in care before and feel apprehensive about it. But it seems there isn't enough retail/admin jobs to go around

Employment advisor here.

OP if you’re not getting interviews then something isn’t right with your cv or your application forms. This is where you need to focus. Can you ask your work coach to refer you somewhere for some extra support?

If you get to interview stage, explain how you can't do personal care.
It is a good ideal to get a letter from your GP detailing this to show your work coach. Sensory issues from autism are not a case of not just disliking something and it feels like some posters on this thread think it is something you can brush aside and ignore for a while.
The job market is also really awful right now, and there are people with lots of of qualifications and experience who are struggling to even get interviews too. The low paid jobs that don't need a lot of experience or qualifications are getting lots of applicants because people are desperate and applying for anything.

Good luck OP, and I hope you find something soon.

The job market is so tough right now.
To keep the job center happy I think you should still apply for care jobs. However, if you do by chance get an interview, just be honest and say what tasks you will struggle with. Maybe they will offer an alternative role and if not you have at least met your requirements.

When you first applied for UC did you submit fit notes (med form 3) with the GP ticking the box for may be fit for work with reasonable adjustments and providing details re hernias and autism/sensory issues and then had a full work capacity assessment?

If not the job centre will consider you fit for any type of work. However they can’t prevent you from disclosing your disability to potential future employers and discussing reasonable adjustments in interview. It is then up to the employer whether to offer the job. I wouldn’t want to waste peoples time so would have a specific care CV that made this clear at the outset.