NHS unconditional job offer

rachelmc_4

Hello. I have handed in my notice and have a start date for my new role in the NHS. I have an unconditional offer and passed Occupational health. I informed them at OH assessment (as they asked) that I was clinically extremely vulnerable due to my severe asthma and that I was told to shield. However, I’m getting myself all paranoid that they will postpone my start date as I’m sheilding again as per letter/email instructions. This is a patient facing role. Can anyone please, please put my mind at rest? Any first hand experiences would be amazing. Thanks in advance 

wilfred30

As it is a patient facing role and you are not able to do the job for an unspecified length of time, I do think it's possible that they will postpone your start date unfortunately.  I can't see them wanting to pay you to not work but, of course, I could be wrong.

Manxman_in_exile

Simple remedy - ask HR.  You must have a contact from the recruitment process.  There's no point asking anybody here - only HR will know the answer so don't waste time by not contacting them.

FBaby

Does your asthma fall under the new category of shielding? They restricted the list. 

rachelmc_4

Yes it does fall under the new category of sheilding unfortunately. I’ve had to shield each abs every time despite pleading to be removed from the list. The issue I will have is if they postpone my start date, I’ll have not job. I daren’t call HR as I’m a wimp and too scared of what they will say 

rachelmc_4

Plus I will have online learning to do so I’m hopeful they will allow me to start abs so that abs hope sheilding ends soon

Manxman_in_exile

rachelmc_4 said:

Yes it does fall under the new category of sheilding unfortunately. I’ve had to shield each abs every time despite pleading to be removed from the list. The issue I will have is if they postpone my start date, I’ll have not job. I daren’t call HR as I’m a wimp and too scared of what they will say 

You may find it difficult but you must call them.  Personally, I'd say an "unconditional job offer" is what it says on the tin - unconditional.  You ought to start on the start date.

Are you moving within the NHS?  If so can you ask your union for advice?  If you are not moving from the NHS but are a member of a public sector union (like Unison) I'd still ask their advice.

(You have to tell yourself - and believe it! - that if they are going to delay your start date, it's better to know now than later!)

NB - Others will know better than me but I wonder if delaying you because you are shielding could amount to discrimination?  Is your athsma so bad as to amount to a disability?

wilfred30

Manxman_in_exile said:

rachelmc_4 said:

Yes it does fall under the new category of sheilding unfortunately. I’ve had to shield each abs every time despite pleading to be removed from the list. The issue I will have is if they postpone my start date, I’ll have not job. I daren’t call HR as I’m a wimp and too scared of what they will say 

NB - Others will know better than me but I wonder if delaying you because you are shielding could amount to discrimination?  Is your athsma so bad as to amount to a disability?

I would have thought that the employer (NHS) could argue that they are fulfilling their 'duty of care' to an employee by not asking them to go to work in a patient-facing role whilst shielding but, rather, to wait until it is safe for them to do so.

I do of course realise that the OP's issue is around not being paid for an indeterminate length of time whilst shielding.

Manxman_in_exile

wilfred30 said:

Manxman_in_exile said:

rachelmc_4 said:

Yes it does fall under the new category of sheilding unfortunately. I’ve had to shield each abs every time despite pleading to be removed from the list. The issue I will have is if they postpone my start date, I’ll have not job. I daren’t call HR as I’m a wimp and too scared of what they will say 

NB - Others will know better than me but I wonder if delaying you because you are shielding could amount to discrimination?  Is your athsma so bad as to amount to a disability?

I would have thought that the employer (NHS) could argue that they are fulfilling their 'duty of care' to an employee by not asking them to go to work in a patient-facing role whilst shielding but, rather, to wait until it is safe for them to do so.

I do of course realise that the OP's issue is around not being paid for an indeterminate length of time whilst shielding.

Well they can't be fulfilling their duty of care to an employee if that person hasn't started working for them yet, can they?

As a former NHS manager myself, I have no problem with the NHS protecting the OP by not allowing them to physically attend work, but having given the OP an unconditional job offer the NHS should honour that and not try to defer a start date without the OP's agreement.

Regardless, the OP needs to contact the trust's HR dept to find out.

rachelmc_4

Thanks all, I need to suck it up and call and I will, when I pluck up the courage 

rachelmc_4

Manxman_in_exile 

Are you moving within the NHS?  

No I’m moving from the private sector into nhs after a 10 month NHS break (big mistake!) 

If so can you ask your union for advice?  If you are not moving from the NHS but are a member of a public sector union (like Unison) I'd still ask their advice.

I’m with unison but I’m finding it impossible to speak to an actual person to help me