NHS interview - Should I disclose absence?

[dazzlinghaze]

Hi all, just looking for a bit of advice!

I have an interview for an NHS clerical job next week, however, I am concerned about my absence record which will be disclosed by my current employer in my reference if I am successful.

Basically, I was diagnosed with depression towards the end end of 2019. I was off sick quite a lot last year due to my depression as I struggled to get the right medication. I worked with my GP and am now on medication that I feel is really working for me and I have also started private CBT therapy which I am also finding to be really beneficial. I believe I have my depression under control.

My question is, should I disclose this and explain at interview. I know they will see my sickness record so am wondering if it is best to mention it myself while I have the chance to explain the situation. Or would I be better to wait and see if I am given an offer pending references?

Thanks for any advice!

I'm not familiar with the NHS application form, but for posts I recruit for in local government you would have to choose to write about your absence record in your supporting statement. Which you wouldn't.
Many references now just confirm your start date and position.
Are you sure it would actually come up before the occupational health pre start questionnaire? And that wouldn't be shared with your manager unless you required accommodations and couldn't be used to sever your contract. Not here, anyway.

I wouldn't mention it.
NHS interviews are formulaic and competency based with scores given for each answer and compared across candidates. An offer is then made subject to Oc Health, DBS and references (which can be very minimal these days. Wait to see if you are offered have the job and then address any concerns that arise afterwards.

Data protection should keep them from seeing any of your sickness records. Don't mention it if you don't want to.

Don't mention it until you are offered the job, and even then you might not have to say anything at all. When I worked for the nhs they asked about absence rates when requesting references. They may then choose to speak to you about this or refer to occ health to make sure that your health won't impede your ability to do the job or if they need to make any adjustments.

@Tickledtrout Oh, I'm actually not sure, I just assumed that the reference form would ask for position, employment dates and number of sick days in the last year or whatever!

@CrumbsThatsQuick If given a conditional offer would you then contact the hiring manager or wait for them to ask?

Wait for them to ask.

It depends on the info requested.
Some simply ask for a tick a box possibly like, excellent, good, poor etc against a range of questions like attendance, honesty, standard of work, etc and would you re employ.
There is nothing stopping them ticking poor attendance. I would wait until I was asked.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I won't mention it at interview!

I wouldn't necessarily at all interview, but prepare to be asked from your references.
I've recently employed someone who had rather a lot of sickness, but when I rang them about it, they were completely open about what happened, how they had things under control and how they hadn't had time off on the last 6 months.

It wasn't a deal breaker - because they was so open and so transparent about what had happened and what was in place now to keep them well. I would have been less understanding if they had refused to even tell me basics, and it was frequent unexplained absence rather than a block of time due to poor mental health that they were actively managing. They interviewed well, had otherwise good references, just I wanted to establish that the sickness wasn't random days several times a month - that is MUCH more disruptive than a few months off getting health sorted and then being back at work. Also, with mental health, I'm glad they were honest because I can then make sure they know all the support that might be available before they end up reaching breaking point to keep them at work.

@Iliketeaagain That's really reassuring! I'm happy to be open about the situation. My worry was that if I was given a conditional offer they would see the number of days and just withdraw the offer without giving me a chance to explain.

I interview for the NHS and I would say don't mention it unless specifically asked (which I don't imagine you will be). If asked I woukd probably frame it as having had "health issues which are now resolved".

Sorry, I would like to be able to say employers will be supportive, but they aren't always.

Don't mention at interview.

Our trust asks for sickness record in references, the interviewing officer then decides if the results are concerning and may discuss with you.