After answering initial advert and interviewing in October (2014) last week I finally had my induction day for hca nurse bank in a mental health trust. I work full time but want bank shifts ocasionally to get experience as the plan is to transition into mental health when I complete my OU degree in psychology.
So in the long drawn out recruitment process I have become pregnant currently 14 weeks- didn't mention this last week and wondered if anyone has experience of being pregnant whilst working on mental health wards? My current full time job involves restraint and so work put me in an office as soon as I told them to reduce risk- will this be the same for hca (meaning I can't do any shifts) or as the role doesn't require restraint will I be allowed to still pick up bank shifts?
After a certain point I probably won't want to pick up shifts anyway- my trust say you have to do at least 1 shift in a 6 month period to stay on the bank- would this be different if it is because im pregnant- I'm thinking they can't throw me off bank for it as would be discrimination? I really want to work some bank shifts on maternity leave (have read I can as if have 2 jobs and one doesn't offer mat pay then as long as employed by 15 weeks of pregnancy you can continue to work for them whilst on mat leave for the other) again any experience of this??
Sorry for long post!