Work & childcare

[Avimore]

Hi
My workplace (NHS) has paid for a colleague and I to do a degree apprenticeship, which was completed this year. Following this two qualified job roles were advertised (for us to send our expression of interest to)
The job description said the role was for 37.5 hours a week, predominantly based at one hospital but with the expectation to cover at another hospital when required.
I applied obviously, but prior to interview I was asked about childcare and I said it’s not a problem whilst at base hospital but if I’m sent to cover at the other hospital I would be 30mins late in the Am & would need to leave 30mins early in the PM as I could afford additional childcare, on top of the price I’m already currently paying.
They then said I had no choice but to retract my application cause I could not fulfil the requirement of the role.
However, my colleague who also applied was given the job but she is currently on maternity leave for another 6 months & will only be returning for 3 days a week, despite the job being for 37.5hrs.
So I have offered to reduce my contract by two hours (which is what is would work out if I covered two days a week at the other hospital) OR work extra hours whilst at the base hospital, but they said this doesn’t work for them.
Advice? I’m bewildered why they would pay for me to do this degree so I can perform the tasks they need me to but then not make minor adjustments for me but can for my colleague? Is this like reverse discrimination that they are so worried about discriminating against my colleague they have agreed more than usual flexibility for her.
Also I finished with a better degree grade overall than her so I don’t think this is a contributing factor

The interviews have passed..
on interview day they sent me to work at the other hospital and let me start 30mins late & leave 30mins early so I could be back for the school run 😂 I thought I was being punked when they told me

I can understand them needing someone to work a full day in the clinic but retracting the interview offer based on an informal chat sounds like something for the union. How will they cover the days your colleague won’t be working ? Are there more in the team? It would surprise me if a solution couldn’t be found bet it goes on all the time with adjusting clinic times to accommodate staff throughout out the country - I would probably raise a formal grievance myself, nothing to loose getting someone more senior to look at it.

they said it’s not justified to ask another member of staff to cover my last patient (fair point) but if I dont cover at all they will have to cover the full list I.e pull them off another job, so that job then takes a hit too.
So who knows what’s going to happen until they can get a local

*locum

It has been asked of men too. It is very dodgy ground to be on but usually when you don’t want a candidate and they’re internal.

Do you have a job currently that you can continue or does this leave you out of a job? NHS people services can be quite helpful, but I’d want to speak to acas first probably.

I feel like this is probably correct, a good reason to not give me the pay rise!

They’re letting me keep my unqualified role & pay

So can you take bank shifts and register with your professional body? I’m hopeful they aren’t going to use use as an HCA doing all the things the qualified does and not paying you.

OP you're being very naive. The NHS paid for your training. Apply for other jobs, your dept will survive without you.

This is very true