**Denied use of DISABLED toilet in jobcentre

lilmiss1982

No parent/child parking spaces either - but we were careful when getting children in and out of cars and never banged our doors into the next vehicle. Admittedly people didn't drive cars the size of Rutland and pushchairs looked less like golf-carts .

Things have changed now by law your baby has to be in a rear facing car seat until its around 12 months old. Its very difficult to get them out of a car with out fulling opening the door of even a small car which can be difficult in regular spaces without banging the car next you.

Indie_Kid

ShaShaSha wrote: »

He also said it wasnt his personal views, but that of the 'Policy' which he refused to show me.

Why do I find this so hard to believe?

He also claimed that people with back problems all lean over making it obvious that they have a disability.

Do they? My mum has back problems; but walks normally. (or as normal as you can when you've got back problems) [/QUOTE]

Can't help with your husband's confidence; but I think you should put a complaint in about this.

Unity

lilmiss1982 wrote: »

Things have changed now by law your baby has to be in a rear facing car_pale_ seat until its around 12 months old. Its very difficult to get them out of a car with out fulling opening the door of even a small car which can be difficult in regular spaces without banging the car next you.

'Ere, I'm not that old :eek: :rotfl::rotfl:. We used a rear facing car seat for our youngest when they first appeared on the market and before it was a legal obligation. We simply parked a little further away where there was more space. I think it's great that parent/child spaces are available now - but when they weren't we still managed, just by thinking a bit about it first. "Necessity really is the mother of invention" as my mum used to say . I think I'm turning into her _pale_.

Unity

ShaShaSha wrote: »

He also said it wasnt his personal views, but that of the 'Policy' which he refused to show me. He also claimed he was not commiting disability discrimination, and was not judging.

sh1305 wrote: »

Why do I find this so hard to believe?

Me too!:rolleyes:

ShaShaSha wrote: »

He also claimed that people with back problems all lean over making it obvious that they have a disability.

I don't.

sh1305 wrote: »

Do they? My mum has back problems; but walks normally. (or as normal as you can when you've got back problems)

Exactly - to be honest we have to try to obtain the best posture possible, so that our muscles work to keep our spines at the optimum position to prevent further pain :rolleyes:.

This manager was obviously just a jobsworth - he couldn't produce 'The Policy' and we have to wonder if that's because it only exists in his own head:rolleyes:.

Do let us know what response you get to your complaint.

ShaShaSha

JOBCENTRE RESPONSE!! Well everyone two letters came through today, one to me with an apology for the treatment my other half had suffered, answering the questions id asked and producing the policy I requested, for using the disabled loo. Another letter simply to apologise to my otherhalf for whats happened, here are some snippets from mine below (parts have been edited to remove personal details):

"I was very concerned to read of your experience and asked Mrs X, Customer Service Operations Manager for X Jobcentre, to look into the issues you have raised.

Fisrtly, please let me say that I am sorry that you had this experience in one of our offices. Jobcentre Plus places great emphasis on customer service. The handling of your visit was clearly unacceptable and the manager of the X Jobcentre has emphasised this in the strongest terms to ensure that this does not happen again"

^^^The said manager she is talking about, is the ACTUAL manager, the man who treated my other half in this way was a floor manager, despite claiming he was the manager and there was no-one higher at the jobcentre to complain to except as stated on Jobcentre Plus complaints procedure.

"Jobcentre staff are expected to treat all individuals equally, and this means we may have to treat people differently, depending on their personal cisrumstances. Some jobcentres provide toilets which can be used by disabled customers. When Mr X asked to use the disabled toilet and informed us he was disabled he should have been permitted to do so without the requirement to provide further information. I am very sorry that this was not the case.

I have also written directly to Mr X to offer my apologies for the embarrassment and distress we caused him.

Finally, I note that you requested a copy of "the complete policy relating to the use of disabled toilets in your jobcentres" I should explain that Jobcentre Plus does not hold any written, formal policy in this area. Rather, our staff are expected to ensure that, in all contact with customers, they act in accordance with the Department for Work and Pensions' Diversity and Equality policy statement"

She finished the letter with who to contact if I need more information, or are unhappy with the response including details of the said jobcentres manager, and the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. She also included a print out of the Diversity and Equality Policy Statement.

My partner also recieved a strong apology letter.

No word is said of what will happen to the Man after the treatment he gave my other half, I think I will notify the woman of exactly what he said regarding other issues aside from myother half - Disabled people signing on etc, as he would probably benefit from some sort of disability awareness training.

All in all we are really happy they have accepted how wrong it was (never doubted they wouldnt tbh) and apoligised for whats happened. Hopefully this will prevent anyone else from accessing facilities they need!!

sunnyone

Of course theres no mention of what will happen to the Man because nothing will be done, he will laugh about it with his mates and thats the last thing he will think of it.

Dont let it drop there.

sunnyone

ShaShaSha

sunnyone wrote: »

Of course theres no mention of what will happen to the Man because nothing will be done, he will laugh about it with his mates and thats the last thing he will think of it.

Dont let it drop there.

sunnyone

Appointment with solicitors tomorrow, wish us luck going to be a bit stressful going through what happened

shazrobo

just read teh whole thread and wanted to wish shashasha the best of luck tommorrow

rolo-polo1965

Evening

How did things go with the solicitor?

borders_dude

Perhaps the never said what happened to the man because its an internal staff matter. If I was the employee I would expect some confidentiality when it comes to such matters.