Hi everyone,
Am hoping to go for a care assistants position in a few months time. Humming and aahing over the RA elephant in the room. Just taken me nearly a year to get sorted on Plaquenil, and it seems to be holding some of the 'nasties' at bay.
My concern is say, I do an initial interview and wait until they call me back and then mention I have a touch of arthritis? I would only be working part time, so it wouldn't impinge on my job. Please advise. I'm 53 as well.
They might want you to have a medical anyway but its always best to be honest. I think if you don't and then go sick they may dismiss you for failing to disclose an issue that may impinge on your ability to do the job. If you explain your situation then they may offer you the position being able to take into account any issues that might arise from having RA.
I wish you luck in your application and hope you get the position.
Before my RA diagnosis, I always believed that honesty is the best policy....that was before RA....if plaquenil is keeping your RA at bay, then why inform your employers?
It''s hard enough explaining your disease to friends and family. People do not understand this disease...so, why go out of your way to explain your disease if it is controlled?
I wish you well
Sue
Tell them,its in your best interest to tell them.xxxx
I would say you have it but it's controlled with medication and leave it at that. If you are asked about any health issues and don't disclose them you will leave yourself open to instant dismissal. Of course, if you're not asked that's a different matter.
To be honest I'd find out the actual law from someone that knows the facts. There may be someone on here, but your CAB (assuming you're UK based?) should know.
I know that in theory they aren't allowed to discriminate based on a disability, but I also know that from talking to people that make these decisions, if two people are identical in every aspect, but one has disclosed a chronic illness, it's very difficult to not take it into account.
Just my opinion, if you don't have to disclose in law, why bother? And I don't think they are allowed to ask about health conditions in an interview. Failing a medical is a different thing.
CAB!
Ade
I don't tell but then no-one has ever asked me if I have Ra - on the health forms you have to fill in stating if your suffer from lots of different things ra has never been on it. But if ever you are off on the sick with ra - and it will appear on your sick note you could be in a mess. Its really your choice - depends on how much you want the job and a care assistant job will be quite hard physically - good luck x
Personally I would say if asked about my health. I would say something like "I have RA but it's well controlled on medication". Most people haven't got a clue about RA, will think that it is "a touch of arthritis" which many people of that age have. I wouldn't elaborate. But lying and being found out will give you a poor reputation which is then difficult to get rid of.
I used to have the same problem with Lupus, and I used to answer quite honestly that it was controlled by medication.
I doubt you will be asked the question at interview level, it will in all probability be after you are offered the job when the health questionnaire is sent to you.
Just to honest ,you would not be applying if you felt you were not up to the task.If I was interviewing you I would see it as an asset. RA has given you an understanding of pain and disability .And if you are working as a carer you will need that empathy.
Good luck with the interview let us know how you get on.
Smithfield.
Thanks, I know it will be demanding, but hoping to ease myself into starting with part time and see how I go. I'm under no illusions about the physicality of the job, but will give it a go anyway. I feel, only confident now and with the help of my OT who tried to tell me that life is not grinding to a halt, which is how I felt last year. Have to try anyway. Just do a shift and conk out at lunchtime over my sandwich😄,then reboot for the remainder of my day. Fatigue is my biggest enemy!
Just to be clear, lying (well, being caught😀) is a dismissible offence.
However, they are not allowed, under UK law, to ask any questions about health or sickness before offering you the job. There are a few specific exclusions to this; they are allowed to ask you if there is anything that might affect your ability to carry out certain duties, such as lifting, climbing, running etc - if they are intrinsic to the job.
In a care home this may mean they could ask you if you would have any problems lifting / manoeuvring patients. How you answer depends on whether you think that your health issues might affect your ability at all.
But if you aren't asked, you are under no obligation to disclose this information. Once you are offered a position, you can then let them know of any illnesses (usually as part of a medical). If they then retract the job offer for no good reason (i.e. you could do the job, but they hear RA and retract purely because 'you are ill') then you can take them to court.
Source (The Equalities Act 2010): gov.uk/government/uploads/s...
Hope that helps
Ade
I think you should be honest and mention the fact that you have RA, as was mentioned above most people don't know what RA is and think it is just a form of arthritis, that being the case your employer will probably only ask about your ability to deal wth the physical aspects of the job. There is a real shortage of carers from what I hear, so I don't really see any employer not taking you on due to your RA if it is under control.
That's what I'm hoping for, when I explain RA to family, they still in their heads convert it to a 'touch of arthritis' and everyone gets it, don't they when they get older.....😠 argh🙄
I just moved jobs and they asked me to fill out a health questionnaire before sending it back I called the HR and spoke about my condition. They said they wouldn't take the job offer away just because of that and it was better to be honest. She also said it was totally my choice to tell my line manager, I did tell him once I had started. He was reasonably supportive as a relative had Lyme disease. I just said I'd had some time off previously but I was well controlled with medication now.
Better to be honest but this was my first experience of feeling like I need to prove myself due my arthritis. Silly really it doesn't make me any less capable.
If it will rack I with guilt if you don't disclose then disclose if not then don't.
It's up to you but I didn't disclose until I had a job offer.
xx
I declared it for my current position but said it was controlled by medication.. it isnt at moment.. but have had no time off with it.. best to declare,, be aware health care assistant can be quite physically demanding.
do you live in cyprus??
😉 I wish, no, am 1/4 Cypriot, and had holiday there, just love the Med lifestyle. I'm currently in 'sunny'🙄🌥 Ireland.
I have been a care assistant for 4 years now and am 58. I was upfront at the interview and reassured them it wouldn't effect my job as i only work part time. I don't give in easily and arrange infusions on my days off. In the 4 years i have only taken 3 days off for a bad flare up. Residents support stockings are the only thing i struggle with. I know my colleagues will always help me. I stress that i just need understanding not sympathy - so far so good. Honesty is the best policy in this case.
Hi cyprusmum,
I had the same anxieties before I applied for my current job which is a care assistant in a care home, also part time. I decided to be honest with them because the previous job i had applied for which was for a post woman and they said they were encouraging more women to do the job and asked me if i was ok lifting heavy things, (in my mind i was thinking oh no, i hope they don't find out about my RA)! I said i was fine, at the end they said they may contact my GP as some people use illnesses to get jobs so they do not ask directly about peoples health. Anyway to cut a long story short i never got the job and i'm sure it's because they contacted my Doctor! So i decided i would be honest with my current employer as we had to fill out a big health questionnaire and i was worried that if i lied and they did contact my GP they wouldn't employ me for being dishonest. Occ health did phone me and ask about it, but i needn't have worried, as i'd got the job anyway. Plus if things do get worse with my RA, which i hope they don't, and i need time off, at least i won't have to lie about it and hopefully they'll be supportive.
Good luck
Ganit 
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