Today I received a letter from the DWP in reply to my complaints regarding my treatment while on the Post Work Programme Support scheme. It was dated the 19th February and sent second class and I received it today on the 26th February. I was expecting to be fobbed off and that is exactly what this letter represents. It's more than likely we will never get an honest investigation into complaints as the DWP police themselves and always support their staff whatever they do. The letter starts off with the words “In investigating your complaint” but someone had typed compliant by mistake. At the end of the letter the typist had not put “yours sincerely” so the manager had to write in those words before signing it. The managers name was Paul Protheroe and his job title was Customer Services Operations Manager. When people are given help on how to complete a job application they are told to look at the job specification and give an example on their application form to cover every point. Mr Protheroe would do a better job if he followed that criteria when investigating complaints. He mentions that the six months on the Post Work Programme Support was extended to a maximum twelve months from last October pending the introduction of Community Work Placement provision due to start in April 2014. He goes on to apologise if the manner in which it was conducted did not meet my expectations, in particular the apparent dismissal of my concerns over data protection. Mr Protheroe doesn't mention the fact that my former advisor Steve had put me in the hands of a volunteer to discuss my concerns even though the volunteer didn't have a clue regarding data protection and even tried to lie to me until I kept asking questions and the volunteer eventually admitted that he was only helping people on computers and had in fact no knowledge of anything regarding data protection. Mr Protheroe also doesn't mention the idiotic comments Steve made regarding finding a job, saying that it was easy to find work and all two million could find work if they wanted to. Obviously complete nonsense but not mentioned by Mr Protheroe who uses the title Work Coach to describe Steve. Mr Protheroe then goes on to say that the Work Coach (Steve) discussed my Jobseeker's Agreement with me and recorded that a review is required to widen my jobsearch to include alternative work and that Cleaning and Kitchen work could be included. He didn't mention that Steve was going to group my three preferences into one when they are completely different. He also didn't mention that I look for all kinds of work so my jobsearch already includes all job types. Mr Protheroe then goes on to say that he has transferred my case to another advisor. This is interesting as Steve told me the last time I saw him that I was going to have another advisor and Mr Protheroe didn't have the full complaint from me online until after I had seen Steve that day. Mr Protheroe also says that he will instruct my advisor to cover in detail my concerns over data security in respect of Universal Jobmatch. My complaint against the manager of the Post Work Programme Support team has been largely ignored apart from a statement saying that he has been unable to establish the exact nature of the complaint that happened many years ago and if I want to pursue it then I should provide more details. This complaint was against Jenny Harking and I made it very clear what my complaint referred to but the DWP don't like to mention anything underhand. Mr Protheroe didn't even mention her behaviour when she reintroduced herself to me six months ago. He also didn't mention the bullying tactics used by the staff as I informed him of. He also says that if I have any further comment to make to contact him direct. Of course he doesn't put any direct email address or phone number on the letter so the only way to contact him would be by sending a letter to the Charles St Jobcentre in Cardiff. The DWP think it is less likely to get a response if people have to put pen to paper as it is very quick and easy to email or phone. The letter I received was poorly constructed and ignored most of my points but that is what I expected. It's important to make an effort even if it receives a poor response. The Jobcentre staff just like all groups of people contain decent and nasty people and the hope is that one day one of those decent people will stand up and be counted. It's a tough decision to make as the people who have great well paid jobs will close ranks and try to rubbish whoever speaks up regarding the bullying and intimidation that goes on against many of the most vulnerable people in the country. Decent people have to risk careers and hardship for their families if they dare speak up. I may well send my complaints to my local Member of Parliament and if that leads to more people becoming aware of the wrongs that are being committed then at least it will be worth it.