Changing Nappies in Job Centre Plus/When there are no facilities

[Earlybirdtea]

I went to register for job seekers allowance last week for the first time after just being made redundant. I arrived on time with my seven month old son, my 2 year old is in nursery).

Anyway during my meeting my son's nappy needed changing and there are no changing facilities or even toilets so I popped him on my shawl and quickly changed his wet nappy(Not Poo). If a baby is crying and there are no facilities then as a mother I believe that to be exceptable to change their nappy in the best available place which was on the floor,not the table and I was thinking of the point of view of others around me as if he got uncomfortable then he would have started crying which would have disturbed the other interviewees.

In short, I was told, You can't do that here, I responded saying there are no facilities and was told that this is an office environment, you would have thought that you would have arranged childcare!!!

I have written a letter of complaint and been informed that the lady who approached me was in fact doing her job as a health and safety professional, fair enough and, "there are Public Facilities within 100 yards of our building and in the future we will endeavour to highlight this when appropriate." It was also communicated to me that they encourage customers not to bring children to their interviews.

Am I being unreasonable to think that they should offer changing facilities, even special access/lockable? I really don't like the idea of going down the road to some public toilet block, there may be facilities in there I will have to check.

I also feel that they have no place to tell you that children are not really welcome in this environment, it is certainly not ideal I know. I do not plan to take my son to job interviews and have only just been made redundant.

Should I just back off and except their response, I have other important things to think about I don't plan on having to go there very long or on the other hand should I escalate this within their internal complaints procedure
as this is a bit mother and young baby unfriendly.

I would really appreciate your comments

It was awful to have to close the toilets, but necessary. We couldn't afford for our one security guard to be in there all day making sure no-one was shooting up, dirty protesting, having sex (yes, it happened), nodding out, dealing....... one couple even did a pregnancy test in the ladies loo, it was positive

In our place this month we have had a dropped syringe, vomit, someone was spat at, numerous cases of verbal abuse, someone put in one of the windows while we were working... (and that's WITHOUT open loos)

I would like to stress though, these people were nutters well known to us, the vast majority are absolutely lovely and doing their damnedness to get a job. It's a shame that the minority spoil it for the majority.

The pregnancy test I can part understand but the sex . A public toilet, very romantic .

TBH, we thought she was an erm "professional" IYSWIM?

He was waiting for a Crisis Loan payment.

A match made in heaven.

I've never seen a junkie. Well I might have passed one but not to my knowledge.

I didn't think they were that "open" about it?!

Tsk tsk working and job hunting at the exact same time . Sorry you just mad me laugh katie. I once worked in a Health centre next to a station and one of our patients used to come in on the way home from 'work'. One morning she came in wearing a pretty woman outfit including wig. We worked hard at being professional that morning.

Needs must Exquisite

Just people with an addiction.

Minus

Did you hum the song?

I've found people very open about it in the past mind you I have worked in needles exchanges etc so I guess you could call it an occupational hazard.

No Managed 'Morning

Yes, they tell me too. Most of them would do anything to get better, it's just so hard when there is nothing to replace the addiction IYSWIM?

Got a recovering addict/offender a job last week, he was so happy the office was practically in tears. Those are the best days.

You sound a lot brighter tonight Minus. I hope the info I sent helped.

I have had many an argument with the doctors over the years giving x weekly dispensed medication which we keep catching them dealing and making y collect daily even though they have found and are holding down a job. I am so much more assertive at work than I am when I need to stand up for myself.

Just sent you a PM busters. I am feeling a bit brighter. Also HR told DH today they may pay him equivalent of a months wages on Dec then the remainder of his redundancy in Jan which will help a lot. They will make the final decsion by Friday.

Lol just got your PM

That's good. Tell him to get his claim in asap though and try not to worry.

just read through this with horror. dh has just been made redundant so we are figuring out what to do next Really not looking forward to the JCP experience!

I have noticed that JC don't have toilets, AND have noticed the staff tend to be quite arrogant.
Oh, (on a roll) the security guards take life far to seriously and seem to think that their guarding the Crown Jewels! (moan over)

I was shock about the blue lights to stop junkies from seeing their veins. Christ, where on earth do you live?

That would be par for the course in most areas.

reluctant to give the exact location, but yes, inner city job centre. The vast majority of claimants were lovely people in hard times and vast majority of staff absolutely chuffed to bits when someone got a job.

(want to talk off-flows? - thought not!)

christ no. :(

(other MNers, that isn't something to do with a mooncup...)

sorry for thread kill there btw - Minus, hope you are feeling a little more chipper and very glad that some of the MN JCPers have been able to help, proving we're not all a bunch of miserable old dragons. :).

I also work at a jobcentre - I've been spat at ,shouted at and had a chair thrown at me -Years ago when we had screen's i had a dirty nappy thrown at me ...Our toilets were also taken away due to mis use - drug taking ,dirty nappies -someone shitting on the floor !!

< waves to fellow jcp-erss >

Millmoo- I was about to post the same!

Yup, it's pretty common. ASDA in Longsight, Manchester has the UV lights in the toilet.

waves to JCP colleagues - I'm in CCD but honestly do try my best for every single person I speak to. I know not everyone is like that, but I wish people wouldn't make sweeping judgements about Jobcentre staff.