Dynamic and Modernised – The New Jobs & Benefits era

A better service and a better work environment as 2 more offices are rebranded under the Jobs & Benefits banner that now adorns 27 of our 35 offices around the country.

I am old enough to remember the days of long lines of people down at Corporation Street ‘dole’ office. That was once my dad’s office he used to tell me. He went down on a Tuesday to sign a piece of paper and on a Thursday he would go back and some nice man with a dour looking face would hand him some money. Not a bad job I thought, I want to do that when I grow up, the signing on bit you understand.

This was pre 1977 before the Falls Road Office opened its doors to the people of the area. It’s amazing what you remember as a child yet nowadays I tend to forget what I was told 10 minutes ago. As I recall the conditions in the office at Corporation Street where dull, dirty in appearance and a big room filled with smoke reminiscent of the days of The Boys from the Blackstuff.

In 1977 the Falls Road Social Security Office opened and it was in April of the following year when I graced its counter as one of its new recruits. The office then was relatively new and a stark contrast to the dark days of Corporation Street. Civil Servants seemed to have a them and us reputation between the office staff and the people they where there to serve. Barriers between the staff and the public where soon a necessity as incidents against staff increased and children here perched on counters and left for others to care for. This wasn’t a regular occurance but it did happen.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Belfast Labour Exchange Buildings in Corporation Street circa 1925. As you can see from this image the building is relatively unchanged from the outside

 

 

 

 

 

This is the birth of Corporation Street as we now know it. Construction began in 1925.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Interview booth at Corporation Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today's interview booths in a Jobs & Benefits Offices

Also the interactive computers available for use

The sub-office in Andersonstown, where co-incidently our Minister’s constituency office now resides, was a large semi-detached house that gave the people of Andersonstown an opportunity to sign on without the need to travel to Lisburn or Falls Road. The sub-office was not an ideal answer but it was a start. Then in the 80’s Andersonstown office was opened at Slieveban Drive. Soon that too was a problem, not least for the local people because of the parking difficulties in the area. The office did provide a quality service for twenty years nonetheless.

In the last 10 years serious changes began to take place. Dungannon opened an experimental ‘One’ office where all its services where dealt with in a one stop shop environment and then Jobs & Benefits (Job Centre Plus, in England) was introduced to Northern Ireland.

You see when someone signed on at the local Social Security Office they would, from time to time, be called down to the Job Centre or Glouchester House, if you lived in Belfast. This was a necessary part of claiming benefits, that you were actively seeking work. More and more emphasis is on actively seeking work whilst claiming benefits and to that end the Jobs & Benefits environment appears to have been the answer. The onus is on the customer to prove that they are actively seeking work, the benefit they receive is called Jobseekers Allowance to keep the focus on getting customers back to work.

On a recent visit to the Ballymena and Andersonstown Jobs and Benefits offices it was very evident that big changes had gone on. Well yes, the obvious one being that they are 2 brand new offices …duh! I refer to the nice bright public areas, the interactive computer screens, freephones. The focus, as with any business is on the customer and providing as efficient a service as possible as well as value for money for the tax payer.

Down have come the barriers, and in are open spaces, a relaxing environment and caller ticket systems to avoid long standing queues. The service is much more personal, interactive, much more professional and as our Minister said on a recent visit “This integrated service is at the forefront of providing real change in the social welfare system – a system that encourages people into work….”

It was particularly good to see that the external appearance of both the new Ballymena and Andersonstown offices have dispensed with the wire fences. It gives that feeling of  ‘come on on on on in’, an, our doors are always open policy (unless we are closed of course). Contrary to popular belief, the Social Security Agency want to make sure that people receive the benefits to which they are rightfully entitled, as that is the business they are in.

If you ever have to visit our offices I hope you have a pleasant experience and enjoy the services and facilities available. You might even notice that extra wide smile on the face of the staff awaiting you.

The Social Security Agency recently appointed Tommy O'Reilly as the new Chief Executive Officer. He took up his post in early August 2010.