Hi,
this startet last year, when I wanted to take a course in PHP.
And I went to Working Links then, who I had been sent to, by the Jobcentre, since I'm unemployed.
I went to Working Links every week, but it was just for the job-search, so in the end, I thought it was a bit silly, because I thought I could do the job-search myself.
And Nicole Kershaw there, she re-wrote my CV, but she wrote it in a file-type, that I couldn't use on my computer.
And she didn't write my last job there.
So then I complained, and then it ended with, that I stopped going there, because I was tired of her always asking me about Graphic Designer jobs.
Since I'd told her several times, that I hadn't studied Graphic Design, and that this was an own field, seperate from IT, so even I had studied IT, it didn't mean I could work with Graphic Design.
So I just started doing the job-searches myself, basically.
But Liverpool Community College, they changed the study-plan, so the PHP-course, last automn, was canceled.
But then I thought I could try the Web Design-course, like they adviced, in stead.
And then, Working Links, told me, that they couldn't found the course, since I'd quit, with the job-search there, (and rather did it at home).
But they sign-posted me, to JET, (like they called it).
I went to JET, in County Rd., after I'd been at the dentists there, since I saw the sign there, when I was looking for the bus home.
I used to live in Walton, so that's why I go to the dentist there.
But then I was just put on a Food Hygiend-couse.
Since it didn't say Web Design-course, in the folder I was given.
But later I understood, that JET also could found courses, (if I'm not mistaking).
So I tried once more.
And I got to speak with Gillian, who works in JET County Rd., but she wanted to meet me in JET Breck Road, for some reason.
She sent me to Employability-team, in Weaverthree, to get my Norwegian education/degrees, transfered to British ones.
But they, (Richard there, on 5/7), only checked the screen, and printet out a couple of pages, informing me, that my degree from Norway, in IT, was comparable with, a Foundation Degree/Higher National Diploma.
This was a level 5, I found out, on the internet.
But the Jobcentre, told me this was level 4.
So I wanted a statement, from Naric, who Richard had told me, they could get me, 'if companies asked'.
I thought, it the Jobcentre didn't understand it, then employers probably wouldn't understand it eighter.
So I sent a complaint, since I had been given a statement, by Naric.
Because it also seemed to me, that this was what Gillian had meant.
In the comlaint-meeting, at the Job-bank/Employability Team, the just gave me the e-mail address, to Naric.
So that I could order the statement.
Because I've also studied at an other University College, in Norway, Information Management, so I think I really have the equivalent of a Bachelors degree, in IT, so want a statement from Naric, (if possible), telling this.
Because then it would be easier to get jobs, I reackon, since Bachelor Degrees, are more well know, that Higher National Diplomas, I think, (and more valued), among employers.
But I was surprised, because I sent Naric to e-mails.
One about my degrees from Upper Secondary School.
And one about my studies, at university-level.
But I was surprised, because then Naric wanted to charge me, 30 or 40 punds.
So I thought I had been tricked, by JET Employability Team.
Because, like I understood it, JET usually paid these expenses, for their clients, who were un-employed, like me.
It might not seem that much, but if one are un-employed, and on a shoe-string budget, like me, then this is a lot of money.
Also, the manager there, interrupted, the meeting, twice.
And he wanted me to live all my diplomas etc., in a conference-room downstairs.
While we went to the Employability Team-room, and another meeting-room upstairs.
He interrupted the meeting, as to council with someone, how to proceed the meeting, it seemed to me, twice he did that.
So I sat in the meeting-room upstairs alone, for ten minutes perhaps, and in the hall there for maybe five or then minutes, after we had talked in the conference/meeting-room downstairs.
Then, I complained again, and got a reply, basically saying, that they wouldn't pay for a statement from Naric.
Gillian, had promised to look at my CV, to re-write it.
When I hadn't heard from her, since July, (earlier this month, I think it was).
Then I got her e-mail address, and she sent me a re-written CV back.
But it only said about my business-skills, and not about my IT-skills.
And she had written that I had a 'National Diploma'-level degree.
So she also put me on level 4.
But I have degree, that's comparable, with a Higher National Diploma/Foundation Degree, (like I had told her, earlier).
And those degrees/diplomas, are at level 5.
And I've had project-modules, in Information Management, etc., so that's in depth knowledge, so I'm really at level 6, I think.
But I guess Naric could confirm this, I had been given a statement.
Now it's just in the blue, or what it's called.
Also, I wrote to Gillian about that I had been in politics etc., in Norway, and a lot of other achievments.
And I wrote her, that Liverpool University College, hadn't contacted me again, about the Web Design-course, next month, (since June, when they confirmed they've received my aplication).
So I don't know if I have been accepted on that course.
Even if the course starts next month.
But Gillian didn't answer me about this.
Her college answered me.
But she didn't mention the course.
So I don't think Gillian want's me to contact her now, since she got her collegue to answer.
I sent a complaint to Lorraine, who is the manager there, I think.
But, she just refered to the answer I had been given, to the second compaint, about Employability Team.
So I haven't really gotten much out of all these meetings and correspondence.
So I think I have received poor service from JET.
And then the Council gave me a hard time.
Like I wrote, they didn't think a complaint in an e-mail was formal.
They wanted it, in their complaint-system, (on the web).
Which I don't like, because then people don't get a copy of their complaint.
And then it's easy to lose the overview, of one's complaint, I think.
I think they should accept e-mailed complaints, because they have all the information, that a formal complaint, should contain, I think.
And e-mails are practical, since they let people keep control I think.
And since they don't take long time to write.
And they are in-expensive, to send.
So this is really two complaints.
One against JET, and one against the Council, for their Complaint Procedure.
You asked what JET is.
It's almost like Employment Zones, I think.
But maybe for immigrants?
It was Working Links, who sent me, (or sign posted me, like they wrote it), to JET.
And Working Links haven't really told me what JET is.
And neighter have JET themselves.
I've just been sign-postet/sent there, so to speak.
Hope this made some sense.
Sorry that the complaints aren't indexed.
Hope this is alright!
Yours sincerely,
Erik Ribsskog
