Job Centre Plus have put me on "course" with Ingeus starting on Monday from 10am-4pm and lasting two weeks. All I've received from Job Centre Plus is a badly printed out sheet of A4 paper with a google map of where their location is on one side and on the other side an address, travel options and "lunch options: McDonalds" (surely lunch option!) printed on it! All I've been told about this company by my advisor is "they're good, they get people into work" I thought Job Centre Plus were there for that purpose? :/
I live with my father, who is in his 70s, in his house and received a phone call which my father, as he usually does answered, with a confused look on his face he handed the phone to me 30 seconds or so later to which I heard "...appreciate confirmation of your attendance" He heard the word "Ingeus" and knew it was for me as I had told him I was going there Monday.
An 30/40 second automated computer phone call in which someone else in your household could answer and be met with a quick burst of a phone number and other information to "confirm attendance" hardly speaks volumes of their boasts on their website which says "Excellence with integrity - The principle of excellence with integrity is the foundation of our organisation, and informs every decision we make." They effectively called me to tell me something yet their automated system kicked in when someone else answered the phone call!
Does this automated phone call from Ingeus not break the Data Protection Act?
I've also noticed from their website they say "Once you are referred onto the Work Programme by Jobcentre Plus, you will receive a phone call from Ingeus,followed by a letter confirming the date, time and location of your first appointment." Job Centre Plus referred me to this programme over a month ago but all I've received is this automated phone call and no letter. Starts on Monday though! Is this a taste of the incompetence I'm going to have to sit through for the next two weeks?
I've also found out through my own research online that I may be expected to sit beside ex-offenders who could be on the same course for the two weeks, nothing against ex-offenders, but surely I should be told these things before I actually get there? Can anyone on this helpful website please give me some info on what to expect and what I'll be doing for the next two weeks?