bwork focussed interview advice please

[shelleylou]

Hi, ive got my meeting on friday afternoon found out this morning and been stressing about it all day. I dont know what do say or what really happens at one, this will be my first. I wouldnt mind going back to work i have been looking but i can only really do weekends because my mum will have my ds, I know if i do over 16 hours i can get help with childcare but i cant see how i would be able to afford my contribution to this, (ex left me with bills im now paying of which takes up a lot of my spare cash). Any ideas how i can explain this so my personal advisor will understand?

Shelley, do not worry one bit, it is fine.

They will ask you if you are thinking of returning to work or training. If you are not ready yet, then you say no, not right now, because of xyz and they say 'oh thats ok' and they type it up and you leave.

Honestly, it is nothing to worry about at all.

Thanks nut, i appreciate your help. Just feels really weird the idea of goin back to work full time, i have done part time since ds was born but his(paternal) nan wasnt reliable with looking after him.

I work 16 hrs and get about 80% childcare paid, I am not paid well but what you get in your wage should easily cover this xtra and working/child tax credit should make your money up. If your ready its worth considering, I would be so much worse off If I didnt work

My main worry is the extra bills im having to pay for at the moment, not sure how id manage. TBH i wouldnt know where to start looking for childcare.

the lone parents will be able to do calvulations fr you based on rough wage, of what tax credits, housing benefits etc you may be entitled to. so you would have this information printed off to take home, and work out if your bills would be covered by whats left. they will also be able to give you the phone number for childrens information sevrice, who will be able to give you advise on childcare options in your area and give you phone numbers of childminders/ nurseries for you to phone and talk too.
as someone else said the lone parent advisor won't try and force you into jobs you dont wnat to do. i have found my advisor to be very helpful, she even follows up a few weeks after i spoke to her about what i wanted to do to see how things were going. she was very friendly and wasnt a bit fazed by dd screaming fit while we tried to talk-she was teething at the time

Thanks dyl that helps put my mind at ease no end at least id have somewhere to start for childcare. I know what i would want to do if i went straight into a job but woulds like to train aswell, not sure how id manage to get all the work done for it but give it a go. Hopefully my advisor is as friendly as yours, can see ds getting frustrated if he cant walk around gets fed up if he cant move, might see if i can leave him with mum. How long do you reckon i could be there for?

i was there for no more than half hour- would have been quicker if dd wasnt so upset, i tried to sort her out while we were talking, the lady i was talking to tried to help her calm and some man that worked there came to try and occupy her to, all to no avail but at least i wasnt being tutted at or spoken rudley too as i ahd expected to be.
they can help with pointing you in the right directin for training etc as well

Thanks that means i can see if mum will have ds so i can get in and out and still get back to see him for a bit and say bye before he goes to his dads. Make itr a bit easier.