AIBU to think this interview question was off?

[Watdidusay]

I'm interviewing for an NHS admin role (7c).

I disclosed in my application that I had dyspraxia and dyslexia as it asked about disabilities.

At interview today one of the panel brought up the dyslexia and dyspraxia, saying in their personal experience they often find people with these conditions also have ADHD and how can I be sure I will finish the projects I start.

I answered it well, I think, as I was able to reference my employment experience and what I'd delivered (completion of tasks has never really been a problem for me).

However something about the question seems a bit odd. I feel they made an assumption based on my disabilities and made it my job to defend my ability to work. If I was a standard interview question then I don't see why they had to reference my disabilities and assume there was a high chance I had ADHD and therefore can I focus. Why not just leave that out and ask if I can prove I see things through?

Is this normal for NHS interviews? Am I wrong to think it's a bit off?

Completely inappropriate! I’m nhs and have interviewed many people over the years. We have to have someone trained in edi in the interview with us now, have an approved list of questions about competencies and definitely not allowed to deviate. Complain to the recruiting manager.

Exactly. This is terrible

I am dyspraxic, I am very much a task finisher, I hold a very senior role in the justice sector. DH has ADHD he is not dyspraxic at all, he has a senior/management role in criminal justice mental health services, and was recently promoted. In my line if work that connect would warrant an investigation. It's discriminatory.

I know nothing about HR but I'm quite shocked by this. It's one thing to ask about what you have disclosed but to link a different need is bizarre and really rude. Also it makes no sense, if you have already disclosed 2 things why not disclose 3? I would think dyslexia would have more of an impact that adhd, but they didn't query this. Maybe they are not allowed so they were trying to find an alternative way to quiz you? Either way YANBU at all, I'd be very upset by this.

I’ve interviewed loads of people for NHS roles. I can’t remember ever seeing this information in the info packs we are given about candidates so I’m shocked it was even accessible.

We are also supposed to answer the same questions to all candidates, however I will still ask supplementary questions to try to give them the opportunity to demonstrate relevant skills. I want the best person for the job, not the best interviewee. However even if I did have access to EDI info, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to ask a question based on it!

You are being interviewed for an admin role not a project management role

Me neither. I have never seen the equality monitoring forms.

Yes, completely off. I would complain.

Was an EDI rep part of the panel?

I’d complain if I were you. I work for the NHS & interview as part of my role. You ask a set of questions that are submitted to HR beforehand, you ask everyone the same questions & you certainly don’t ask questions on how a disability might affect someone & whether they think they might have a diagnosis of something else. It’s disability discrimination.