Where can I find offiical legeslation on jobs that I can't do? *Could be triggering for most things*

Ranger Fairy · 09-05-2009, 05:02 PM

I'm nearly 20 and been off sick for all my working life due to mental illness. I've been on section 2 once and section 3 10 times twice when I was over the age of 18. I've been in a BPD inpatient ward for 10 months. I have a history of serious SH. I have a dignois of BPD and Bipolar which doesnt always reponsed to meds. I also have a history of phycois. I am still unwell at points but I'm hoping this will improve alot over say 2-4 years, but I'm worried it won't be enough.

I've always wanted to work in health care but I'm worried because this it will never be possible. And also want to know what other jobs I'm unable to do.

I don't know where to find offical legislation that can tell me striaght, if the sections will effect it? And my as the meds still fail very occassionly will it mean I'll never be able to work in the public sector? Also uniform cud be a big issue as my arms are very serverely scared to point that people will always clealy be able to see what caused them.

I don't want to talk to someone on phone and I've looked on CAB website and health care websites but it's really not clear at all. I also tried e-mailing 'fitness to practice' no reply.

Can any help or suggest where I can look without having to phone or see someone.

xxx

startingagain · 09-05-2009, 07:22 PM

http://www.channel4.com/health/micro...mployment.html

Hope this helps x

whirlpools · 09-05-2009, 08:14 PM

are you sure you won't ever be able to work in healthcare? you're still so young, i would imagine that when things do finally settle, even if it's not for a long time, you could pursue this avenue eventually. xxx

bitomato · 19-12-2009, 04:08 PM

Sorry if this is what you guys call raising a zombie thread because I didn't want to start a new thread.

Most health care programmes require that you submit a medical which is reviewed by a occupational health officer. Depending on your location- e.g. the UK/ US you look at the specific professional Standards of Conduct, proficiency.

Students and practitioners are usually held to similar standards on placements and in work places. But as a student you get the opportunity to balance academics with work and depending on the programme they may allow for leaves of absense if you become unstable during the course or on placement.

My experience hasn't always been positive just because like you I have bipolar and faced discrimination on many levels. Because I met some people with mental diagnoses working in the profession and really making a difference and spoke to advocacy groups about my rights, I felt more confident to ride out the negative.

I am in a better position than my colleagues in alot of ways because of the insight I have into my disability and the disability/ service user and return to work movements. I also work alot harder when I am well because I try to overcompensate. I fought to graduate because ignorant doctors, nurses and health care professionals didn't think someone with bipolar should work in healthcare. I fought to work because I have accomplished more as a health care professional than "normal" colleagues would accomplish in a lifetime.

Being sectioned in the past, or even as a student does not mean you cannot work as a health care professional.

Volunteering is a great way to get exposed to the work and by chosing different populations- children, elderly.......disabled, homeless- you can also get some idea of which group you want to work with.

It took several years for me to find the right meds and you may need to give yourself time to stablise to the point where your GP or psychiatrist can write a medical report saying you are stable enough to start a course of study.

Contact a local charity for your disability and get info from them re: literature on persons with your diagnosis who work in health care. Maybe you can get to talk to someone who has succeeded. I know I would have given up as a student if I didn't.

I think that I am a really good health care professional- I am not well right now and have resigned before I get too sick- it was embarrassing hard and frustrating- but my job wants me back if I get better. The proof is in the pudding. I feel like bragging to the doctors and lecturers who said someone like me couldn't make it. I feel like bragging even when I am sick. Because I have seen people without mental diagnoses do more crap to patients because they won't admit that they don't know everything and that they are maybe not mentally well because they are overworked.

Sorry rambling now- but the info is out there- don't give up. Pm me if you need specific info and I can try to source it for you.