Please help how to disclose to potential job that I can only work a certain amount of hours

[lolit]

I applied today to a job in a nearby school, the role is playworker and the hours are 7.30AM-9AM and 3PM-6PM because I would be providing wrap-around care. I got a response straight away and job interview is tomorrow.

The problem is it's more than 20 hours a week and I am unable to work this much right now because of my mental health, I suffer from depression and while I am getting better and feel capable of work, I feel like I can do max 15h a week right now (hopefully in the future I can do more).

When do I disclose this and what reason do I give? Am I wasting their time by having this interview, should I just leave it and look for jobs that are offering less hours to avoid awkwardness and being told I am wasting their time?

If you are at such an edge of mental health crisis, you are a safeguarding concern for the children. Please withdraw.

This is unkind and untrue. People with MH issues aren’t a danger to children . I know plenty of people working in teaching and childcare going through various MH issues they aren’t a safeguarding concern

There are many people in the wrong profession.

Working might be much better for your mental health than the hobby. Surely the hobby can be done another time?

Yes, you are wasting their time for this role. Perhaps look at meal time monitor jobs in schools. The schools near me are often looking for people to work during breakfast club (7:30-9) and lunch (11:30-1:00). Something like that may work better for your situation.

Split shift jobs don’t tend to have so many applicants so they may still consider you. However, it is most likely they need these hours for childcare ratios so there probably isn’t that much flexibility.
If you were to get this job, is there an alternative hobby group/time. I’m sure there are plenty of people who share your hobby and work full time. Is it possible a friend from the group is also looking for work and you could join a new more convenient group together?

Yes this. Go for it, talk to them. It's the sort of thing that needs to be discussed if we are to get people back into work, as Labour are trying to do. Flexibility, support, etc. How else is it going to happen?

Why can you work 20 hours per week but not 25? Is this just something you've decided without trying? Tge fact that the most you would be working without a long break is 3 hours.
Give it a try, you may surprise yourself. Working is definitely good for mental wellbeing.

I, the tax payer are paying you benefits to do a hobby twice a week. Absolutely ridiculous. You have no self respect.

Have to agree with this

Ridiculous that you would mess them around and/or not bother with the job because you want to continue your hobby

Don't you think those of us working and paying tax and not in receipt of benefits would like to have a jolly time doing a hobby twice a week instead of working

Could you email to say that you can do the morning shifts but can't commit to all the afternoon shifts? They might have other people who can do afternoons, or they could say no, but worth flagging before you have an interview.

Agree with pp, maybe a lunch time job would suit better, I'm pretty sure they are difficult to recruit for because they are low pay/low hours

Ring them -now- and explain the situation. Ask if it’s a rota basis job (ours is) and ask if you could do every morning and 3 afternoons?

I am not convinced that this is real. It seems such a dogwhistle post.

Anyway, if it is real, OP, I would go to the interview and gently sound them out on how flexibly they are thinking. But be prepared to take the 20 hours if offered the role. You may love it and thrive, and not miss the hobby so much.

Because if you have serious mental health issues you need to be very clear with your boundaries, and stand by them. As this thread shows, the minute you try to put them in place, people rush to trample all over them.

Going 20 to 25 hours is an extra 25%! If you work an 8 hour day, it's fine to ask you to stay back an extra 2 hours every day, right? Oh, you don't like that? Have you tried?

Tell them before the interview or you may just waste their time. Maybe if they are desperate, they will consider a job share.

It sounds like a normal treatment plan for someone with something like a serious mood disorder

Except OP hasn’t said she can’t do the extra hours because of her mh, she’s said she can’t do them because of her hobby. And although she claims that her hobby is the only thing that’s any good for her alleged MH, it seems that she can’t fit in said hobby somewhere into the other 15 hours a week which most people have to work to earn a living?

I have a physical condition which means working late shifts leaves me fatigued. I have been given flexible working to take this into account, but this is only on a trial basis, and if my employer decides not to continue the arrangement then I will have to suck it up.

Too much pandering is being done in the name of “mental health” we need to stop paying out benefits to people who are refusing to work so they can indulge in their hobbies which we are also paying for.

There are plenty of other hours in the day to indulge in hobbies.

And luckily we have these people because otherwise we wouldn’t have enough taxes to pay for those who don’t.

Honestly it sounds like you're wasting their time here. Saying you're happy to work 15 hours but not 20 as that would damage your mental health because of missing your hobby sounds a bit wet. I'd just look for something that doesn't clash with your hobby which is clearly the real issue here ( which is fine) by the way.

Gamers often start at at 5pm when America wakes up.
There can't be many hobbies that take place every day.

You need to work some where with a high number of staff that can fill hours you can't do, somewhere like a Supermarket or McDonalds where you apply for which shifts you want to do to give you flexibility.

Working in a school where if you don't turn up or can't work the provision can't run is not an appropriate job role for you at this time.

You could perhaps do school lunchtime supervisor or invigilating work.

I would have rang and spoken to the person recruiting and said, I’ve seen the role and think I’ll be suitable, would you consider X hours. What’s the point in going to interview etc if you know you’re not suitable.

Do you know what the biggest cause of death for young adults in the UK is?

Suicide.

What helps prevent this?

Doing things they love.

I don't know what OP's condition is, but the pattern she's giving could easily be written by someone being proactive about recovering from the deepest depression. Slowly grading herself back into work, in a sensible fashion. Prioritising the thing that gets her out of bed

I though that the stigma about mental health problems had improved, but the posts on here are utterly revolting.

Shame on all of you.

And I'm so glad that we have taxes, which means that a serious illness doesn't automatically mean starving.

You are wasting their time they have staffing ratios to meet. An extra hour a day with a huge break in between is hardly a big deal.
Find another place or time to do your hobby, taxpayers have enough to fund, you have just been given the opportunity to do something to better your life, I cannot fathom why you wouldn’t take it