I didn't know scars could stop you getting an NHS job...
(Taken from an email I sent someone explaining things.)
Occupational Health won't give me clearance. They say that I am wired
wrong, and I should be seeing psychiatrists and on anti depressants.
Apparently, I am in denial about my "condition" and this needs to be
addressed.
It will be passed to a senior manager, who will review my case, but
probably won't give me clearance. (The senior manager is only in one
day per month.) They say it may help my case if I go do my doctor and
request extensive psychiatric help.
I refuse to go to ask for any help - I do not need to talk to someone
because I have extensive scarring on my arms. I am fully aware that
self harm is not right - I'm not stupid, but it is something I use to
deal with extreme situations, and have been doing for the past 11 years.
The amount I self harm has slowed down to roughly once per year - the
last time was when I lost my home. Again, I know it is not the right
way to deal with something, but they say that I should have gone to
see a doctor, asked for anti-depressants and asked to see a
psychiatrist.
I did ask the doctor I saw if a letter from my previous employers would help,
but she said it wouldn't, as I could get stressed at work and self
harm then. I assume I don't need to explain how completely absurd this
statement is.
(Taken from an email I sent someone explaining things.)
Occupational Health won't give me clearance. They say that I am wired
wrong, and I should be seeing psychiatrists and on anti depressants.
Apparently, I am in denial about my "condition" and this needs to be
addressed.
It will be passed to a senior manager, who will review my case, but
probably won't give me clearance. (The senior manager is only in one
day per month.) They say it may help my case if I go do my doctor and
request extensive psychiatric help.
I refuse to go to ask for any help - I do not need to talk to someone
because I have extensive scarring on my arms. I am fully aware that
self harm is not right - I'm not stupid, but it is something I use to
deal with extreme situations, and have been doing for the past 11 years.
The amount I self harm has slowed down to roughly once per year - the
last time was when I lost my home. Again, I know it is not the right
way to deal with something, but they say that I should have gone to
see a doctor, asked for anti-depressants and asked to see a
psychiatrist.
I did ask the doctor I saw if a letter from my previous employers would help,
but she said it wouldn't, as I could get stressed at work and self
harm then. I assume I don't need to explain how completely absurd this
statement is.
And so what if you end up needing some time off for yourself to deal with stress? It's your legal right to tend to personal health, whether physical or mental. If they're concerned about you needing paid time off to deal with a personal issue, why not be concerned about hiring a mother too? She's obviously taken paid time off in the past to go have a kid, so who's to say she won't do it again?
That is completely unfair and wildly uncompassionate. If you have the skills and qualifications for the job, and this is the only reason they have denied you employment, I would take this to a higher level, and inquire about your rights in this situation.
I know this is an old blog, but I just read it now. Let me know what happened with this!