DWP work coach?

[delreydreaming]

Hi! I have just completed my pre recorded interview for the work coach position at the DWP. I feel I did well and gave strong answers! Is anyone on here a work coach?

If successful, I’d be requesting part time hours has anyone any experience with this? With it being a diary based sort of job I am assuming there’s little flexibility but wondered how far in advance you can request holidays etc? What if your child is off school sick and you need to look after them? Obviously not things you like to ask your potential employer but these things do happen and I’m just wondering where you stand…

im currently in a very flexible role, my hours are good, can take holidays fairly last minute and in hours not just full/half days, special leave for child sick days etc. wondering if I’m daft to consider leaving this!

And finally, do you enjoy your job? It sounds great to me, exactly the type of thing I want to do but some reviews online make it sound horrendous!

thank you! Xx

@delreydreaming I'm a work coach with DWP, started in October & not long completed training. I work full time so I don't have any experience of working part time although there are several other work coaches in the JC office I'm based in with various different working patterns so it does seem pretty flexible. Ease of booking annual leave will probably depend on how many others are already off, the office I'm in only allows 20% of the staff off at a time & school holidays are booked up months in advance. You can also build up flexi-time that you can use to have the odd early finish or later start.

Am I enjoying the job...in all honesty no, I'm not. Positives are that the job isn't particularly difficult in my opinion, you get regular breaks that are blocked out in your diary & you leave work in the office at the end of the day, rather than taking it home with you. For me the negatives outweigh the positives. The training was awful, my team leader isn't very supportive, the office culture isn't great, its actually a bit toxic with some colleagues seeming to get preferential treatment and I don't feel that I'm able to help people in the way I envisioned in the time we are given. This is just my personal opinion & experience though so please don't let this put you off. Most of the people in the office I'm based in have been there for years & are really happy in their jobs, sadly it's not for me & I'll be moving on.

Good Luck with it 😊