Work asking me to see violent patient while pregnant

[Kitely]

Since I got pregnant work haven’t been great. My two managers have never been pregnant as sadly both have infertility. I was warned that they’re not particularly supportive of pregnant colleagues but I hadn’t seen evidence of this.
I won’t be too identifying but my job involves direct work with patients and also holding a ‘caseload’.
I work three days a week and after going down to part time my caseload didn’t reduce. Infact it got bigger. It’s totally unmanageable at the level it is. Suggested safe caseloads are less than half I have.
I was off for a month with horrendous vomiting. When I returned I received no support checking I was okay.
A 5 minute pregnancy risk assessment was done. It’s so basic and doesn’t include anything on travel which is a basic aspect of the job.
It does state I’m not to work with violent patients.

So far this month I’ve been asked to do the following I’m not comfortable with:
Asked to assess someone out of area meaning I’d be on trains from 9am-9pm except for two hours during the assessment. I’d be utterly exhausted.

Asked to assess a patient who is violent. He spits at staff, throws items, punished walls. He has done this as recently as this morning.

Asked to assess a patient who has criminal convictions for beating up his pregnant girlfriend

Given an extra 5 cases all needing urgent reviews.

So: I immediately questioned the guy who beat up his girlfriend and they reluctantly had to remove him from my caseload as it went against my risk assessment.

I asked about the other violent patient but was told he has a learning disability so it’s not deliberate and also he doesn’t do ‘anything more than throw cups or his handheld cd player at people/ spit at people’. So therefore that’s okay!

The 9am-9pm travel I was told I would be able to rest on the train so not too stressful (not mentioning the walk to the bus, getting on a tram to the location, walking back to the train station etc). It’s an arduous day.

The 5 cases needing reviewing I just decided to push myself to do as I hadn’t had a positive response regarding other concerns. It was a long day but I managed it.

I know there’s a range of options available to me (simply refusing, taking the issue to higher management, getting union involved etc).

I have long before pregnancy had concerns regarding unreasonable caseloads and expected work level. I am thinking of not returning to work after maternity as this level of work won’t be feasible with a baby to look after.

I am struggling in pregnancy with exhaustion. Doctors say it’s totally normal which is true but makes working so much more challenging. I just wish they could understand that and give me work accordingly. My Doctor has offered to sign my off sick the entire pregnancy but I’d not do that as if I need to return I’m worried it would make my life harder when returning.

So before I get assertive and refuse some of these tasks. My AIBU is this, and be honest. I won’t be offended.

Am I being a bit unreasonable not wanting to do the above tasks expected of me? I’m talking specifically about the very long day of travelling and working with the violent patient? I’m worried I’m being precious. I don’t want to take this further if I’m being unreasonable. I just feel exhausted and anxious.
I am 26 weeks pregnant.

How much would you get paid of off sick? If it won’t affect your maternity pay too much then take the doctor’s advice and go off. This is not a safe environment.

I’d suggest you need to go to HR or above your current manager; failing that out all your concerns in writing and that you’re worried it will effect your health and your baby.
My manager was very good about safety concerns but not so much about over working me and I had to push back. It’s hard but necessary to put you and your baby first

You are being a bit unreasonable - a long day on a train and a client that spits and throws cups (you don’t seem to disagree with their assessment that he isn’t physically dangerous) seem ok cases as long as your doctor doesn’t sign you off - in which case you’d be signed off. You can ask for reasonable adjustments - eg a taxi to the station, but if you well enough you do have to do the job.

From your managers’ POV if you don’t do it they have the impossible task of finding someone who can take on extra. If you feel you can’t do it then I think it would be better for your employers if you were signed off as then they’d be able to get cover.

You should not be near violent patients. Speak to your manager and refuse to do it , your baby is more important. They can’t get rid of you they’ll have to find you a more suitable role in the company where there’s no risk to your baby.

For the 9-9 day I would be saying that you need to be put up in a hotel/b&b as a 12 hour day is not feasible. You travel and do the assessment one day and then travel back the following day.

I would be requesting regular risk assessments and following them up in writing.

Your workplace is leaving itself open to a tribunal and you need to be sharing your concerns about the workload in writing.

When I was pregnant and working as a social worker I went on sick leave at 26 weeks, worked one more week and then went on maternity leave at 29 weeks. It was not a safe level of work or stress and ultimately I needed to choose the health of both of us over the job. I'm still quite angry that my workplace didn't care about my wellbeing at all.

You don't sound precious at all. If you're in a union or a unionised workplace, it may be worth seeking their advice?

You’ve misunderstood. I definitely dont agree with their assessment that he’s not violent or a risk. Throwing items directly at people is violent behaviour. A cup or cd player thrown directly at someone could and has caused injury to staff. Irrespective of the learning disabilities he has.
I am amazed they’ve even asked me to assess him to be honest.

@continentallentil

She also said a handheld cd player , a mug and cd player thrown with force landing on your bump - you can also catch illnesses from being spat in your face. On top of that going to raise your stress levels when pregnant. Also clearly potential for them to go up a level and become violent.

Contact Pregnant then Screwed, Op. Really sorry that you are going through this.

I would delay making contact with the violent persona dn the person who involves a 12 hour day most of which is travel, and prioritise other patients who are safer and closer to hand. If they raise a complaint point out you are part time and your case load has doubled. You are triaging and you are also following safety guidelines regarding pregnancy in the workplace when dealing with volatile patients.

You'd have a good case for constructive dismissal if they tried to edge you out because of this.

Have they not completed a risk assessment for your role?

It’s tough as I genuinely feel too tired to do the job. But the day to day stuff I can manage just about if I’m not asked to do too much on top of that.
it’s mainly travel for me that exhausts me.
it’s tough as I don’t think I’d manage that assessment even with staying overnight as I don’t sleep well in hotels so would be so tired the next day

Yanbu op.put yourself first.
Get the day with long travel split in half with an over. Night stay.
Ask for a third person to be present during assessment you are concerned about.
Hope the sickness has abated.
Consider taking early maternity leave if they won't accommodate you at all.

Yes a very vague one which took them 5 mins and missed out essential elements of the role

A third person won’t reduce the risk.

I have already taken all my annual leave for the start of my maternity to finish sooner. I’ve two months to go roughly.

I’m so sorry your managers are unsupportive. Can you raise your concerns to their manager?
Of course you can’t see violent patients

Your managers may well be shit but let’s not go down the road of pinning their shitness on infertility, eh?

I was working in a Cat B prison throughout first pregnancy. They were so supportive. There is no way you should be near these patients or given 12 hour days. Whoever has voted YABU doesn’t understand the additional risk factors well enough. It’s not about if you’re well you can work. I worked still but completely away from all risk factors and they changed my duties to ensure my well being. Don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise. Your baby is priority.

They sound awful!

I’m wondering if you’re an NHS OT or similar… I had a terrible pregnancy and forced myself to go to work when I was ‘well enough’ although on reflection I wasn’t well enough my whole pregnancy and wish I’d put myself first as my managers didn’t care and work made my pregnancy more miserable than it needed to be!

If you’re NHS you could raise it higher than your managers or go off sick, the sick pay should cover you? Just remember you have to go back for at least 3 months or pay back your mat leave but you only have to go back to the NHS not your current job! If you’re not NHS and not planning to go back just check your policy on paying back mat leave.

Let’s not sound like a dick, eh? What a pointless response.
OP hasn’t done that.

It seems very reasonable not to agree to work with the violent client, obviously you don’t want to risk a CD player hitting your stomach and if somebody shows violent/ aggressive behaviour there is always the risk it could escalate.

Not wanting to travel does seem a bit precious though. I wouldn’t expect train travel to feature on a pregnancy risk assessment or think a pregnant woman wouldn't be capable of travelling. If your shifts are usually 12 hours long it seems a reasonable request. That said, if you usually work shorter days and on this case are being asked to work longer hours outside what is the norm I think it is reasonable to say no based on that factor, rather than the fact you need to catch the train. If there is a lot of walking to/ from the train station, between the train and the tram etc it would be reasonable to request your work pay for a taxi for this.

Def get advice and guidance from your union rep if you have one and you could ask them too for advice on how to tell manager or HR that you are unhappy with the risk assessment that’s been completed and what you’re being asked/ expected to do. As someone else has said they are opening themselves up to tribunal territory.

It doesn't sound safe for any lone worker to be assessing violent patients, do they all have risk assessments. Obviously being pregnant puts yourself and baby at risk but the other staff are at risk too. I would get in touch with hr and your union.

No way should you be exposed to violent patients….. and your managers should not be putting you in that situation.
You say you don’t want to go back…. In that case get signed off now and leave. Your baby is more important.
I’m thinking you are NHS so check their regulations about paying back maternity pay.
Also, can you go higher? Speak to someone in HR to say you are not safe and your caseloads are not appropriate?
They have a duty of care to you….

Get in touch with your union, they should be there to support you. Almost all of what you have said you are being asked to do is unacceptable.