Induction day

I very quickly discover that there is no lift and that the only option of getting to the 2^nd floor not via the stairs was to go outside and round the building to the other side. After my last visit I needed to get to that road just behind the building but chose to go a long way round as the first bit is so steep. It is not a very useful option. Imagine a lane that starts at the side of the building at ground level and wraps round the building to the second floor – plus about 5/6 steps, maybe you get the idea. I have been told that I can enter there to start with, a flat walk [and 5/6 steps] from the high street – knock and hopefully someone will answer.  Stairs are ok but never done without thinking and sometimes quite painful – when my lower back is off steep slopes are difficult. I do things because I have to. There is fortunately a toilet for someone of my gender on that floor. So: the no steps entrance is on the ground floor as is the photocopier, reception and the accessible toilets. The interview space where I first went is on the first floor, the IT room on the second floor.

After a fiddle, a chair was found for me that I could adjust to a suitable height. They don’t seem to have wrist rests available. We were shown how to log into the programme that we will use. We looked at job categories – if I’d written down the website as well as my log in details I would be more accurate at explaining the job categories. It was suggested that we picked 3 possible areas including one that ended “machine operatives” – I said surely that is physical work, and was told there might be jobs in that area that I hadn’t thought about.

Being on ESA I don’t have to apply for jobs but I do need to do work based activities.

There was a place to put CVs I wasn’t sure if that was just for me to access or for staff as well, I only asked why was it/ was it necessary – I had one of my inarticulate moments...garble garble [my think speak capacity can be affected as can my listen comprehend, reading and writing seem ok]. I established that I could access my CV via email of online documents and as I wasn’t required to apply for jobs I didn’t have to have it in my online details.

Then came the tests in Maths and English. She said that they would adjust to ability so we would probably all take different times. I made some stupid mistakes in English and it didn’t take too long. The maths went on and on, I knew how to work out the volume of a cylinder, but due to a slightly woozy day just couldn’t pin down the noughts that were coming up so skipped that. Anyway 2 of the others finished well before me. My results were both Level 2: GCSE grades a – c. Yes that was  my maths level when I took O levels – yes I’m that old. I’d need coaching to get it up to scratch I reckon, there’s lots I wouldn’t be able to do - I didn’t understand all the terms for statistics on this test. So actually I think I’m under that score for maths. But the English, bloody hell! I have 3 O levels – language, literature, general literature; Use of English [sort of A level English Language] and A level English, not to mention the MA, the creation of academic writing and creative writing – and having taught contextual studies to first year degree students. How on earth did I do so badly?

Our maths and English result print outs are kept in a locked cabinet but our personal folders including user name and log-on are kept in an open filing cabinet for all to access. Hmm

I remembered to give them my new email address, but forgot about travel from the last visit and this one, also I forgot to hand in my completed data protection form. Even using a double folder with sort of in out tray system I forgot.

I left still not entirely sure what I will do on the visits there and what I will report on during the phone calls. Perhaps list the art listings that I’ve looked at, my grappling with a proposal and failing!

Future: I usually go away with my parents in the autumn for 3 or 4 weeks...I really can’t look after the house alone – coal and wood fire in a stone house, aside from no transport. What will happen?

starting

So I’m on the work programme and Employment & Support Allowance: ESA. Whilst on ESA I am expected to do work related activity but I don't have to apply for jobs.

What do I know about it? Negative reports in the press, a letter in December saying that I could/would be required to go on it and that it lasts 2 years. Also that they get paid by results and can check up on you after you have found work – that is called support I found at my first interview. I know someone my age in a similar position who would love to work but can’t so does voluntary work. She is on the work programme. She is being required o do a course that clashes with tha voluntary work – can you guess what the course is about? Yes, volunteering. But as the advisor at the jobcentre at the beginning of the year said, see if there is useful stuff, attend what you have to – so I have been attempting an open mind.

How much background to give? I have not properly worked for just over 10 years, before that I was unable to work full time due to health problems – I was self employed and sometimes, at the beginning, supported by my partner from the age of about 28 when I became ill. So not the best history! But I have 2 HNDs in design, a BA Hons in Fine Art [I nearly gave that up due to my health], a PGCE in post Compulsory Education and an MA in an obscure area of fine art – if I told you its title any anonymity would go out the window!! I gave up lecturing in HE & FE, working as an artist in schools and art residencies and making a lot of craft and art work

 

I experience pain in many parts of my body from head to toe, in varying amounts. I don’t look sick – just weird as I am photosensitive. Exercise can make me worse. But I am currently supported by a range of health care professionals and spending my own money on private medicine [via a GP]. My memory is not brilliant and there seem to be a few cognitive issues.

I saw an advisor whose function is to help those with disabilities who think they can get back to work in 6 months. After about 5 minutes she said she couldn’t see me following that route. So the Work Programme.

My first appointment started with a hint of difficulty as my knees were hurting and we went upstairs. In a small room we discussed a few things about my health from two sets of notes from 2 jobcentre interviews. The first being from 2012. We didn’t really discuss my health issues and problems just some points that were not understood from the forms. Then in a room where there were other people we went through the rest of the paperwork. I ended up having to briefly touch on my mental health issues. I wasn’t entirely happy.

Before this appointment I had had a phone call from the provider Job Fit and given my short term and long term goals. I wasn’t happy with how they had been translated. The short term was ok I was “concentrating mainly [their] addition] on my health”. Long term was not “teaching art & design” that was corrected to” art, design, education or an academic route via Phd”.

I left having signed things and not other things. I took the data protection stuff home with me. But realised I had signed: I will attend my work programme for the hours agreed. I also understand that I will complete periods of work placement during my time on the programme Without having established what this meant. A few days later I received a letter with appointments up until December – having first arranged an induction morning for 2 weeks later. There were telephone availability dates and physical visit appointments: 2 methods of contact per month. The attendance times were for 9.30, I phoned to say that this was difficult for me, that I would do the induction appointment at 9.30 but what could be changed about the others. It seems that it will be fine to go in at 10.30. The first phone appointment is for a day when I have hospital appointments – I did say this at the first appointment.

So all in all I was a bit confused or perhaps ignorant of what was expected of me and what I would do at the appointments that is what were the phone calls about and what would I do when I visited the centre. Yes I ought to have asked more questions, but I do get tired and inarticulate and forgetful. I also had not established where the lift was.