back to work interview, HELP

[Blaadyblah]

My turn this morning... Wish I'd looked at this post last night, I might have got a bit more sleep! For reference, according to the letter I received attendance is compulsory and benefit may be reduced if you don't attend.

[barkingmad]

Hope it went ok Blaady.

[Blaadyblah]

Afarid not, it was a total waste of time. My appt was 9:20 but I wasn't called till almost ten. The woman I saw was not the woman I had an appointment with and didn't go through any of the benefits I'm on etc or anything. I was with her for about ten minutes - she was only interested in what jobs I'd done before and whether or not I could work now. When she was done she told me I'd be getting a letter from someone with another appointment in 'a while' and that was that. I think she's passed me on to one of the outside agencies but she really wasn't very clear - with a bit of luck they'll be a bit more useful. I got frozen, scraped my car windows, had a fall and sat in the most uncomfortable chair on earth for half an hour for this? Gah!

[gila]

arrrggghh- pointless 'interviews' for normies are bad enough- for the disabled who this 'interviewing' is supposed to be helping....

and it's not only highly inconvenient and soooooo not helpful for us- it's also inefficient and a waste of their time and money.

and as for punctuality- I hate their doublestandards- when I had to sign on I'd often be waiting 30-45 mins, but if I was just 10 mins late... I'd have to come back the next day...

flick, hope the next one's better!
xxg

[Blaadyblah]

Yeah, you and me both - I was starting to feel quite positive on the way there. I amused myself during the wait by trying to find investment bankers who were signing on - no joy, couldn't see any at all!

[barkingmad]

Sounds like it wasnt good...no investment bankers down here either, just my poor dad and Jeff joining the mass of the unemployed!

I would love to see what they say to Jeff, he and Prof G told me I was unemployable at one stage but the truth is Jeff is not capable of working for anyone at all! He likes being his own boss too much...maybe I will go along just to watch!

[gila]

investment banker cheers for that laugh flick!

barking- good luck for jeff and your dad!!!
xxg

[Blaadyblah]

And on... This lunchtime I've got an appointment with Pathways... They handily sent me a reminder letter a couple of days ago so this morning I've pulled it out to doublecheck a couple of things. There's a link at the bottom http://www.a4epathways.co.uk/ so in a sudden fit of I've been off to have a look at their website - seems that unless you're an employer there's nothing there but e-mail addresses and phone numbers for the areas they cover. Shame, I was hoping to find out a little more about them. Guess I'll have to wait...

[Blaadyblah]

Well, that went a bit better. The Nice Man I've been to see today is going to co-ordinate various organisations getting me some training at my local college (one and two day courses), put me in touch with the OT that works with him and help me sort out a CV. He's aware that I'm not going to be ready to go back to work any time soon, but seems to be able to help me identify areas I could work in when I am ready, perhaps even setting up my own business! Early days - I have to see him five times over the next five months, but it was an awful lot more helpful than the previous appointment left me thinking it would be.

[lightning]

glad that went well for you Blaady. I have my last appointment next week. They are concerned that I am ONLY doing 10-12 hrs a week. hhmmm Doctor says none but hey, who listens to the Doctor. They do give a lot of help. problem i will have in August is that I have used my 12 months permitted work...i won't be able to move onto the next phase as i just can't do enough hours, so i will either have to stop work or lose my incapacity benefit....either way my income will fall in August..... so am enjoying the small amount of pay for now! I can't get working tax credit because Bob earns just above the limit...anyway, hping to win lottery by then!
stick with them, they may ell come uo trumps for you
hugs and waggy tail from Tarka.

[barkingmad]

Glad that it went ok, Blaady. Who knows you may start your own business and become a millionaire!!

I thought you worked anyway...you never know what is round the corner and with your skills I am sure that you will do well. But well done getting them to realise that you cant be 'fixed' quickly.

Lightning..hopefully yours will go ok too. Its ridiculous the way they suddenly cut down your money like that and expect you to be able to cope.

[Blaadyblah]

10-12 hours is what my Rheumy told me I should have been doing when I was well (rather than full time). I was employed until August, barking - but haven't been at work since April 2007 and now need to identify a suitable area and retrain.

[Blaadyblah]

Saw the Occupational Therapy team working for pathways yesterday - the woman was lovely and suggested that it is likely my ow business would be the best way forward. They're going to look at courses that would help me understand how to set something like that up - it is quite exciting but I have to admit, I'm very nervous about it too - as I can only work part time it isn't as though I'd be able to make enough to live on (they're talking about therapeutic earnings) so I've concerns about how we'd stay financially secure... I guess I'll talk that over with the other guy when I see him next.

She threw the form away within about five minutes of my getting in there, she said that the sort of questions they're meant to ask just weren't going to work in my case so I didn't feel like I was being made to jump through hoops of red tape that were too small in the first place. Altogether a good experience, I came away excited and encouraged. It was nice that she took on board that while I come across as positive and managing my condition really well, this is not the case all of the time and my health is unreliable to say the least.

Anyway, if anyone else has the suggestion to see the OT through the back to work process, go for it.

[lightning]

well done Blaady!

[SAMMY]

Yo Blaady. This is something that is playing on my mind a lot. I have had back to work interviews before. Not through my own fault but redundancy. I found them totally useless and like you say basically not helping you to find a new job but only wanting to know what you have done before. It isn't helping my faith in doing it again and this time with a disability. I would love to hear some success stories. As I keep saying to people. It's not my brain that doesn't work, it's my body! SAMMY