To think support from the Job Center should be for everyone?

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I had my appointment for contributions-based JSA today. I had a list of questions about support/help that would assist me in getting back into work quicker.

I was pretty much told their services are not for me and other professionals or people who have been previously successful. Their services only cover people who lack basic skills.

None of what I asked about was available to me or anyone else using their services.

I asked for;

Assistance towards paying for driving lessons as we have a lack of jobs available locally and poor public transport. Even this was only a money-off voucher with certain providers or meant having to travel to a government-approved driving school I would have taken the support.

Local or remote training that would lead to a professional certification or government certificate to verify I had the skills covered by the course - I was thinking of things like Cisco/Juniper/Solar Winds etc. They only offer functional skills. They have the government-funded skills courses on top of this but these are not run by the JC and they have no information on them.

Professional CV writing services to make sure I am using the right keywords to get through the AI scanner/past HR. They offer support with CVs but it is basic such as support with SPAG and how to use a word processor.

I understand the budget is limited but surely spending towards some of these things for people on a low-income or looking for employment would reduce the benefits bill in the long-run?

I’m in a similar situation. I’m degree educated but was an unpaid carer for a long time (no choice about that) right now I’m trying to climb back in the horse. There’s jobs in my field. I just need time and help to rebuild a portfolio and brush up on some skills that have slipped.

they’re telling me to retrain as a carer as I have relevant experience. I don’t want to be a carer. I don’t want to retrain and deal with dementia patients and double incontinence and significant learning disabilities with adults. I did that through uni to pay the bills. I’ve done my tour so to speak.

so right now I’m muddling through some free courses aimed at undergrads for portfolio building etc when what I really need is a mentor with some solid advice who has an understanding of returning after long legitimate career breaks.

im determined to get there and make damn sure if I do I make myself available to help pull up the next ‘me’

YANBU that they should be able to offer some support to everyone, even if it's just a quite place to work, use the internet to apply for jobs and help with CV's.

YABU to think they should help with costs of driving lessons.
YABU not to consider retail or caring jobs - you take these, use the money for driving lessons and while you're looking for something more ideal.

You may find employment agencies and LinkedIn have some online courses that you might find interesting and boost confidence in the skills you have.

I also agree that there is a gap in the market here. In around 2015 I was made redundant, I was a Mother to very small children at the time and things were really tight. I really needed the jobseekers allowance or whatever it was called at the time and so I had to go to the Job Centre. It was very clear on my first visit that it wasn't for 'people like me' well educated, and frankly just trying to get on and provide for my children but in need of some advice about where to look for a reasonably paid job that would fit around the DC.

I think the problem is two-fold, firstly the name Job Centre makes people think that they would help you get a job, they really do nothing other than provide the most basic skills and opportunities. Secondly, at least in my experience, their primary function seems to be assessing folk for benefits -and trying not to give them to you.- I did try the Careers Service, or whatever they're called, but they really couldn't help either.

Somewhere that you could go that is the equivalent of an old school careers advisor 'if you want to do this, you need to do this, and these are the opportunities available' would be really helpful.

They will let you use computers to access the internet. You have to book them and there is a lot of competition from people whose only access to the internet is their phone. They will look at your CV and give advice. If you are a professional their advice will not be worth having.

The driving lesson thing is ludicrous. I’d be embarrassed to even suggest that.

They take it that professionals don't need support on how to upskill or apply for work. I used to work on behalf of the DWP, for my sins. Not directly and not in the jsa or jobcentre teams though.
It's really low level stuff. The work coaches know nothing of professional or corporate work.

I was an office manager, had to quit work for MH reasons. They sent me to a training place where the other clients all had severe learning disabilities. I learned they expected me to mentor these people for free with absolutely no training or background in such things. Or a DBS check.
I had one anyway but I'd never helped people like that before. it was all quite bizarre as I was suffering from a mental breakdown.

They then made me work/volunteer in their commercial kitchen for free for 4 hours a day twice a week.
They gave me wrong advice about working while claiming and it resulted in me later on nearly getting my benefits cut off over 40 quid. While they had paid me cash in hand for certain tasks...

Foe those saying/laughing about free driving lessons, yes, you can get them. People on certain benefits are entitled to 40 hours free lessons. A simple Google search will give you plenty of links.

If I took a job in care I would not be able to afford driving lessons once my rent and bills were paid. I love care work. I have worked previously in care. If it was a financially and practically available option to me I would go back to care in a heartbeat but it's not.

I need a role where I can leave at a moment's notice if I need to take DD to A&E and in care, you cannot do that. Retail might work but I've not seen much come up in retail. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place for retail work.

My previous job did pay for certifications for me but they were certifications in what they needed which was quite a new, niche hardware/software combination. Other certifications are more in demand or not vendor-specific, unlike the ones I have. I have done Udemy courses in the more in-demand certs out of interest but I don't have anything to prove I have the skill beyond me saying I do. That's what I was looking for.

No I actually think there should be learner loans available for skills like this that are a necessity these days.

ridiculous for wanting it paid for but there should be a way to get an affordable learner loan for it if you meet certain criteria/can prove it would be beneficial for you and a portion can be clawed back from UC immediately in small amounts.

connecting the learner loans with approved centres so the money could only go to lessons would be tricky. It feasible.

we really are shortsighted here that we can take out £30k for degrees but there’s limited learner loans for anything non academic.

If you are skilled and have previously had a god job you should be talking to recruitment agencies not the job centre. Get yourself onto LinkedIn and you'll have recruiters coming to you if you state that you're available for work.

There are still plenty of remote opportunities if you look on Indeed and LinkedIn.

Your expectations are way too high for the job centre. Asking for help to pay for driving lessons is laughable I'm afraid! Why didn't you take driving lessons when you were working? It's a life skill that as you've now discovered will help you in the long run.

And why didn't you ask your employer for professional development while you were working? You could have done all kinds of courses as part of your job surely?

The thing is OP I work in tech, close to infrastructure and the UK isn't a country obsessed with certifications. So they're not necessarily going to make you more competitive.
Furthermore, you've also drip-fed that you need a role where you can leave at a 'moment's notice'.. but previously, you spoke about doing shift on-site at a business park. Surely these are contradictory?

To @TokyoSushi 's point, there are so many different types of careers etc available these days it would be impossible for anybody to give the kind of step by step advise you are looking for. There are isolated charities/programs that connect people with industry mentors. But really. 30+ years ago it was easy to say 'take a typing course and become a secretary', but the job market is too complex.
I also have no idea how someone whose full-time job was being a 'career advisor' would keep abreast of all this.

There are forums etc online where people will review your CV for free, technology mentorship, AWS for example has a free 'AWS for women' mentoring program. There are also remote tech meetups,you can connect with people on your old job from LinkedIn.

Learner loans would be a great idea. Expecting money for free towards driving is just mental.

Furthermore, you've also drip-fed that you need a role where you can leave at a 'moment's notice'.. but previously, you spoke about doing shift on-site at a business park. Surely these are contradictory?

When you're on-site you're generally working with other engineers and whilst leaving would be an inconvenience it is not impossible in emergencies. It is impossible in care roles where they need a minimum number of staff in the building by law.

I agree with this in principle but a lot of courses accept payment in instalments. Also, what would happen if the learner failed to see the benefits?
Would it just be written off?

I have seen the managers in this case. Also, how many emergencies do you have that this is even a consideration?
I'd consider an 'emergency' something that happens twice a year, max. Most people don't even think about it but if you do, then it looks like you require more flexibility.

Again not trying to put you down but what you want/need is unclear. When I worked on site we couldn't 'just' up and leave.

I'm already on LinkedIn/Indeed/signed up with recruitment agencies/doing Udemy courses etc.

I was looking for extra support and was surprised it was not available to anyone needing the most basic of support. It seemed shortsighted to me to not have anything available for people needing a higher level of support such as courses/professional CV building etc.

For the driving lessons, I asked about them because the last time I had to claim benefits (which was admittedly over 21 years ago) they did offer loans towards the cost of driving lessons. They also offered funding for night courses at the local FE. That is what I was hoping for.

I think the pp who said its misunderstanding what the job centres purpose is nailed it. What you're asking for is basic to you, but it isn't basic to most people or the government allocation of money to support people into work. The purpose is to get people into work, not work of their choosing

Yes, to a point, the main function of the job centre is to make the lives of the unemployed so uncomfortable that it's easier to get a job.

I got a jobcentre grant that paid for me to learn to drive a forklift truck, it doesn't seem so off the wall to put money towards a driving license, which would allow you to apply for many more positions (even more than being able to drive a forklift -which I've never had to do since I learnt!)

The Driving Lessons Grant Programme is specifically aimed at people receiving higher level disability benefits and PIP, who are often unable to use public transport or walk and cycle etc. It isn’t generally available to people just on out of work benefits as it’s funded by Motability.

@imansre I need to be able to get to DD quickly if she has a mental health crisis or overdoses so it is a consideration to me. It happens approximately 4/5 times a year.

The last time I was in care I was not able to leave to go to her when she was at risk of having a mental health crisis which is why it now plays on my mind when applying for jobs. By the time I left work 18 hours later, she had already overdosed and we spent the day in A&E waiting to find out if she'd caused any permanent damage to herself. It was also horrific being at work knowing what she was likely to do and being unable to help her.

That is why I left that role for an IT role. I've never had any issues leaving to attend to emergencies while working in IT.

I was looking for extra support and was surprised it was not available to anyone needing the most basic of support. It seemed shortsighted to me to not have anything available for people needing a higher level of support such as courses/professional CV building etc.

I think many people misunderstand the role of the Job Centre - they're basically there to make life on benefits as miserable as they can through seeking an opportunity to sanction people thus save the gov money. They wouldn't give a toss if you could fluently speak 5 languages, had experience of managing the entire finance department of John Lewis and degree in Chemistry from Cambridge. If you opted not to apply for a night job stacking shelves in a shop 10 miles away from your home - that would be the perfect opportunity for them to usefully sanction you.

Once you understand the apparent flaws in the system are actually intrinsic to its goal - you'll understand why they couldn't 'help' you.

If you were earning so much before, why didn't you pay for your lessons while you were earning?

We didn't have so much for free/cheap on the internet 20 years ago,
FWIW OP, I sort of understand. As a PP said there should be loans available for learners. These things do exist, the jobcentre just isn';t a 'one-stop shop' unlike the national careers service.

However, like I said certifications are not a big deal in our industry. What feedback have you been getting from recruiters, former colleagues, etc? Are you perhaps fixating on the wrong thing? How long have you worked in IT, leaving for an emergency of course is possible with a supportive employer but not always guaranteed especially if you're on tight deadlines/the only person on site etc. With budgets being cut to the bone that's looking more and more likely.

Even this 'support' doesn't guarantee that you'll get a job.
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What about remote IT support roles?

The JC are there to support those who are not “work ready” for whatever reason. As a professional with skills and qualifications in a desirable field you are not it. As you have been employed (and presumably paid reasonably well) recently it is unreasonable to expect the state to pay for extra certificates in your field or driving lessons. Surely you considered driving lessons while you were working? As you were WFH you must’ve known your inability to drive would limit your job prospects if you were paid off, especially if not on public transport route? Who would have paid for certificates if applying for a new post while employed? It would’ve been down to you. Obviously you don’t have to do this. But you can’t complain about JC not shelling out the minute you rock up as unemployed.

Alternatively you could consider a shot term job outwith your field and pay for the necessary yourself.

If you've been permitted to claim JSA then you will only just be out of employment, meaning you are a person amongst the most able to find another job, given your recent work experience. Government support to find work doesn't exist to help people because its the right thing to do, it exists to get them off benefits and save money from the public purse. Realistically as an evidenced employable person, you could find paid work very quickly, albeit not necessarily of the type you'd prefer, and you will be expected to do so. So any measures to get you off benefits will be more likely to involve a stick than a carrot, and be limited to requiring you to justify any failure to apply for any and every job you'd be capable of.