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?

That’s good news OP.
Congratulations!

Well done! What sort of pattern of hours were they able to offer you? Glad it all worked out :)

I think if we don't work as a society to help people , get those who can fit and then back to work ( and support those who can't ) , then we can't call ourselves a society - just a jungle

I will pay my share to subsidise others as I see value in humanity , in human beings beyond profitability , and one day it might be me in that situation

I know many others see no value beyond the pounds people can earn , I think that is sad and I think it makes people sad , angry and disconnected with people

Presuming it's because you're on ESA? If not and If there's no financial incentive not to do the extra hours could you not try and manage it? If you know you can't then you must tell them. They can't employ you if you can't do the hours required. How could they justify employing a whole other person to cover the discrepancy?
It seems a shame not to try and do it. But if you can't then they'll withdraw you from the interview process. You've come this far though. But only you know what you can manage.

You could ask if they'd consider you for a job share in the post. May be someone else in similar boat can't do the hours.

Great update and congratulations!

Ahh what wonderful news. I had my fingers crossed for you today! I’m so pleased. You should be really proud of yourself. You didn’t give up. You applied yourself. You came out on top! Good luck for the future x

Congratulations! So pleased for you.

congratulations and good luck in the new job.

This, exactly this. No wonder the country doesn’t have any money. FFS.

Better for someone to work PT and have a therapy hobby to help keep them healthy and able to manage than forcing them to give that up , work full time and potentially push them to a MH crisis or burnout where they can’t work at all and end up costing the nhs more than they’d have ever received in benefits .