Case study 5
Returning to work – Janet Colligan
Janet Colligan had been out of work for more than 12 years when she decided that enough was enough. Janet, who lives in Blackridge in Scotland, had been bringing up her kids by herself and had always struggled to find work.
But in March 2007 36-year-old Janet, who has a speech impediment, was desperate for a change. She wrote to her local Jobcentre Plus to set up an appointment as the first step to getting help to go back to work.
At that interview, a New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) adviser talked Janet through all the help that she could get, including an ‘In Work Credit’ and a Job Grant. The NDLP adviser also put together an ‘in-work benefit calculation’ to show Janet how much better off she could be, financially, if she went back to work – which made a big impression.
But there was still the question of what sort of job would suit Janet. Because of her speech impediment, she was too shy to participate in any training programmes at the local college. So instead, the NDLP adviser started putting her forward for any suitable situations vacant.
Shortly afterwards Janet was asked to come for an interview with a local cleaning company.
However, there was one more obstacle on the way that needed to be dealt with. The cleaning company wanted Janet to bring proof of her ID with her when she came for the interview. Unfortunately, Janet had lost her birth certificate and didn’t have a passport.
After a number of phone calls to the Registry Office and Janet’s prospective employer, the NDLP adviser managed to sort everything out. In June, after 12 years on benefits, Janet started her new job and a new chapter in her life.