I shall start by briefly explaining my personal circumstances. 46 yrs old; never had a job, never come close to having had a job and fear that I'll end up never having a job unless things change...drastically.
So, how did this happen?
Well; when I was looking for my first job the mining industry was beginning to collapse and there were very few other employment opportunities where I was living in an isolated, insular pit village with somewhat inadequate parents.
As an unemployed person at the time - no support, no job club or training agencies, no free access to postage or telephones [many families didn't have telephones then] no help with bus fares or interviews...there was nothing, you were absolutely on your own - in my case I would queue up for up to half an hour just to get into the building to sign on, and that was it - no questions asked...just sign on the dotted line and come back in a fortnight.
What specifically can Jobcentre Plus do now to help me?
Well; first you need to recognise that I exist....a man who's 46 years old and is still looking for his first job.
Every time I'm recycled after completing another training programme or placement I'm classified as a new claim at the jobcentre and therefore just short-term umemployed and not eligible for any more help for another 6/12/18 mths - whatever the latest directive is.
Nowhere on my files at jobcentre is it flagged up that I've now been unemployed for 28 yrs and AM NOT A NEW CLAIMANT everytime I sign on again.
So many assumptions made about you when you're unemployed and training agencies are no different to the jobcentre here - they always assume that you must be a criminal/alcoholic/drug addict or disabled or have problems with basic literacy and numeracy.
I consider myself to be a fairly well educated person - I've got 3 A levels, an OND and several vocational qualifications; yet every time I register with a training agency I have to sit a basic literacy and numeracy test.This just destroys my self-confidence and makes me somewhat cynical about the whole process.
So…now that in theory at least, you've recognised that people such as myself exist - well-balanced, intelligent, law-abiding citizens who have a lot to offer any employer...what needs to be done next?
Well; I suggest that you rip up the rule book and throw it away and from behind your desk at the jobcentre, lean forward a few inches and just ask me the one simple question, "What can we do to help you find work Mr Firth?" and then listen to what I have to say.
Specifically; I'll ask you to allow me to take up any temporary/PT/contract/casual work without putting my benefits at risk...no matter how few or many hours I work, whether regular or intermittent I need to be financially better off in work than on benefits- and to KNOW that I'll always be financially better off. I don't need the hassle of temporarily signing off and than back on again, or filling in complicated time-consuming forms every time I visit the jobcentre either...and the problems and delays with Housing Benefit are even worse. Like many people, I'm trapped by the benefits system...at the moment there are many scenarios where I could actually end up worse off than I am now - especially in the short-term. There's a concept called the 'citizen's wage' or 'social wage' which would instantly solve this problem...it would also mean that there would be no need for JCP though.
As I've alluded to, the benefits system and the services offered by JCP aren't working for me...and never really have; so, what I need is a radical intervention on my behalf...namely regular job trials/job advocacy/guaranteed interviews/secure benefits...ideally even set-aside jobs, or job quotas for long-term unemployed people such as my self. Additionally I need the stability, security and continuity of seeing the same advisor whenever I need to; someone who knows my details and current situation and who has the authority to take appropriate action, these radical interventions I've already mentioned; without an interfering line manager or head of department, without an unrealistic and unfair limit on his/her budget and no constantly changing petty targets to be reached....but, most important of all I need the JCP and its members of staff to treat me as a human being who has the same fears and aspirations as any other human being who finds himself in such a situation because I was born in the wrong place at the wrong time…and possibly as the wrong gender.
One final thought: I need to be able to contribute to, and participate in society to the best of my ability; it’s a basic human right...but I need help...and I need that help...now.
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