Civil Service pre-employment health declaration - mental health

[sirbarkalot]

I have received a provisional offer for a Civil Service role. I haven't worked in the CS before. I'm filling in the additional info necessary for pre-employment checks and see there is a health declaration I need to complete.

I don't have any health issues other than, for nearly 3 years, depression and anxiety. They are largely situational rather than for no clear cause. The new job should help alleviate the situations behind the mental health problems. It is not a work-related cause.

I am currently employed (part time) and haven't had any time off sick. I did have one wobble at work when I got overwhelmed and anxious, but my manager let me take a break in a separate room and I was fine after that.

I have been taking medication for 2.5 years and for the last 1.5 years I have had a weekly therapy appointment. Both of these help me manage my mental health issues.

Do I need to declare any (or all?) of this on my health declaration? I am concerned that by declaring it I will jeopardise my application or they will think I am not currently fit to do the job, which is not true.

As this job will be full time, I am also worried about my weekly appointment with my counsellor. I currently work part time so have been able to see my therapist during the day. I am not sure if he works in the evenings and I really don't want to change to someone else because we have built a good relationship. Is this something that could be addressed in the question "Are you having, or waiting for, treatment or investigations for any medical condition at present that may affect your attendance or may require adjustments at work?"?
Even if I could start work earlier one day per week, allowing me to leave in time for a 4pm or 4.30pm therapy appointment, this would help. Would there be any possibility of this arrangement being considered?

Or should I just not mention any of this on my health declaration? I don't however want this to count against me should I need to mention anything connected to it in the future.

I imagine you could do you therapy by video chat now you have an established relationship with your therapist so an hour out of the week should not be an issue as civil service have flexi time - you could do it as a lunchtime
Re the health declarations - I'd be interested in what responses you get, I have always declared my depression/ anxiety, and had to be seen by occupational health and provide a GP report but ultimately have been approved by OH.
I feel honesty is important- as a civil servant-but it hasn't backfired on me ...

That won't be an issue on the health declaration, put it all down. Please don't think the CS is full of healthy people, it's not and they don't screen people out. I have hired a ton of new starters and not once have I had anything flagged to me as a result of the health declaration even where the person had significant health issues of one sort or another.

The only approaches I've had is either from the central reasonable adjustments team in HR (how this is handled varies by govt dept) or directly by the employee. You can contact the HR dept and find out how it works.

Re the appointment with a counsellor, are you intending to tell your new LM about your MH difficulties? If you need to leave at a certain time on a set day I'd say so up front and ask for it as a reasonable adjustment if needs be. In many roles it won't be an issue at all but if it's something like a DWP work coach or other customer facing/shift based role it will need to be recognised and accommodated by whomever is doing the rota. You could also ask for a flexible working patten to accommodate it.

No direct experience of CS but I'm an HCP working with people with long term MH conditions.
I would always advise declare your conditions in the medical questionnaire. If you don't, and you had some unfortunate relapse and required significant time off, you would be sent to OH who will get reports from GP and they will discover this is a long term condition you failed to disclose when specifically asked. Technically you could then be dismissed.

Declare it on the form, the duration you've suffered from it, list the treatment you have. This all demonstrates your condition is well controlled. The worst that will happen is you'll get a call or appointment with OH who will confirm your condition is well controlled and recommend they go ahead and employ you. Many many people work full time with health conditions so it will be fine.

Regarding the weekly sessions as PP has mentioned it depends whether you wish to disclose this to a line manager at this point. If you don't want to do that I'd probably recommend you enquire about flexi time and then arrange appointment at say 4pm if possible.

Congratulations on the job offer

If you need an adjustment like finishing one day a week early it's essential you declare at the beginning otherwise it could be refused, especially as you have been asked. It shouldn't make any difference to the offer otherwise unless you have failed to disclose information requested prior

Is the health form related to your security clearance / vetting? If so, you must not withhold or lie on the form. That is treated more seriously than making a declaration.

I'm a current CS, started last summer. I have significant health issues ( autoimmune illness and physical disability) honestly you have nothing to worry about, you might be referred to occupational health for a screening but they absolutely won't say you're not fit for work, they're looking for if you need any adjustments (for example I needed access for my wheelchair and a special chair)

In my department there are support networks for mental health issues (as well as many other support networks) so you absolutely don't have anything to worry about.

Thanks for all your responses.

I have been upfront about my conditions and how they are well managed. I also mentioned the therapy appointments so will see what they come back with.
I'm not used to such willingness/flexibility to support employees as I currently work in an environment (totally different industry) that is pretty unsupportive of its employees. Hoping the civil service is better in that regard!

I have depression and anxiety and was informed by OH that as I’ve had it longer than 12 months it is classed as a disability so am entitled to accommodations and sickness leave triggers are also adjusted so I would definitely let them know. Good luck with your new job.