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Party on!

nevip
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Welfare rights adviser - Sefton Council, Liverpool

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Paul_Treloar_CPAG
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Advice and Rights Team, Child Poverty Action Group

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“Enforced fun”??? What the flip???

And this bit is very worrying indeed:

Our working arrangements are also changing, with the introduction of the ”Unipod”” system.Under this arrangement, all Jobcentre staff will be expected to deliver services to all customers, effectively ending specialist support for disabled claimants, lone parents and those claiming Employment and Support Allowance.

[ Edited: 22 Oct 2014 at 12:49 pm by Paul_Treloar_CPAG ]
Mike Hughes
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Mixed feelings on that latter point. Whilst a small proportion of people report positive experiences from the specialist support I can’t honestly say I have seen any specific gain for claimants. On paper I am all for dissemination of so called specialist knowledge although we all know how that can work out in practice.

Andrew Dutton
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Welfare rights service - Derbyshire County Council

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The ‘unipod’ is a giant foot, stamping relentlessly. Not sure if I’m thinking Nineteen Eighty Four or Monty Python here.

It sounds to me like an excuse to deliver unform mediocrity to all.

[ Edited: 22 Oct 2014 at 02:12 pm by Andrew Dutton ]
past caring
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Welfare Rights Adviser - Southwark Law Centre, Peckham

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Andrew Dutton - 22 October 2014 11:25 AM

The ‘unipod’ is a giant foot, stamping relentlesssly. Not sure if I’m thinking Nineteen Eighty Four or Monty Python here.

Violet Elizabeth Bott, morelike.

Steve_h
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Welfare Rights- AIW Health

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u-ni-pod  

[yoo-nuh-pod]  Spell Syllables   Word Origin
noun
1. something that is formed with a single leg or foot, as a one-legged support for a camera.

This is the only definition I can find for this word

 

P.E.T.E
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Head of Welfare Rights at Barnsley MBC.

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Regulation 2 of the Unipod Regulations defines unipod as “a pigs ear”

Jon Blackwell
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Programmer - Lisson Grove Benefits Program, Brighton

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There’s a bit about it here…

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwp-news.cfm/work-services-update

Pod working is meant to be a bit like this (maybe?)

http://leanagilechange.com/leanagilewiki/index.php?title=Delivery_Pod_Model

Hope that’s clear now!

 

[ Edited: 22 Oct 2014 at 03:16 pm by Jon Blackwell ]
P.E.T.E
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Head of Welfare Rights at Barnsley MBC.

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Didn’t the Americans complain that abandoning the Pod system had cost them the Ryder cup?

Pete C
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Jon Blackwell - 22 October 2014 03:09 PM

There’s a bit about it here…

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwp-news.cfm/work-services-update

Pod working is meant to be a bit like this (maybe?)

http://leanagilechange.com/leanagilewiki/index.php?title=Delivery_Pod_Model

Hope that’s clear now!

 

I have absolutely no idea what any of this actually means, I think I may be badly disadvantaged by having English as my first language!

No wonder DWP letters are so badly written!

Gareth Morgan
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CEO, Ferret, Cardiff

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You’ve all got it wrong I’m afraid.

Its not ‘uni-pod’ but un-iPod’.

That is defined as something which is *not* well designed, simple, easy to use, functional and delivers what is promised.

NeverSayNo
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Welfare rights department - Northumberland County Council

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Gareth Morgan - 23 October 2014 10:21 AM

You’ve all got it wrong I’m afraid.

Its not ‘uni-pod’ but un-iPod’.

.....and so presumably is the antithesis of the huge success once enjoyed by ....  Jobs.

Pete C
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Gareth Morgan - 23 October 2014 10:21 AM

You’ve all got it wrong I’m afraid.

Its not ‘uni-pod’ but un-iPod’.

That is defined as something which is *not* well designed, simple, easy to use, functional and delivers what is promised.

I think Gareth’s right -  an un-Ipod is clearly one of those Chinese knock offs you get cheap in the market and which only work for a fortnight - seems to fit the description of many DWP initiatives

Ken Butler
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Hi,

I’ve recieved this DWP reply to a query about the Unipod system and the possible loss of DEAs -

“Specialist Work Coaches have been retained and embedded within the Unipod system and are not being disbanded, therefore continuing to support vulnerable and disabled customers.  We are actually increasing activity to assist vulnerable people back into work.

Unipods are being implemented across Central England.  It has been trialed at a Leicester City site with very successful results and a positive reaction from customers and staff.

Unipods are essentially Work coaches and assistant Work Coaches working closely together to deliver a seamless service to customers regardless of what benefit they are on. 

The provision previously on offer to these customers is still available to all who need it.

Training and assistance is available to all non specialist work coaches to give them the specialist knowledge.  This will enable us to provide a quicker service for these customers as they will not have to wait for an appointment to see a specialist, all work coaches will be able to assist.  Work coaches will be given time and the tools to embed this knowledge.

The reason for this approach – as we are in a transitional state heading towards a single benefit – Universal Credit.”