Can you take leave during initial Civil Service training period?

[suitcasewardrobe]

I am starting a new job in a couple of weeks in the Civil Service (Home Office specifically). Presumably I will have some training when I begin. I was asked by recruitment a few weeks ago, as well as which address to send my laptop to, if I had any pre-booked holidays in the two months after my start date.

I didn't have any holidays booked so I said no. However, I might now need one day off for something that's come up about 4-6 weeks after I'm due to start the post. I feel like I've read online that you're not allowed to take leave during the initial training period. Is this correct?

Also, I think after my training period my role is hybrid and I potentially get flexitime, however I have the feeling that the training is full time 9am-5pm in the office. I have a medical condition which I have declared as a disability and in my current job (not the Civil Service) I have been able to have regular time off for disability-related medical appointments, which I need to keep me well. If no leave is allowed during the CS training period, I'm worried I won't be allowed to attend medical appointments during work time while I'm training. Does anyone know if this is the case?

You will be allowed to attend medical appointments. I started in the CS a very long time ago but I certainly booked leave, in the first month too as it was Christmas. You will be able to flag your disability straight away and similar adjustments will be put in place, possibly following an occ health assessment.

Your medical appointments will not be an issue at all. Re the holiday, if its only 1 day I doubt that will cause issues either, especially if its like 4 weeks after youve started. When I started (2 years ago), I vaguely remember people taking off odd days. I think they just dont want people taking off a week or two, unless they have pre-booked them of course.

Don’t worry you’ll be fine for medical appointments. If you have a disability make sure you’re open with your manager about what reasonable adjustments you might need/they can refer you to occ health so they can be advised what to consider for you. You should then have a workplace passport put in place which documents any adjustments that have been agreed.
I would not see an issue taking leave unless if was going to heavily impact on your training so depends how much time

I don't know any CS department that has two solid months of 9-5 training. I have worked MOJ and home office and currently work a role that bridges the two.

And yes to getting a disability passport in place

I work in CS and didn't have 2 months of 9-5 training when I started. I had 2 days in the office with my line manager in my first week, then after that was hybrid working. There was a lot of induction training, but it was all online and spread out over the first 3 months. I also took a week's leave around 4 weeks after I started. Obviously it varies between departments, but I'd be surprised if you had 2 months of 9-5 training.

I had 4 months of full time in the office training in a new CS role last year, pre-booked holiday, medical appointments and some emergency leave amongst my training group were worked around by the instructors.

Sounds like it really depends on the particular role and department, but big yes to being really open with your line manager about any disability adjustments you need (or think you might need), and get your workplace passport in place

it will not be non-stop full time trainings but probably blocks of training before for example you are allowed to use this or that software, work on this specific case.
some of this trainings will be fixed blocks by outside providers and if you can't attend the next ones might be in 6 months or a year's time.

Every CS department has policies in place for medical appts etc, and it won't be a problem to take time off during training. There is no such thing as "the CS training period", it's a regular job not the army! Depending on the role you might not even get any formal training.

Ask for the adjustments you need now before you start, it won't be a problem but easier to have it in place rather than wreck your nerves beforehand wondering if it will be ok (which it will be!).

I start a civil service job today with 5 months of training where I have to be available for all if it and breaks are apparently built in for us which I assume is when I can take time off.
This was made clear upfront though.