Mental Health Discrimination

[Ecka1990]

I was just asking for advice regarding mental health discrimination at work.

I have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, I got diagnosed last year but have had it for around 6 or 7 years. I have been open and honest at every stage of my illnesses regarding changing diagnoses and hospital stays and have a risk assessment tomorrow with my current job as previous office staff and managers haven’t written it on my file. I have only verbally informed them so have no proof of this unfortunately. As an agency care worker they are saying it will be put on my profile for clients (carehome managers) to see before they chose to book shifts with me. I am worried that I will get a sudden drop in shifts due to discrimination but will have no way to prove this as they could just say there is less work available or that they are choosing to book with other carers for different reasons.

I have worked for the company for four years and have missed about 3 days of work due to my illness in those 4 years so have proven myself to be reliable and hardworking but I can just imagine when people read the word schizophrenia they will be put off. What advice would you give in this situation if I do face a drop in hours except to change jobs?

[starwarsfan]

ULA will be able to advise.

all i can say is to get a copy of your contract.

[ULA]

Are you employed and paid via the agency?

I presume it is standard practice, given the sector you are working in, for certain information to be provided to carehome managers on the agency workers assigned to them. Does this include medical history? If you do not know this may be a question to ask them at your meeting.

[Ecka1990]

Yes I’m employed and paid by my agency rather than the individual homes. I will have to ask them what they have to send over on agency carers individual profiles. I totally understand the need for a risk assessment but it would be frustrating to think they could discriminate on a word rather than my track record.