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Getting an interview using the disability confident scheme?

23 replies

Magnoliasstreet · 22/11/2020 06:46

Hi!

I just wondered if anyone had requested a guaranteed interview for a job based on the disability confident two ticks scheme?

I am requesting the guaranteed interview on the basis of my depression and PTSD but I have never done this before.

What happens next? I have submitted a psychiatrist letter with the job application.

Thanks in advance!

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AlternativePerspective · 22/11/2020 06:56

Yes. I am visually impaired and I usually tick the box.

TBH I have mixed views on the scheme because while I think that it enables more people with disabilities to gain interview experience I’m not convinced that it leads to more people with disabilities in the workplace. Because the scheme states that they will interview people who meet the minimum criteria it stands to reason that they will be interviewing people they otherwise wouldn’t have interviewed.

That being said, if you have a disability it’s a good way to be selected for interview among potentially hundreds of candidates where you might otherwise be overlooked.

Also disability confident at interview can be a box-ticking exercise for an employer.

I was interviewed for, and offered a job last year by an organisation who claimed to be disability confident.

When it came to the crunch the system they use wasn’t compatible with a screenreader and the job offer was withdrawn in April. They also informed me (in writing) that they had looked to see if there were other positions in the organisation which I could have filled instead but there were none as they all rely on this system.

So I wrote back to them and queried how they could still be a disability confident employer when they would have to reject someone with a visual impairment by default.

I recently saw another job advertised there and when I looked at it the disability confident status has been removed.

FatimaMunchy · 22/11/2020 07:01

Two of my children are disabled, one with MS and one with ASD. The one with MS always ticks the box, but she is very well qualified and only applies for jobs she feels confident about anyway.
The other one doesn't tick the box, but always states at interview that he has ASD.

Magnoliasstreet · 22/11/2020 07:26

@AlternativePerspective

Yes. I am visually impaired and I usually tick the box.

TBH I have mixed views on the scheme because while I think that it enables more people with disabilities to gain interview experience I’m not convinced that it leads to more people with disabilities in the workplace. Because the scheme states that they will interview people who meet the minimum criteria it stands to reason that they will be interviewing people they otherwise wouldn’t have interviewed.

That being said, if you have a disability it’s a good way to be selected for interview among potentially hundreds of candidates where you might otherwise be overlooked.

Also disability confident at interview can be a box-ticking exercise for an employer.

I was interviewed for, and offered a job last year by an organisation who claimed to be disability confident.

When it came to the crunch the system they use wasn’t compatible with a screenreader and the job offer was withdrawn in April. They also informed me (in writing) that they had looked to see if there were other positions in the organisation which I could have filled instead but there were none as they all rely on this system.

So I wrote back to them and queried how they could still be a disability confident employer when they would have to reject someone with a visual impairment by default.

I recently saw another job advertised there and when I looked at it the disability confident status has been removed.

Sorry to hear of your disappointing and frankly terrible experience. But thank you so much for replying to me.

I’m just nervous about the interview panel asking further questions regarding my PTSD especially.

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Magnoliasstreet · 22/11/2020 07:27

@FatimaMunchy

Two of my children are disabled, one with MS and one with ASD. The one with MS always ticks the box, but she is very well qualified and only applies for jobs she feels confident about anyway. The other one doesn't tick the box, but always states at interview that he has ASD.
Thank you for sharing. I am qualified for the job I’m applying for. I just feel uneasy about ticking the box for some reason!
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Iwillneverbesatisfied · 22/11/2020 07:27

I have multiple disabilities and always tick the disability confident box but I agree with a PP that I do not like the scheme.
My current employer claims to be disability confident yet I am taking them to an employment tribunal for discrimination!
You do not need to submit a psychiatrist's letter, that's unnecessary and could even damage your chances imo. It would put me off if I was the employer and I say that as someone who has PTSD too.

Magnoliasstreet · 22/11/2020 09:51

@Iwillneverbesatisfied

I have multiple disabilities and always tick the disability confident box but I agree with a PP that I do not like the scheme. My current employer claims to be disability confident yet I am taking them to an employment tribunal for discrimination! You do not need to submit a psychiatrist's letter, that's unnecessary and could even damage your chances imo. It would put me off if I was the employer and I say that as someone who has PTSD too.
Hi! The job application asked for medical evidence so I have included that.

I thought the whole point of disability confident scheme was to not discriminate against disability so by telling my potential employer I have PTSD they shouldn’t discriminate? Unless I’ve missed something I don’t understand!

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poorlyearboy · 22/11/2020 10:08

They shouldn't discriminate OP but that doesn't mean they wont. Remember the schemes are often run but the large organisation but the job is offer is usually from 1-2 individuals.

From my view, I'm an employer - I don't judge but I've known those who do. Truthfully when interviewing it's in my mind about what adaptations will need to be made if the person gets the job (I don't ask at interview, only after the person is successful, but I've known others ask)
I also have a disability and I never declare it until I'm in post, I don't trust people not to judge

Magnoliasstreet · 22/11/2020 11:18

@poorlyearboy

They shouldn't discriminate OP but that doesn't mean they wont. Remember the schemes are often run but the large organisation but the job is offer is usually from 1-2 individuals.

From my view, I'm an employer - I don't judge but I've known those who do. Truthfully when interviewing it's in my mind about what adaptations will need to be made if the person gets the job (I don't ask at interview, only after the person is successful, but I've known others ask)
I also have a disability and I never declare it until I'm in post, I don't trust people not to judge

Thanks for your reply. I’m hopeful it works out ok. I appreciate you sharing your experience. I’ll let you know how things pan out. I’m not even sure whether my disability would be accepted for the disability confident scheme.
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poorlyearboy · 22/11/2020 11:38

It should accept it, they can't discriminate between physical and mental health.
Good luck Smile

Magnoliasstreet · 22/11/2020 14:31

@poorlyearboy

It should accept it, they can't discriminate between physical and mental health. Good luck Smile
Thank you so much! We will see !
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AlternativePerspective · 23/11/2020 05:05

I’m just nervous about the interview panel asking further questions regarding my PTSD especially. legally they’re not allowed to ask about your disability.

The downside to that is that if it’s an obvious disability they won’t know or potentially even think that adaptation can be made and out of ignorance may simply not give someone a job on the basis they don’t see how it can be done.

Bear in mind that the pannel won’t be told your disability status, just that you have applied under the disability confident scheme. If your disability is an invisible one, they will not have any idea what it is.

In my case it becomes somewhat obvious when I walk into an interview with either a cane or a guide dog Grin but that aside, I always bring the subject of my disability up myself and talk about the adaptations that will be needed/are available. For the interview last October I took along a laptop with a screenreader installed and a braille display. They were happy not to need to see them but were also keen to listen to what I had to say, and as I said, I was offered the job.

Some companies will discriminate, but I think it’s also important not to just assume you are being discriminated against if you don’t get the job. It’s equally possible that you just weren’t the best candidate for that particular job. Unless the discrimination happens openly, I would just put it down to interview experience.

I have not been offered jobs just because there were better candidates, I have also been openly discriminated against (interview offer withdrawn because of my VI). In the former cases I just move on and put it down to one of those things. There is nothing positive to be gained by telling yourself it was discrimination.

In the latter cases I genuinely believe that if they can be that discriminatory at interview they are very likely not the kind of company I would want to stay working for anyway.

FatimaMunchy · 23/11/2020 06:41

DD said at this stage it just gives you an opportunity to say what adjustments you would need for the actual interview. In her case a ground floor room, or to know that the building has a lift. If the place she would be working can't offer that she would ithdraw her application.
She was offered a job where the company were going to move to a building with no parking. Staff were expected to park in a public car park and walk. There would be nowhere for her to park her motability car safely. They didn't tell her this until she had accepted the job! She withdrew.
As pp said, no point in getting hung up on discrimination. DD now has a different job, which she loves and meets her needs.

Magnoliasstreet · 23/11/2020 14:54

Thanks all for your input. You’ve certainly put my mind at rest for the time being.

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ThePoetsWife · 25/11/2020 22:56

@poorlyearboy

They shouldn't discriminate OP but that doesn't mean they wont. Remember the schemes are often run but the large organisation but the job is offer is usually from 1-2 individuals.

From my view, I'm an employer - I don't judge but I've known those who do. Truthfully when interviewing it's in my mind about what adaptations will need to be made if the person gets the job (I don't ask at interview, only after the person is successful, but I've known others ask)
I also have a disability and I never declare it until I'm in post, I don't trust people not to judge

This pisses me off - you have a disability and yet will judge other disabled people should they apply for a job with you. Why are you trying to keep the status quo? Why aren't you encouraging other disabled people?

You have obviously internalised shitty attitudes re disability.

poorlyearboy · 26/11/2020 00:11

I think I specifically said I DONT judge?

poorlyearboy · 26/11/2020 00:14

For the record the last 3 posts I recruited into were filled by people with a disability. Meaning those with a disability are now in the majority in our department so I'm really not sure where you got the view that I'm judging and not encouraging applicants with a disability Confused

ThePoetsWife · 26/11/2020 07:47

You said that you think about adaptions that need to he made.

This suggests your focus is on the disability rather than the person's ability to do the job.

ThePoetsWife · 26/11/2020 07:51

I'm very sensitive about this issue but having read your posts again, I can see that I got the wrong end of the stick - sorryBlush

poorlyearboy · 26/11/2020 08:15

Thanks Poet, sorry for the confusion

Iwouldratherbemuckingout · 26/11/2020 08:26

As a recruiter, we do not ask for evidence of a disability under this scheme, and I am concerned you have sent such private information with your application. After interview, as well as the health check questionnaire we have a process to explore with all successful candidates (regardless if a declared disability) any reasonable adjustments required. We do not ask questions about a persons disability at interview.

FatimaMunchy · 26/11/2020 09:00

Iwouldratherbemuckingout thank you. I didn't think you were supposed to ask for proof of disability at that stage.

Iwillneverbesatisfied · 26/11/2020 09:52

I am also concerned that they wanted medical evidence of a disability. It is akin to asking people "are you registered disabled"? There hasn't been a register for about 30 years if not more! It is rather insulting yet still gets asked.

Magnoliasstreet · 26/11/2020 10:04

Thank you all for your responses.

It’s all so new to me I didn’t know what to submit as medical evidence as all I have is a psychiatrist letter, but the application form did specify medical evidence from the last six months.

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