The Challenges of Finding Meaningful Employment – John’s Story Part 2

Unfortunately for me, an extremely unpleasant experience has been the failure to provide critical information in a timely manner with respect to a prospective training scenario suggested by the Jobcentre. I was asked by my job coach at the local job centre if I wanted to attend a short training course with a guaranteed interview in Hospitality/Retail and Customer Service and I accepted the suggestion to do so on the basis that it would not impede on any potential future government subsidised training finance that might increase my likelihood of gaining employment. My job coach informed me that the training organisation will be in touch by phone on a private number and if I receive any calls from a private number, then I should answer them. I said sure, no problems. However, the representative was in touch via email and I liaised with who I thought was a representative of the training organisation over a series of several emails. In essence, during the entire process of my interaction, I did not feel satisfied that this representative (who I later found out worked for an intermediary trust) was accurately relaying all the necessary information of the training, with respect to her actions/inactions.

I got this sense because:

• The delivery mode (there was no self-study option available which would have been far more suitable for me given my situation/circumstance) for this training failed to factor in my specific circumstances that I candidly communicated with the Job Centre.
• The requirements for successful completion of this training were too inflexible i.e., compulsory online attendance between the hours of 10am -16pm Monday – Thursday: failure to attend this strict timeframe leads to course completion and certification failure.
• Failure to acknowledge my current qualifications based on the formal UK government Statement of Comparability document: why did I have to do an English Assessment? What is the purpose of the Statement of Comparability?
• Very limited notice given for the appointment scheduling

Therefore, I felt compelled to outline several of these issues in writing via email to the training representative. I also notified my Wintercomfort support worker as well as my Job Centre plus work coach of my concerns. However, I did not receive any follow-up which was very peculiar. I was then scheduled to attend a future Jobs Fair, of which I attended.

I think the key takeaway from my pleasant and unpleasant experience is that there must be more open acknowledgment of the positive aspects of the systems that work and identification and resolution of the aspects of the systems that need clear improvement. Rough sleepers, the homeless and the disadvantaged should feel comfortable raising concerns and not feel pressured – no matter how subtle – to conform to a system that does not consider their particular situation or circumstances.

Meaningful employment is a critical part of empowering people on their journey off the streets and into secure housing. Please sign up to join us in improving opportunities in training, volunteering and paid employment through the Cambridge Homelessness Charter.