Midwife And Job Centre

[bigbanana]

Our daughter has just completed a three year degree in midwifery. She has gained a first class honours degree and we are very proud of her. She has returned home to live with us until she secures a job. She's registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council and can practice. Right now, she has no money coming in and has made enquiries with Job Centre Plus to see if she's entitled to anything. She has an interview with them later this week.

I'm truly appalled that she's expected to go through the same nonsense as any other benefit claimant over succeeding with any benefit claim. She has to have an up to date CV, agrees to be actively looking for work and all the nonsense that go with it. Midwives find a job on the NHS jobs website and nothing else. Vacancies in the NHS do not come to light by any other means. She's constantly looking for Band 5 positions but there's very few of them around right now.

Am I being unreasonable about the way I feel over this? I'm not expecting any special treatment for her as I fully understand that she's just one of millions who are out of work. I'm certain given her qualifications that she won't be out of work for long. It's just I can't see the necessity of CV's, DWP interviews, job seeking advice etc in her case.

Thank you

[Cloverjo]

I agree, big banana. It's a box-ticking exercise that gives someone a mostly useless job, and makes it as hard as possible for people to get help.
Some common sense from the Job Centre staff would be useful.

[fiction-factory]

>She has to have an up to date CV, agrees to be actively looking for work

It doesn't seem an onerous or unreasonable request to me. I am sure that in return for the benefit they will not in her case push her too hard so long as she can show she is actively looking for work (which will be easy to show). Hopefully she'll get a job soon. I don't think from experience they'll expect her to take other jobs until after she has spent a fair period looking for relevant work.

[Mamyalynne]

Whilst I can see your point it would be rather hard to tailor JSA Claims for each specific case - many with degrees and qualifications have to claim at some point and the forms and hoop jumping are for all.

[hc4361]

Their argument will be that she can do any work until she secures a midwifery post, the same as any other professional claimant.

[fiction-factory]

The same issues apply to lots of other professionals though- teachers looking for their first post, newly qualified graduates, etc. I think the process is to cater for everyone but they do apply some flexibility and will not push her to take other work

[EDDIE51]

She should immediately claim JSA over the phone or online She is entitled to claim JSA for 6 months before she has to prove she still needs to claim.
She will need to attend a job center for assessment but she just needs to tell them what you have told us about her job searching activity.
Just to add , not that it applies to your daughter, but no degree no matter in what subject is NOT an instant passport to a job.
In your daughters case I would seriously consider applying for a general nursing position in a hospital near your home. Once 'inside the NHS' it is far far easier to apply for other more suitable /lucrative positions. Plus the cash will be a LOT better than JSA and she is gaining experience that sets her above other candidates. Think about it!

[anneasquith]

She is no different to any other graduate seeking employment .

[EDDIE51]

She can do a ward assistant job or what ever the role below a nurse is called.
My point is that being on the inside and looking for a better more suitable position is a lot better than applying from 'outside' .
It is better from both the financial and the practical point of view! If a hospital is looking for a midwife will they take an applicant 'off the street' over one who is already working in the NHS ( albeit in a minor role) and has been impressive in the job?
I did a similar thing, I got a job as a factory worker on the production line at basic wage. I actually had a degree in Chemistry. I however knew that the role of 'works Chemist' was coming up as the current holder , a friend of mine was due to retire.
When he did retire I was able to transfer to his job without the company needing to advertise the job outside. It is similar in the NHS !
They prefer the 'devil they know'!

[fiction-factory]

You still have every right to be proud of her. Having to sign on at the job centre at some stage is something many people, including professionals, have to do. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Okay it can feel a bit demeaning if not handled correctly but my experience is that if you are a professional they pretty much leave you to get on with it. I doubt they will give her CV much more than a cursory glance.

[woofgang]

I am not sure why you are truly appalled....If she can’t get a job as a midwife then she can work in a shop or at any one of the myriad other jobs where there are vancancies....if she doesn’t want to draw JSA then she needn’t but if she wants to draw JSA then she needs to fulfil the conditions. Independent private midwives are employed but they have to carry their own insurance so not many of them go that route. Of course private hospitals and nursing homes also employ midwives, and other staff, privately. In case you think I am being snotty, I too am an NHS employee, now retired. In the past, I have registered for unemployment benefit, as it was then, but never drew it as I quickly found employment. I hope that your daughter does too.

[hc4361]

Not all midwife vacancies are advertised on the NHS website. There are agencies actively seeking midwives for the NHS and private sector and of course there are private hospitals that employ their own midwives.

[Baldric]

///I'm not expecting any special treatment for her///

///I'm truly appalled that she's expected to go through the same nonsense as any other benefit claimant///

Er, ok.

[fiction-factory]

Has she tried signing with agencies? When I signed on at teh Job Centre I was spending ages applying for jobs and doing trial days/interviews , then I signed up with an agency, initially as a short term measure, and found the agency were able to find me plenty of short term work. Once I was working I was then more attractive to employers

[fiction-factory]

They certainly cost the NHS more but I'm not sure they actually get paid more- the agency takes a huge chunk. Also the pay rate may include holiday pay so there is no separate paid holiday, nor sick pay, no pension anything like the NHS pension, and the agency temp may find they are expected to pay the employer's NI contribution. Nevertheless the money from agencies is well above JSA and is a great way to gain experience.

[Boto]

Why should she get preferential treatment? If she can't find a job as a midwife she can get another job, same as anyone else.