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TUS Programme

rsole1

MOD NOTE - Updated 24/02/2014
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This is a forum for people to ask for advice, and in some cases may be experiencing difficult personal circumstances. For some people JobBridge may be a good, and welcome choice for them. Thee is to be no more mention of JobBridge being a scam, fraud, etc (or any discussion among same lines). There may be a home for that kind of discussion on Boards.ie but it definitely isn't here.

Hi Had a letter from Social Protection inviting me to participate on a TUS Programme. I have done an internet search and there seems to be very little "chatter" about it from people who have been on it, does anyone have any experience of it? I know how much it pays and a broad idea of what type of jobs etc, but would like some first hand experience from people in the know. Sounds a bit like a CE Scheme.

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OlgaCorbett

crossmolinalad wrote: »

Not true
They are great in my opinion
Much better than been at home doing nothing
And wich employer pay s 15 euro an hour and having a medical card doing 19.5 hours a week NONE

depends where you're working and how flexible your tús-placement officer is - either way it's only for 12 months and unfortunately you're out back on the dole (and weekly cut in allowance down from upwards 220) unless they keep you on or find work in the meantime.

OlgaCorbett

dudebro wrote: »

Has anyone seen payment stopped by not accepting what they offer in the interview or is it just cut?

not sure, but you'd be very unlucky if the tús-placement officer wasn't even trying to get you a place in a job that suits your skills or at least you'd like - i'd say there are sanctions in not participating at all with tús - it's part-time on around 220 weekly with holiday leave (you retain medical card but be careful of unmarked envelopes from the h.s.e. as it's supposed to double-check-addresses but really to cut people off).

glaswegian

Hi,apoligies if this has been asked before. i have been on the jobpath programme for the last 5 weeks,this morning i got a letter from SW to fill out a form for a place on a TUS programme,will i have to attend both ?
thanks.

dodzy

glaswegian wrote: »

Hi,apoligies if this has been asked before. i have been on the jobpath programme for the last 5 weeks,this morning i got a letter from SW to fill out a form for a place on a TUS programme,will i have to attend both ?
thanks.

No, while you're on job path, you cannot be referred anywhere else.

BeerFarts

Is it possible to be transferred to Jobpath from TUS? I'm looking for work and I'd appreciate help with it and I'm stuck in a meaningless tus position at the moment. I'd sooner be getting help towards employment.

dodzy

BeerFarts wrote: »

Is it possible to be transferred to Jobpath from TUS? I'm looking for work and I'd appreciate help with it and I'm stuck in a meaningless tus position at the moment. I'd sooner be getting help towards employment.

In general we are seeing a lot of TUS finishers quickly being picked up by JP. They seem to be focussing on not letting TÚS finishers go back to JB for any real period of time. It would be different for you as you would be looking to finish early and transfer. Make your case to the TUS team leader, stating your dissatisfaction with the current situation and see if anything can be done to expedite your transition.

OlgaCorbett

.i wouldn't think you can transfer from tús to jobpath - you'd need to talk to the tús supervisor to confirm but these 'schemes' are separate and designed ultimately to keep the long-term unemployed off the dole while keeping welfare - i know someone who was placed on jobpath and started in september 2016 after finishing the 12mnth tús placement in may - the jobpath contractor (seetec) were good at the start with 30min sessions on interviews, cv - now it's simply one monthly meeting 30min meetings with (his third) placement officer with him showing proof of applying for jobs (and even then it's lackadaisical) - it's really up to you.

The Darkness

I got a letter from Intreo the other day 'offering me an opportunity to apply for a position on the Tús Programme', that I had to complete an enclosed form - with yes/no questions about previous schemes/courses/education etc - indicating that I'm 'willing to be interviewed for one of these positions' and to 'having my contact details given' to a specified company; and that the company will be in touch with me to arrange an interview.

It also states that if I 'do not wish to take part in the scheme that I should state the reasons clearly' and the usual about how my claim 'may be affected if I choose not to participate or do not return the form by the specified date'.

This is the first that I've heard from or about Tús, I've never been contacted in relation to them before or had them mention to me by Intreo or the DSP, so I'm curious as to what the situation is wrt the letter and the scheme itself. I'll read through the rest of this thread later, but just wanted to have some questions answered first if possible.

Is it compulsory? If I don't want to be interviewed or take part, will my claim definitely be sanctioned or is there some leeway?

What exactly is it and how does it work?
It says it's 'community-based employment' - what specifically is that?

It also states that it's for 19.5 hrs a week for 12 months - how does that work?

Is it a real job, or likely to lead to one; or is it just cheap/free labour like JobBridge was or a means of massaging the unemployment numbers?

And what way is it structured timewise with those hours; are they always the same or does it vary, depending on what you're doing?

I saw a few posts back that these schemes are being discontinued shortly, so would there be any point in getting involved in one now if that's happening?

It also says that they may contact me 'about other suitable activation programmes before Tús commences' and that where the form is to be signed that I should 'understand that I may be selected for other activation programmes by the department before I receive an official offer and contract for a Tús placement'; which seems a bit odd, as surely if you're doing one, you can't be doing another?

Is it generally considered to be better or worse than other programmes, such as CE or Jobpath - and could anyone with first-hand experience of those mentioned give their opinion of which they think is better?

I know these are a lot of questions, but I'm operating in complete ignorance here atm, and if I'm going to have to do this for the next 12 months, then I'd like to know an awful lot more about it.

Anyway all information will be very gratefully received - thanks in advance!

segosego89

It's basically compulsory. I have friends who had their claim suspended for a week because they didn't respond to the letter. There's also a possibility of a claim being suspended for 9 weeks but I don't know anyone who that has happened to.
The letter you receive about the Tus program is presented in such a way to make it seem as if you have a choice but you actually don't.
I've never heard of someone decline to be interviewed without their claim being affected in some way but maybe I'm mistaken.

Most Tus jobs consist of working outdoors ie. groundskeeper work etc. But then there are other jobs available such as working in a Tourist office or Charity shop. The 19.5 hours could be spread over the week. For example you could work 4 hours every week day or maybe you could work 8 hours one day and 4 hours for another three days and then you'd have a day off. Something like that.

The Tus scheme could possibly lead to other work but I've even heard a social welfare officer state that these schemes are really just to force people into work placements to send them a message that they can't expect to be on the register for too long without doing anything. It is a tad bit exploitative but maybe it could benefit people who have been on the register for a long time. Minister O' Cuiv introduced the schemes during the last Fianna Fail government in 2010. I think the last Fianna Fail government introduced something called the "National Employment Action Plan" which is a law that allows those who refuse work placements on the Tus scheme to be penalized.

Gateway is a similar program to Tus but it's being winded down. I'm still not sure what the Government's plan is with Tus. Minister Varadkar was in the Dail talking about winding the schemes down but he was very vague when speaking on the topic. I'm not sure if he's winding them down over the next couple of years or so...

The Darkness

Thanks for the response segosego89.

Yeah, I thought as much; like all the other 'activation schemes', there's nothing remotely approaching a choice about it. I really do dislike the euphemistic corporate jargon-style language too - 'writing to offer you an opportunity to apply for a position on the Tús programme; there are three lies in that excerpt alone; they're not offering me anything, they're ordering it - under threat of sanction - and I wouldn't be applying, for any such 'opportunity'; it's being imposed upon me.

Wrt what you said about people having their claim suspended for not replying to the letter; well, that rather a silly thing to do. That's an immediate 'non-engagement', to use the technical term and is only ever going to end one way.

I have no intention of not responding though, I was just curious to know a little more about what I'm dealing with and what would happen if I did decline to 'apply'.

What happened to those people you did hear about who may have done this when they were contacted, do you remember?

I had the feeling that it may have been what you described as "really just to force people into work placements to send them a message", but I was rather hoping it wasn't. If it is indeed being used in this way, and if social welfare officer's themselves are stating that they are; then, as you said, it's exploitative, and more than a tad let's be honest.

They're just being used as forced free labour which undermines everyone - all the people directly involved obviously; but also anyone who's getting paid to do these or similar jobs, as it undercuts the vale of their labour in the job marketplace also. But you'll never hear anyone in Government mention that, that's the really insidious part of these 'schemes' (which is a pretty apt name for them, the more I think about it.), is how they're used to devalue and/or replace real jobs, while also forcing those on SW to do those jobs without being paid the market rate or having any security of employment or the independence that a proper job provides..

The company that I've been referred to for interview are a 'Local Development Company' who "provide training, funding and resources to businesses and community groups"; but who seem mostly to be dealing with schemes such as this, from what I can gather on their website. They're also based about a forty minute drive away (23 miles), in a town in another county; and I don't have a car. And I also live in a, much larger, city - which seems very odd to me.

Is this normal that you would be referred to a company like this - do they handle all the placements and are just the initial contact; or is this not the usual way it's done? And I really can't understand why I'm being referred to an organisation in another county; when there should be a (larger) equivalent where I live anyway.

Also, I saw that people were talking upthread about having an advisor/support worker/supervisor who would facilitate them in getting suitable and/or useful placements and attending one to one meetings with a Tus officer's or group meetings etc; I seem to have been skipped right past all that - is that proper?

Or do I have this wrong?

And If I'm right, does anyone know how would I go about finding out and/or resolving it, if so?

The Darkness

The Darkness wrote: »

Thanks for the response segosego89.

Yeah, I thought as much; like all the other 'activation schemes', there's nothing remotely approaching a choice about it. I really do dislike the euphemistic corporate jargon-style language too - 'writing to offer you an opportunity to apply for a position on the Tús programme; there are three lies in that excerpt alone; they're not offering me anything, they're ordering it - under threat of sanction - and I wouldn't be applying, for any such 'opportunity'; it's being imposed upon me.

Wrt what you said about people having their claim suspended for not replying to the letter; well, that rather a silly thing to do. That's an immediate 'non-engagement', to use the technical term and is only ever going to end one way.

I have no intention of not responding though, I was just curious to know a little more about what I'm dealing with and what would happen if I did decline to 'apply'.

What happened to those people you did hear about who may have done this when they were contacted, do you remember?

I had the feeling that it may have been what you described as "really just to force people into work placements to send them a message", but I was rather hoping it wasn't. If it is indeed being used in this way, and if social welfare officer's themselves are stating that they are; then, as you said, it's exploitative, and more than a tad let's be honest.

They're just being used as forced free labour which undermines everyone - all the people directly involved obviously; but also anyone who's getting paid to do these or similar jobs, as it undercuts the vale of their labour in the job marketplace also. But you'll never hear anyone in Government mention that, that's the really insidious part of these 'schemes' (which is a pretty apt name for them, the more I think about it.), is how they're used to devalue and/or replace real jobs, while also forcing those on SW to do those jobs without being paid the market rate or having any security of employment or the independence that a proper job provides..

The company that I've been referred to for interview are a 'Local Development Company' who "provide training, funding and resources to businesses and community groups"; but who seem mostly to be dealing with schemes such as this, from what I can gather on their website. They're also based about a forty minute drive away (23 miles), in a town in another county; and I don't have a car. And I also live in a, much larger, city - which seems very odd to me.

Is this normal that you would be referred to a company like this - do they handle all the placements and are just the initial contact; or is this not the usual way it's done? And I really can't understand why I'm being referred to an organisation in another county; when there should be a (larger) equivalent where I live anyway.

Also, I saw that people were talking upthread about having an advisor/support worker/supervisor who would facilitate them in getting suitable and/or useful placements and attending one to one meetings with a Tus officer's or group meetings etc; I seem to have been skipped right past all that - is that proper?

Or do I have this wrong?

And If I'm right, does anyone know how would I go about finding out and/or resolving it, if so?

Bump. Any answers that any of you could provide for my previous post, above; would be very gratefully received indeed, cheers.

segosego89

That does seem odd that you would have to travel 40 minutes for the meeting. Have you thought about contacting your social welfare officer in the Intreo office? Although it may differ from county to county it is my understanding that Intreo officers are responsible in some ways for choosing people to be put on the scheme. You could possibly try to get in contact with your local Intreo office and ask these questions?

Also, I'm pretty sure that each county has a Tus section in the main city of those counties. So if you lived in County Waterford you would ring the Waterford City welfare office and ask them to give you a number for the Tus section (which would be based inside the actual Waterford City social welfare/Intreo branch if I'm not mistaken).

You could then use that phone number to chat to someone in the Tus section to answer your queries?

votecounts

I could be wrong but I don't think Intreo conduct the interviews and placements for TUS. In Carlow for example it is done by the Carlow County Development Partnership which are outside the town. Hope this helps

segosego89

votecounts wrote: »

I could be wrong but I don't think Intreo conduct the interviews and placements for TUS. In Carlow for example it is done by the Carlow County Development Partnership which are outside the town. Hope this helps

Intreo don't conduct the Tus interviews but I think they have some part in identifying candidates for the program. For example if you live in Carlow Town, the nearest Tus section in that area identifies unemployed people on their database and corroborates their choices with the people who work in the Intreo offices. I could be totally wrong.

To be honest, contacting your local Tus section directly would be a viable option for your queries.

LegacyUser

Got a letter today from tus saying the usual "if you chose no we'll basically cut you off, by ticking yes you open yourself too other activation programmes" I plan and going back too college hopefully in September, is that a good enough excuse ? When ticking the no box?
I haven't been called for an interview yet.

Thanks

eastbono

Corkcityfc wrote: »

Got a letter today from tus saying the usual "if you chose no we'll basically cut you off, by ticking yes you open yourself too other activation programmes" I plan and going back too college hopefully in September, is that a good enough excuse ? When ticking the no box?
I haven't been called for an interview yet.

Thanks

Does the letter you got actually say that you will be cut off if you chose no? If you are going back to college in September and hope to get BTEA then it is a good enough excuse.

crossmolinalad

eastbono wrote: »

Does the letter you got actually say that you will be cut off if you chose no? If you are going back to college in September and hope to get BTEA then it is a good enough excuse.

yes the letter says : If for any reason you are unable to attend on that particular day or at the time assigned to you , please contact us on 089- 1234567 Failure to attent for interview result in cessation of your social welfare payment

And another letter you got if they granted your JSA / JSB says if you say no to any scheme ,jobs or other programs the offered to you , your benefits will be suspended

segosego89

Corkcityfc wrote: »

Got a letter today from tus saying the usual "if you chose no we'll basically cut you off, by ticking yes you open yourself too other activation programmes" I plan and going back too college hopefully in September, is that a good enough excuse ? When ticking the no box?
I haven't been called for an interview yet.

Thanks

I was in a similar situation to you. I had to attend a Tus interview during the month of June and state that I was going on BTEA in September and the interviewer said that I must present a document from the college stating that I've put down a deposit or something along those lines to prove that I registered to do the course.

Once I presented such a document to the interviewer she said that "I'm off her books" which meant I didn't have to participate in the Tus scheme.

scamalert

question's once you get letter to join TUS program for job placement, what follows next, since read back 50 pages seems its group attendance then assigned 1on1 interview from most replies.

Now im more then happy to engage, anything that gets me out and not into post every week.

but no car atm, and looked up partnership for council its in another small town in business park 20 miles away.

Since id like to avoid trying to get there multiple times and just skip whole what is TUS intro wasting 20 minutes what can be read on google and just get interviewed.

Also while there's many posts i seem to get impression that there are like only two kinds of jobs office admin and outdoors in a field smwhw.

Now i have decent IT skills but lack work experience, since few job descriptions are posted am i right to assume whatever positions might come up,all will be from public sector/council.

crossmolinalad

scamalert wrote: »

Now i have decent IT skills but lack work experience, since few job descriptions are posted am i right to assume whatever positions might come up,all will be from public sector/council.

Not true
One of my friends who is on TUs now got a job to maintain the community and facebook pages from the local town and doing some other websites for community groups and also the website from the local tourist board
And he`s working from home
Just ask for jobs you like
Myself I wanted to do some caretaker job and within weeks I got two jobs like that

redshoes15

Corkcityfc wrote: »

Got a letter today from tus saying the usual "if you chose no we'll basically cut you off, by ticking yes you open yourself too other activation programmes" I plan and going back too college hopefully in September, is that a good enough excuse ? When ticking the no box?
I haven't been called for an interview yet.

Thanks

Just to clarify, that horrible letter is not sent directly from any of the Tus Teams out there. It's a generic Department of Social Protection letter which can give a really bad impression of the programme. I believe many have requested this letter be changed but Social Welfare won't budge on it. Any people receiving this letter and ticking the No box generally don't have any contact whatsoever with any of the respective Tus Teams unless their reasons are dismissed by DSP.

sara1

This post has been deleted.

Golfproam

sara1 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Get a sick note from your doctor and avoid at all costs.

Golfproam

scamalert wrote: »

question's once you get letter to join TUS program for job placement, what follows next, since read back 50 pages seems its group attendance then assigned 1on1 interview from most replies.

Now im more then happy to engage, anything that gets me out and not into post every week.

but no car atm, and looked up partnership for council its in another small town in business park 20 miles away.

Since id like to avoid trying to get there multiple times and just skip whole what is TUS intro wasting 20 minutes what can be read on google and just get interviewed.

Also while there's many posts i seem to get impression that there are like only two kinds of jobs office admin and outdoors in a field smwhw.

Now i have decent IT skills but lack work experience, since few job descriptions are posted am i right to assume whatever positions might come up,all will be from public sector/council.

You will be sweeping rubbish on GAA grounds or answer a phone and be making the tea in an office.

crossmolinalad

Golfproam wrote: »

You will be sweeping rubbish on GAA grounds or answer a phone and be making the tea in an office.

not all of their jobs are like yours
I had three lovely nice jobs when I was on TUS and still working a couple of hours a week for one of them
For myself I loved the year on it just doing the jobs I had to do and nobody around me and havent seen the supervisor for months and would go on with it if it was possible

scamalert

crossmolinalad wrote: »

not all of their jobs are like yours
I had three lovely nice jobs when I was on TUS and still working a couple of hours a week for one of them
For myself I loved the year on it just doing the jobs I had to do and nobody around me and havent seen the supervisor for months and would go on with it if it was possible

got letter today and it invites to informal interview.Any idea is it one on one, or group thing where you just hand in your cv etc.

the remark about sweeping some stadium id still do it, anything better then collecting from post, giving some dignity that you earn cash is better then sitting on your hole expecting to be handed everything.

Golfproam

scamalert wrote: »

got letter today and it invites to informal interview.Any idea is it one on one, or group thing where you just hand in your cv etc.

the remark about sweeping some stadium id still do it, anything better then collecting from post, giving some dignity that you earn cash is better then sitting on your hole expecting to be handed everything.

I would agree with you but some of the jobs I heard about, there is no dignity in them as you will be treated as a dogsbody providing free unskilled labour.

scamalert

from 100 pages read seems majority gained from the program and few complaints.Nothing alike like job bridge that was utter exploit by every employer, since Tus is only community and non profit thus cant see much pressure, unlike some labor intensive factory jobs that will treat one like a dog and pay peanuts with 0 opportunities for life.

Also has anyone been asked to show manual handling cert,since done it years ago,and have had it on cv and in jobs but never needed to show it, since dont see point in paying to get new one every few years on how to lift a box nonsense.

Golfproam

scamalert wrote: »

from 100 pages read seems majority gained from the program and few complaints.Nothing alike like job bridge that was utter exploit by every employer, since Tus is only community and non profit thus cant see much pressure, unlike some labor intensive factory jobs that will treat one like a dog and pay peanuts with 0 opportunities for life.

Also has anyone been asked to show manual handling cert,since done it years ago,and have had it on cv and in jobs but never needed to show it, since dont see point in paying to get new one every few years on how to lift a box nonsense.

You sure you read?

crossmolinalad

scamalert wrote: »

got letter today and it invites to informal interview.Any idea is it one on one, or group thing where you just hand in your cv etc.

the remark about sweeping some stadium id still do it, anything better then collecting from post, giving some dignity that you earn cash is better then sitting on your hole expecting to be handed everything.

one to one interview
Similar as a job interview it was with me