Im being forced to do a CE scheme, Advice?

Airyfairy12

Ive been trying to find a job for the past year and a half, I dont drive so im limited to my home town and public transport is basically non existant here, im in a rural place but would relocate if something came up, I havnt had one interview. Ive been told my cv is impressive and have done a jobs course and other courses to increase my chances of employment.

As a last resort I applied to ce schemes, I got an interview for one of them, it was advertised as office work and support worker in a womens refuge, when I went for the interview I was told it's a childcare position and i'll have to do a childcare fetac 5 course over 2 years and one year of work experience, so it's a 3 year programme, I said id think about it but I have no interest in childcare and I plan to go back to college next year to get my teaching degree.

So I had a second interview and I told them I really wasnt interested, ive no experience with young children or babies and im applying to other jobs, I dont want to be stuck at home for another 3 years on social welfare studying something ive no interest in. Now im told if I dont take it I lose all my social welfare, If I do take it and leave at any stage either for college or because ive found a job or whatever reason i'll have to pay them the money for the fetac course, they wouldnt give me a straight answer on how much it would be...either way its money I dont have. The course is part time and spread over 2 years, it's 250 euro per module and theres 8 modules in total so I could potentially have to pay them about 2 grand.

The social welfare dont want to know (screamed at me and threatened to stop my payments) This is more of a rant than anything else but I dont know what to do?

Phoebas

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

The social welfare dont want to know (screamed at me and threatened to stop my payments) This is more of a rant than anything else but I dont know what to do?

Are you saying that someone in the Department of Social Protection actually screamed at you?
Did that really happen?

Airyfairy12

Phoebas wrote: »

Are you saying that someone in the Department of Social Protection actually screamed at you?
Did that really happen?

Yep right after she screamed at a poor foreign lady who had broken english and was asking if she'd be entitled to take a course or go to college. I left in tears, she refused to give me her name so I cant report her.

snubbleste

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

Yep right after she screamed at a poor foreign lady who had broken english and was asking if she'd be entitled to take a course or go to college. I left in tears, she refused to give me her name so I cant report her.

Course you can. They have cctv, time & date and the customer charter
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Customer-Charter.aspx

Airyfairy12

snubbleste wrote: »

Tell them you don't like children. They're horrid with their constant whining and smelly nappies and...

Hahaha im sure they'll find that out themselves if I start working there. There is no hope of me changing a nappy.

Ken.

Mod-Moved to state benefit forum. Read the charter before posting.

Airyfairy12

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

Ive been trying to find a job for the past year and a half, I dont drive so im limited to my home town and public transport is basically non existant here, im in a rural place but would relocate if something came up, I havnt had one interview. Ive been told my cv is impressive and have done a jobs course and other courses to increase my chances of employment.

As a last resort I applied to ce schemes, I got an interview for one of them, it was advertised as office work and support worker in a womens refuge, when I went for the interview I was told it's a childcare position and i'll have to do a childcare fetac 5 course over 2 years and one year of work experience, so it's a 3 year programme, I said id think about it but I have no interest in childcare and I plan to go back to college next year to get my teaching degree.

So I had a second interview and I told them I really wasnt interested, ive no experience with young children or babies and im applying to other jobs, I dont want to be stuck at home for another 3 years on social welfare studying something ive no interest in. Now im told if I dont take it I lose all my social welfare, If I do take it and leave at any stage either for college or because ive found a job or whatever reason i'll have to pay them the money for the fetac course, they wouldnt give me a straight answer on how much it would be...either way its money I dont have. The course is part time and spread over 2 years, it's 250 euro per module and theres 8 modules in total so I could potentially have to pay them about 2 grand.

The social welfare dont want to know (screamed at me and threatened to stop my payments) This is more of a rant than anything else but I dont know what to do?

You can be penalised for refusing to engage with labour activation ('I'm not going to interview/ doing anything you offer'), and for placing unreasonable restrictions (I will only work on full moons as dolphins sing The Foggy Dew to a comely maiden in Carna Bay")

I don't think you can be penalised for refusing one specific, unsuitable course. Speak to somebody else at the branch.

Airyfairy12

ken wrote: »

Mod-Moved to state benefit forum. Read the charter before posting.

Oops sorry, I wasnt sure where to post it.

Airyfairy12

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

You can be penalised for refusing to engage with labour activation ('I'm not going to interview/ doing anything you offer'), and for placing unreasonable restrictions (I will only work on full moons as dolphins sing The Foggy Dew to a comely maiden in Carna Bay")

I don't think you can be penalised for refusing one specific, unsuitable course. Speak to somebody else at the branch.

Theyre penalising me anyway

Airyfairy12

snubbleste wrote: »

Course you can. They have cctv, time & date and the customer charter
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Customer-Charter.aspx

Thanks ill look into it

dar100

Tell them if have convictions that will rule you out,

Airyfairy12

dar100 wrote: »

Tell them if have convictions that will rule you out,

They've garda vetted me already, they had me fill out the forms as soon as I walked through the door.

AirBiscuit

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

They've garda vetted me already, they had me fill out the forms as soon as I walked through the door.

Tell them you're a paedophile, see how quickly they'll rescind the job offer then.

Gatling

Don't you have a degree

Airyfairy12

Gatling wrote: »

Don't you have a degree

I have a degree in fine art, loads of art teaching experience, some art gallery experience, ive ran art workshops, the galleries in my town do ce schemes, they wont give me a chance on an internship because they dont want to have to employ anyone, its easier for them to take on people who don't give a ****! .... If the local art gallery would give me the ce scheme it would hugely improve my employment prospects but theyre not bothered. I know how bad it sounds when someone says they have an art degree but there is employment for artists out there.

Balagan

There are some serious questions to be asked about people who are very unwilling and possibly unsuited to care for small children (and probably very vulnerable and traumatised children in this case as the facility is attached to a women's refuge) being forced to take up this work. The HSE, which is responsible for monitoring creches/childcare facilities should surely be made aware of such a practice. It would be a very responsible act by the OP to inform the HSE.

Airyfairy12

Balagan wrote: »

There are some serious questions to be asked about people who are very unwilling and possibly unsuited to care for small children (and probably very vulnerable and traumatised children in this case as the facility is attached to a women's refuge) being forced to take up this work. The HSE, which is responsible for monitoring creches/childcare facilities should surely be made aware of such a practice. It would be a very responsible act by the OP to inform the HSE.

Exactly Balagan, dont get me wrong im responsible and id never hurt anybody, let alone a child but its not a position I want to be in, I dont want the responsibility of other peoples children and I have no experience with babies or toddlers, I dont feel im right for it at all, I like kids but hands on caring for them is another thing entirely. I made it clear to them but it made no difference. I get the impression that because im a woman im expected to take on a childcare career path, whether I like it or not even though I told them what my personal career goals were, they dismissed this entirely. A job and career path like this needs to be a personal decision, not forced on anybody for the sake of everybody involved. These sort of places shouldnt be allowed to avail of CE scheme services, its grand to do a garda vetting but really that means nothing, just means youve never been convicted. They really dont know who theyre putting on these courses and thats a little frightening especially given the vulnerable situation the kids are in, I totally agree with you. Btw allot of adults put on these childcare ce schemes are special needs adults with mild mental and learning difficulties, theyre unsuitable but who cares, theyre off the register which means the country looks like it has less unemployment. The jobs situation didnt get any better, theyre just forcing anybody and everybody onto these schemes.

dar100

This whole process sounds very dodgie

eviltwin

A friend of mine is doing CE as a childcare worker in an addiction centre. She had no childcare qualifications when she got the job either. Mentally it's very tough working with vulnerable people, you'll be working with traumatised children and will be picking up on a lot of that trauma. You need to take care of your own mental health and if you are not suitable you shouldn't do it. It's disgusting the government use its own scheme to provide cheap employment because it can't be arsed to actually hire someone. Have you had a look at other ce options so you can at least give welfare an alternative.

Eta. I would contact HIQA either way, I bet they'd be very interested to hear about unqualified staff working with vulnerable kids

Annasopra

What now? That's news to me that adults with special needs are put on CE. Have you any evidence to back that up.

Annasopra

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

Theyre penalising me anyway

Ask to speak to a manager about it. You can't be forced if it is an unsuitable option.

percy212

This sounds very dodgy. OP, I think you are saying that you cannot psychologically cope with caring for children and women at risk. That should be your statement to the person trying to send you out as cheap labour. Call or write to the HSE and HIQA as advised above. These schemes may have been well intentioned at one point, and do work for some people, but not for all. You should be able to wait until something more suitable becomes available. Maybe look into giving private art lessons? Artists are an important part of society.

Teyla Emmagan

That sounds utterly ridiculous. As someone else said speak to a manager in the SW office. They can't force unwilling people to work with children.

Your CV sounds great. Would you not learn to drive?

_Tombstone_

HIQA would give a Toss, SW Manager won't give a Toss.

hawkeyethenoo

they can't force you, ask to speak to someone else.

op why don't you use some of your jobseekers allownance to take a few driving lessons and learn how to drive? you said yourself you are limited by the lack of public transport, you need to take the next step and get on the road, this is hindering your career prospects. buy a cheap career and get insurance on a monthly plan. it will open up more avenues for you.

the_pen_turner

I thought you get lessons paid for by the social

Annasopra

the_pen_turner wrote: »

I thought you get lessons paid for by the social

Yeah right and free prams and free phones too

Gatling

the_pen_turner wrote: »

I thought you get lessons paid for by the social

No and they won't pay the rough €3000 average insurance for a first time driver .

Airyfairy12

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

What now? That's news to me that adults with special needs are put on CE. Have you any evidence to back that up.

I did an evening course last year in early childhood education, it was a 12 week course, I didnt finish it as i found id no interest in it, did this 12 week course to see if id like it and if I did id do a full training (explained this to the social welfare but made no difference) On the course there were people on a CE scheme who were working in youth centres in disadvantaged areas, some of them clearly had learning difficulties and often displayed inappropriate behaviour in the class, one guy in particular in his mid 30's was warned he'd be permanently removed from the class if he didnt stop. The tutor should have contacted the ce scheme about him but once youve passed a garda vetting theres not much they can do. Legally you can work with children and young people, common sense doesnt prevail. Once you look decent on paper its good enough for them.

Airyfairy12

hawkeyethenoo wrote: »

they can't force you, ask to speak to someone else.

op why don't you use some of your jobseekers allownance to take a few driving lessons and learn how to drive? you said yourself you are limited by the lack of public transport, you need to take the next step and get on the road, this is hindering your career prospects. buy a cheap career and get insurance on a monthly plan. it will open up more avenues for you.

Its too expensive, you need 12 lessons now before you get your license i'll need more than that. Its roughly 400 euro for the 12 lessons (thats with deals) and ive priced around the area. 50 euro for theory test, then how ever much the license costs, then iv to buy the car 500 - 800 euro maybe?, 2,000 euro for insurance, then tax, petrol and NCT. Its far too expensive.

Zillah

the_pen_turner wrote: »

I thought you get lessons paid for by the social

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Yeah right and free prams and free phones too

Gatling wrote: »

No and they won't pay the rough €3000 average insurance for a first time driver .

Actually you can get lessons paid for by social welfare, I did back when I first graduated. I explained that not being able to drive ruled me out of a lot of the entry-level sorts of jobs in the industry for which I was qualified and they covered it for me.

Maybe it is not common, or not done any more, but I did it.

the_pen_turner

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Yeah right and free prams and free phones too

did a bit of research and its truck lessons they will help with

Airyfairy12

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Ask to speak to a manager about it. You can't be forced if it is an unsuitable option.

I tried, they said they'll stop my payments, then i'll have to open a new claim, have loads of interviews and if they decide to allow me back onto jobseekers it could take 9 weeks to get a payment.

the_pen_turner

Zillah wrote: »

Actually you can get lessons paid for by social welfare, I did back when I first graduated. I explained that not being able to drive ruled me out of a lot of the entry-level sorts of jobs in the industry for which I was qualified and they covered it for me.

Maybe it is not common, or not done any more, but I did it.

I knew I didn't imagine it

Airyfairy12

Zillah wrote: »

Actually you can get lessons paid for by social welfare, I did back when I first graduated. I explained that not being able to drive ruled me out of a lot of the entry-level sorts of jobs in the industry for which I was qualified and they covered it for me.

Maybe it is not common, or not done any more, but I did it.

It's not done anymore, I dont get anything paid for.

Tasden

Zillah wrote: »

Actually you can get lessons paid for by social welfare, I did back when I first graduated. I explained that not being able to drive ruled me out of a lot of the entry-level sorts of jobs in the industry for which I was qualified and they covered it for me.

Maybe it is not common, or not done any more, but I did it.

How long ago was this? The rules for funding driving lessons have become alot more strict in recent years and it is mainly for rigid etc. that will lead to a job and not just driving lessons to get a car, even if it helps with your job prospects, if that makes sense.

the_pen_turner

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

It's not done anymore, I dont get anything paid for.

don't be so quick to assume that . just because its not publicised doesn't mean there isn't anything out there to help you

Gatling

It may be a possibility thought the Back to enterprise scheme some funds but not it all,
last mention of it was 5 + years ago

Airyfairy12

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Yeah right and free prams and free phones too

I dont have anything paid for or given to me, least of all a new phone. The social welfare treat people on job seekers like ****. I hate having to go in because some of the staff are so horrible. Its really demoralising. I dont know anyone on social welfare who's ever gotten free anything and ive never tried to get anything either. Im not entitled to anything.

the_pen_turner

have you used you 250 euro entitlement to training from fas

StripedBoxers

OP I don't know if the SW have spoken to you about the National Learning Network but they do programmes, courses and work placements so they may be able to help you with a work placement?

http://www.nln.ie/

They also give an increase in your weekly social welfare, how much of an increase you get depends on what payment you get and how much you get.

It would be well worth speaking with NLN and then if you find a suitable course/programme/placement for yourself, you get a referral from the SW for it.