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Working with prisoners while pregnant

80 replies

Misswhitman · 19/09/2017 10:02

Hello, I started a job working in a women's prison (resettlement not officer) 6 weeks ago and discovered I was pregnant the weekend before my start date. I informed them on my first day and they seemed to take it well. A week later while on a houseblock surrounded by prisoners I nearly fainted. My boss told me to go to the doctor and they informed me I have low blood pressure and could be at risk from fainting. They advised no prisoner contact in a note. Since this point it has been implied that there is not enough for me to do in my role without seeing prisoners and that there would not be a position for me if I took my doctors advice. They have proposed I see prisoners in the library where there are other members of staff around. I still do not feel comfortable as there are no alarms in the area. I'm wondering if I'm being the one who is unreasonable but having worked in prisons for 5 years I've never known a woman be made to work with prisoners while pregnant.

OP posts:
LoveProsecco · 09/10/2017 19:25

OP I hope you are well.

Misswhitman · 09/10/2017 20:24

Hello all. Thank you so much for all of your input. It's nice to know I'm not being over the top about not wanting to put baby at risk. I am signed off again for another 2 weeks and have an occupational health assessment tomorrow. We just moved home and it's been hard. We did find out we're having a little boy so it all feels more real now.

OP posts:
LoveProsecco · 16/10/2017 10:53

Congratulations on finding out you are having a boy! I hope you find Occ Health helpful

Misswhitman · 16/10/2017 11:04

Thank you, I'm so happy! Occupational health have agreed that no prisoner contact is best, we shall see what my company do about that. I have a feeling they will tell me there is not enough admin at my current site and try to send me to head office in central London at 19 weeks pregnant (increasing my commute from 15mins to 1hr 45mins) which I will refuse, they will tell me my contract states I can be moved and I will argue they are using it as a punitive measure solely because I am pregnant. It's all fun and games!!

OP posts:
LATEREPLY · 11/12/2023 16:36

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