to accept a job thats morally questionable?

[jobdrama101]

A brief bit of background. Im a qualified nurse, i work in a very high pressure physical role, for 12 hours shifts. I LOVE my job, i love the pressure and the pace. However, i have some health issues, im off sick at the minute. Im awaiting some result and some further referrals. The health issue mainly affects mobility, otherwise physically i am fine, but the most likely result is going to be a condition that will affect my ability to do the job i love. Having discussed it with my manager, they have heavily implied returning if i get the diagnosis is going to be difficult, and i am in full agreement, as upsetting as this is. This job was my goal from childhood, im now mid 40's but only qualified 4 years ago, it took me a long time to achieve my dream.

Less physical nursing jobs do exist, however, the job market for nursing is, well, basically none existent. The best, most suitable for my health needs, earning enough money to support myself and my children, is a pip assessor role. But, everyone has read the negatives attached to this position.

I need a job though, not working is not an option. This is a hybrid role, that involves mostly work from home, around 5 days per month in a centre doing face to face assessments, which is more than manageable as even in person, there isnt a lot of walking around.

My thinking at the moment is its temporary, or could be, there are clinic based jobs, practice nursing, maybe even research, there are other positions, but there are none available for me to even apply for. I feel it is most sensible to just accept i cannot go back to the job i love, and rather than remain off sick indefinitely, do this job whilst looking for a suitable role.

Ive asked friends and family, and im getting mixed views. Some saying its a solid plan, others saying morally, they would never ever do this job.

Go for it. And I say that as someone who’s been through both the PIP assessment and limited work capability assessment.

100% go for it OP, finding something that works for you is worth its weight in gold in your circumstances so I think you'd be mad not to. Those people saying they would never do it, have they ever been in your shoes? No? Then they have no idea what they would do when push comes to shove do they!

I don’t think it’s a morally questionable role if you do it with empathy and responsibly. I know PIP assessments can be tough but surely, at its heart, the role is about helping people to get the support that they need?

I think you should go for it. You’re not the person that sets the thresholds for which PIP is awarded, but you can be the person who applies those thresholds fairly with a good medical knowledge. If I were going through a PIP assessment I would want it to be with someone like you. It’ll be done either way.

Someone is going to do it. I'd rather it be someone that recognises it the way you do, than someone that does into it with the mindset that everyone applying is a scrounger!

I'm sure there would be cases sometimes where your hands are tied even when you wish you could do more, but it sounds at least like you'd have empathy rather than seeing that as a victory, if that makes sense.

Can't your trust offer redeployment on health grounds? I'm assuming you are ward/hospital based. There must be outpatient clinics you could transfer to? I'd speak to your manager about this as it would definitely be an option where I work. They can't just dismiss you.

I'm also a nurse. I know a couple of people who have done the PIP assessor job. It's tempting as it's decent money but they found it absolutely soul destroying. Neither stuck at it for long.

I know many people who’ve done this job - but hate it.

I think I’d rather be assessed for PIP by someone who is aware of the issues as you are than by someone who either has no awareness or just doesn’t care about the job or the people they are assessing.

To support yourself and your family you need a reliable job. This is a job that fits the bill. That’s all there needs to be to it.

Better you than someone with less medical knowledge.

There are far more morally questionable jobs out there.

Just make sure you consider how being so sedantery could make your mobility worse.

I think your own experience will help you be a fair and empathic assessor. I think just because the system is unethical
doesnt mean you can’t do it as best you can according to your values.

My one concern for you though is moral
injury if you are having to do things that do test your moral integrity and you feel you are causing harm.

Have you considered non ward based work like specialist diabetes nurse? Or GP based nurse?

The NHS will need to redeploy you.

It’s not morally questionable, it’s assessing people.

It sounds ideal for your circumstances and if you don't do the job then someone else will. I would do it.

I had the SEVERE misfortune of working for the DWP as a nurse, after being tempted by their apparent willingness to employ people with disabilities and the Monday to Friday aspect. It is the closest I have ever been to having a breakdown. There isn't enough money to pay me to do disability assessment again.

Actually I think you just the right person to do this role.

The medical and personal knowledge.

My ds has hereditary spastic paraplegia which no one’s ever even heard of ime! We were lucky to get a physio do his assessment who understood everything regards muscle weakness and how just because you “can” do something doesn’t mean you “can” iyswim?

So just because da can stand and walk across a room once doesn’t mean in 5 minutes time he could because he’s used all the muscle power he has for that hour/day etc.

Totally agree with this.

The person I know who did this job had the same moral dilemma about it that you’re having, but decided to go for it knowing that they would be as fair and accurate as possible. They left in the end because the process and criteria didn’t always allow them to do what they knew to be right. But it’s a job that has to be done and if it will work for you then do it and see.

Someone has to do it ! Bear in mind it will likely become even harder when the changes come around next year when genuinely very disabled people start to lose their PIP.

You do have to be a health professional to be an assessor, to all those saying "rather than"

You could also look at medico-legal field OP

My friend was the same. She was a paramedic and went into the PIP assessor role thinking she could really help people. It very nearly broke her.

My DD’s UC Assessor (she’s never claimed PIP) was absolutely lovely and made the experience much better than it could have been. I’d give it a go if I were you.

Go for it. Someone has to do the job and it's better if it's a person with integrity. Sorry you will probably have to leave your dream job though.

Would working for 111 be better for you OP? Is there a centre near you where you could do that?

I don’t think you should resign. Go through the full process with your current employer first - they should be looking at options for redeployment and if not, a full capability assessment. To what extent has HR been involved in these conversations already? It needs to be more than your manager sucking their teeth and intimidating that they’d rather not have you if you have this medical diagnosis. If they do end up dismissing you on grounds of capability then yes you should absolutely go for whatever job will work for you and keep you in employment at least in the mean time while you figure out something.

Op I was a Nurse for thirty years and got totally fed up of the 12 hour nightshifts and just the general anxiety of the job. I went into benefits work, self taught myself a lot and now mostly go round assisting over 50's with PIP and Attendance Allowance forms etc where medical knowledge come in useful. So many people struggle with the forms and find them overwhelming. I took a pay cut initially but would say I don't earn much less now than I did as a qualified nurse and it's a doddle of a job most of the time with 9-5 work sometimes form home or out visiting clients in their homes. Could you consider moving into something like benefit advice, helping people with mandatory reconsiderations for PIP when they get turned down etc? I also do a bit of social care advice, referring people for OT assessments, signposting people to other services. i have worked for two different charities the only problem is the jobs are often only fixed term for a couple of years so some instability.