Steps to Success / Ingeus - Operational Guidelines Help

[JobHuntExtraordinaire]

Hi, apologies if this is the wrong place to post this but just thought I'd ask for some help.

 

A few weeks ago I was referred to Steps to Success (N.Ireland) with Ingeus being the provider. Having heard bad press about them I Google'd a lot and came across this great forum. The massive Ingeus thread was a massive help and calmed my nerves and I've saved a bunch of information from it such as Freedom of Information posts, operational guidelines from DWP, etc. giving me more confidence on how to deal with them and not be bullied into doing anything I don't have to do just so they can earn a few extra quid.

 

I'm just wondering does the operational guidelines posted from the DWP cover the work programme over in N.Ireland regarding Ingeus? The reason I ask is when I went for my referral meeting I didn't sign the form that allows them to send your data to companies as a lot of people on here said not to do. Of course, the person tried to lie to me and say it's mandatory and I need to sign it, but I pointed out that it said on the form itself that I could withdraw my consent at any point, so the form can't be mandatory and it was dropped. The only issue now is that the whole form signing thing has popped up again and I just wanna make sure those operational guidelines about me not having to sign this form cover me in N.Ireland so I can continue to refuse to sign it?

 

Thanks.

 

tl;dr... Does the operational guidelines for the work programme posted by DWP cover the work programme in N.Ireland in relation to Ingeus?

[Belfaster]

Just out of interest, how long is this Steps to Success business for, a year or two?

 

As far as I am aware, Ingeus operate by the same rules over here as they do in Great Britain, so be very wary of them. Although the DWP doesn't exist here, the Department for Communities more or less operate by the same rules, although there are slight variations on things like sanctions etc. Don't sign or consent to anything you don't have to, other members hopefully will be able to give you more detailed advice.

[JobHuntExtraordinaire]

It lasts 2 years unfortunately. You have your initial 52 weeks and if you haven't found work you leave Ingeus for 6 months and sign on as usual, then after the 6 months if you're still unemployed you go back on Ingeus and do your last 52 weeks from what I gather.

[Belfaster]

Sounds odd, been doing some research and according to their website Dept for Communities, the maximum period on STS is one year. Any thoughts?