A4e 13 week IAP Induction week. Day 5

Today I join my new class. Firstly, we are told that this experience is supposed to be like a job so we can practice the hard task of being on time (Not really comparable as everyone would be much more likely to be punctual for their job as they might care about that). It is apparently not designed to degrade you and treat you like a child. Then we have to sign some guidelines because yesterdays class was naughty......hmmm. One of the guidelines tells me I must inform a member of staff if I wish to go to the toilet. Yes, this must be what it's like to be treated as an equal.

Next, the people who were in yesterday are presenting their equal opportunities scenarios (which are the exact ones we did during the gateway course). I am surprised to find that the requirement mentioned earlier in the week about continued equal opportunities lessons is really just a repeat of the same material.

Later in my meeting with my new tutor, I am shocked to discover that in fact the 12 week program is actually a 4 week program which is repeated. I am astonished to learn that someone has actually approved funding for such an obviously flawed system. This is a complete rip off of the government (well, tax payer) surely.

And of course, as always, an A4e employee proves their weakness in numeracy, by working out my age from my date of birth and being 8 years out!

A4e 13 week IAP Induction week. Day 4

This morning a man from the Citizens advice bureau came to chat to us about debt. I do not want or need to talk to him, yet I am supposed to put my details on a form so that my claim can be followed up? No thank you.

We also have a visitor from an organisation that helps people start up their own business, which may be useful, if i didn't live outside their catchment area.

Finally, from 10ish until 12, we have to prepare our CVs for external jobsearch. Except for me, as I am going back to my local centre tomorrow. Well, that was a waste of busfare.

A4e 13 week IAP Induction week. Day 3

Today was mainly taken up with 'equal opportunities and diversity'. This also takes up a day of gateway. Who came up with this and called it a course?

A4e 13 week IAP Induction week. Day 2

Today, the most of the day is taken up with health and safety lectures. I don't know how watching videos of people being attacked by a bull is relevant.

Most of the afternoon is dedicated to completing a 'soft skills' questionnaire which takes about 5 minutes. It delivers the somewhat astonishing news that I am lacking in confidence. I am yet to see any reason why this induction week is necessary as I am quite sure it would have easily fit into the gateway course, after all 36% (approximately 10 hours) of that time was completely wasted.

A4e 13 week IAP Induction week. Day 1

From Monday to Thursday I am doing my induction for my 13 week IAP course at A4e at a nearish centre as my local one doesn't have the resources to do that part of it, apparently. They aren't able to tell me terms and conditions it seems. Maybe they don't know them?

I am lucky to be in a fairly small group. I am not sure how the usual group which is 3 times bigger even fits in the classroom. It's only April, yet the room is far too hot and most of the windows don't open.

Now that DWP are apparently in charge of data protection, we now have to only put a first initial and surname on our folders. Not quite sure about the reasoning behind this. Next I have the tour of the building. I am told you need a code for the doorpad to use the toilet, apparently I have to work it out for myself though. Not like the computer passwords, which for extra safety are written on the computers.

The first day consists of filling in a 'venture' booklet where you apparently list goals or something. Also, being read terms and conditions. Only half an hour before hometime does the old standby of doing a quiz to fill in time finally occur.

The impossible task of phoning my own jobcentre

Today I rang my new deal advisor for the first time. I didn't have her number and so attempted to phone my local jobcentre using the number supplied to me on a letter she sent me on tuesday. For some reason instead of allowing you to phone your local jobcentre directly, now you have to phone a switchboard first. This is what happened.

'Hello, jobcentreplus switchboard, how can I help?'
'Hello, I need to speak to my new deal advisor at ....... jobcentre'
'Ok, I'll put you through'
more ringing

'Hello, jobcentreplus switchboard, how can I help?'

3 times this happened!! More ringing, and back to the same switchboard!!! It doesn't get more efficient than that.

Last New Deal Advisor Day

No escape from being bullied into undertaking A4e 'course' 2 weeks earlier than necessary. I guess you need to feel like you have some (unearned) power as a new deal advisor. For some unfathomable reason, I have to complete one weeks induction in one centre before moving to my local one. Apparently it is impossible to miss this part as 'otherwise people wouldn't know what's expected of them and how much time off they're allowed'. I cannot understand how this can possibly warrant a 32 hours of my time. I am also seriously confused as to how my local centre can be expected to run a course if they are not even capable of the difficult task of telling me how much time I'm allowed off. Maybe they themselves don't know how they're supposed to be 'helping' me.

Oh well, given the intimidating nature of the centre I have to attend for my induction, perhaps it's part of a bigger plan to weed out the weak and intimidate them off new deal. Unemployment has to go down somehow after all.