What are the chances of me getting this job?

[AnotherRanger]

I'm currently working part time in a crappy job and my hours/days are awkward for childcare. A few weeks ago I applied for a job with the nhs (admin type job) and found out today I have an interview!
I was so happy as I'm reasonably confident I have all the skills/experience/attributes they are looking for and the hours are perfect however I've just remembered I have a written warning for absense at my current job (just been unlucky this year) and one of the points on the personal spec said 'good attendence'
Is this going to be a massive no-no for them? Also when should I disclose it as they will find out during the references after the interview anyway?

Oh and if it makes any difference there's is several positions available, not just one

I think I would wait until you see offered the job and then liaise with HR. If you have a previously sound record, no long term health conditions etc, they may well accept you anyway. They will get occupational health to do an assessment - which is standard anyway in most parts of the NHS.

The NHS where I am are clamping down on poor attendance and this is a big part of it. If you are offered the job HR will request a reference from your manage and part of that will ask about your attendance. You will also be asked about you attendance as part of your pre-employment checks. If you meet one of the attendance level triggers which are 3 absences in a rolling year, or 2 totalling over 2 weeks or a period of long term absence then this will be referred to your new manager. Then can decide then what action to take, they may contact you to discuss your absence or they may decide it's not suitable and reject your job offer.

Hmm I think I'm going to have to give my all in the interview and then be honest about the warning afterwards and give an explanation before they find out from my current employer and hope for the best. I'm not so confident about chances anymore though

Just go for the interview and give it your best shot and be open and honest with them afterwards and it may work out ok. I changed jobs over the summer, within the NHS, and I had a period of 54 days absence. The new manager phoned me, we discussed it and she had no concerns about it and took me on. I think if you go in to the situation with your eyes opened it's a lot easier.

In any job I have been in, I have never asked a current employer to act as a reference. If you ask them to be a referee, they know you want to leave and their attitude can change towards you. Then you may not get the new job and you are left in a negative situation. Having said that I would have been in smaller companies where to decision to look for a new job can be taken quite personally. Do you have an employment history. A referee can be anyone from any previous employment. You don't have to use your current employer. Have you been there long?

I would not be disclosing anything like that about my current employer to a future employer, tbh.

I would never factually lie (say on an application form) but is not the sort of thing I would bring up.

Similarly, I would never disclose that type of information as part of a reference to a new employer. I just give start date, end date, job title.

In most cases I am usually happy someone is leaving (either for them or for me) and have no interest in making their life harder.

I am amazed at the vindictive employers out there who give this stuff out.

poppies that's not true for many jobs, they often specifically ask for details of your current/most recent employer for a reference.

Yup, and even the shortest standard NHS reference will ask for episodes/days of absence and any disclipinary action on the candidate's record.

I would mention it at interview in a roundabout way, for example if you are asked about how you respond to challenging situations, or manage your own wellbeing, for example.
If you can mention this as something you have addressed and learnt from this will give you credit in the eyes of the recruiting manager.

There's nothing more frustrating than waiting weeks for the employment checks for a newly appointed candidate to find a red flag in a reference that wasn't addressed at interview. That then leaves managers in the precarious position of having to decide whether to go ahead with the person appointed, or start recruitment from scratch, and is such a waste of time.

Yup, and even the shortest standard NHS reference will ask for episodes/days of absence and any disclipinary action on the candidate's record.

They can ask but my last company would never answer those sorts of questions. They simply gave the dates you worked there and your job title.

Is it several absences or long term? I work in the NHS and I’ve been told in the past they would have appointed me but I’d had 6 (!) absences in a year (bad year) so they wouldn’t, simply because they already have several staff on long term and couldn’t take that chance on me. More recently I had a long term absence and I explained why (something that took ages to diagnose but once it was and treated I got back to work) and it’s not been a problem. I’d wait to see what if they offer the job.

I've have 5 lots of absences within a year.
1 was a hospitalisation due to asthma
2 were stomach bugs
1 I'd had a small procedure on a non work day but due to complications was unable to work for a couple of days
1 was for 2 months due to a bit of a breakdown after 2 close family bereavements

The stomach bugs and the asthma were both unusual for me, I'm never usually ill but it's not going to look great to any nee employer especially the NHS.

I'll get through the interview first and bring it up if it's gets to references stage (the reference had to be my current employer)