I don’t see what is so flexible about it. New Deal providers always had the option of choosing provision. For VSO it was either any work placement will do or 30 hours job search (although unrelated activities such as paper towers/bridges building, stupid childish word games or activities and walks comes under this definition.)

Some clients were sent home early continously either timesheets stating they stayed all the time when they didnt or reporting external jobsearch.

Basically, forget the jobcentre advertised booklets etc. all New Deal Providers have to do is give all participants a day of jobsearch per week. This could either happen or the staff could lie signing timesheets to say it was done when it wasn’t.

There was no upper ceiling to this rule thus many people were forced to do 30 hours every week. Fulltime job of doing jobsearch – how ironic!

Although many people complained as they had done the minimum weekly requirement of one day the provider was well within their rights of making people do 5 days as nothing said this wasn’t allowed.

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also new deal for disabled people is or was only available on incapacity benefit,and is only voluntary you would find people with health associated problems not “leaned” on as compulsory new deal.they (those with health problems) tend to find it easier in that direction on compulsory new deal also, but they are on that as a last resort.the dwp are careful not to be seen to aggravate any existing medical conditions.

as for changing options on new deal that tends to get ignored by the provider/jobcentre they seem to see a “leave them where they are” approach more appropriate even though you don’t feel its in your interest.it will be interesting if “flexible” new deal will be that flexible enough to handle these situations .

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The problem is, and I am in the same situation, I never knew about them and my NDPA never asked me (although my CV stated I would be interested because of previous training I have done) – it wasn’t until i was exited from the VSO default option where I realised the other courses of New Deal even ones for Lone Parents, Disabled People and Graduates all of which are not applicable to me anyway.

You are also allowed to change New Deal options at anytime. Well, I tried that but my Jobcentre Plus office refused to transfer me although I made sure places to that course were available. Something to do with double funding or some nonsense.

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Let me know if your interested

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