Prison officer

[Turner90]

Hi, I have recently applied to become a prison officer and I have my RAD day on Monday. Does anyone know if you can be a prison officer with type 1 diabetes? I don't want to get my hopes up for them to turn around and say sorry you can't because your diabetic.

Thanks
Lee

 

[mytype1.life]

Hi. I applied for a prison officer role a few years ago. Passed the bleep test and knowledge tests. Didn’t get the job - they did ask quite a few questions in the medical part related to diabetes but I’d hope that’s not the reason I didn’t get it as could be seen as discriminatory if controlled. Best of luck

 

[claire1991]

I believe this is one job we can not do
It may be down to the prisons discretion though so it’ll still be worth continuing just in case they allow you to do it, just make sure you do tell them.
I guess if an emergency were to happen and you were hypo it could be dangerous.

Good luck, I hope I’m wrong.

 

[claire1991]

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/employment

Just found this so I might be wrong!
Hope it helps x

 

[Lynz84]

Hi Turner90. I believe you need a letter from your doc to say youre well controlled. Unfortunately its likely the condition will be an issue. I applied a few years back and it was a factor. Their reasoning quite rightly being if, for example, there was a riot you may not get to your medication.
Really hope you get through and be a great example of proving how diabetes wont stop us! Good luck xx

 

[Turner90]

Hi thanks for your help. Will just have to wait and see how it goes. I am on the omnipod pump so wireless pump. Fingers crossed

 

[TheBigNewt]

I'm betting no. You can't be in the military. I bet they use the same reasoning. I bet you can't be a cop either but I don't know that.

 

[Jaylee]

There are a lot of different roles inside a Prison. Worked as an Admin Officer myself for 12 years. Never came across any staff with type 1 diabetes, but then again I never asked. I would keep trying for an Officers job, but if you are turned down asked them about other roles in the service.

ACTUALLY on second thoughts you will probably be refused if you are injecting insulin as you would not be allowed to take your kit behind the walls. Sorry to put a mocker on you.

Lol, oddly enough. I used to work for secure document destruction company. Shredding onsite.
One of our jobs was a "purge" in a women's prison.. On the gate my colleague & I had to submit our phones, to be reclaimed on exit. We were escorted to a compound holding the paperwork in an outbuilding, which was inside another fenced off compound area...
Probably one of the most uncomfortable experiences I ever had.. It was like working in a shark cage.!
Strangely, on sign in. I was never asked if I carried any needles...

 

[Jaylee]

Is there any type 1 diabetic prison officers on here? I have my RAD day on Monday and was curious to see if you can join prison service with type 1 diabetes? I can't find a definite answer anywhere.

Regards
Lee

Hi Lee,

You appear to have two threads on this subject.
Duel threads can often cause confusion for posters. Would you like me to merge the threads?
It may help with productivity regarding your enquiry...!

 

[Turner90]

Yes please

 

[Jaylee]

Yes please

Job done! Thanks.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi Jaylee It should have been on the signs by the entrance. The list of things to remember was huge. We used to be subject to regular full searches and "dog sniffing" searches. Once forgot that I had some garden string in my coat pocket and had to stand in security for a telling off about checking my pockets. I think you are brave going into a woman's prison, in my 12 years I never went near one, think maximum security would have been nicer.

Lol, I was too busy with my "professional head" on at the time, to even think about the "contraband." I may have been inadvertently carrying..

Brave?! We were subject to some "outbursts" that could be deemed as harassment in the workplace..

 

[himtoo]

Hi thanks for your help. Will just have to wait and see how it goes. I am on the omnipod pump so wireless pump. Fingers crossed

on an omnipod here too !!!!!
i really wish you the best of luck in this and well.....everything

carry the flag !!!!

 

[KK123]

I'm betting no. You can't be in the military. I bet they use the same reasoning. I bet you can't be a cop either but I don't know that.

Hi Bignewt, not true, I am one!!!

 

[Mike d]

I'm betting no. You can't be in the military. I bet they use the same reasoning. I bet you can't be a cop either but I don't know that.

You do now. Simply dead wrong. My wife's brother is a senior T1 cop in California

 

[porl69]

Hi thanks for your help. Will just have to wait and see how it goes. I am on the omnipod pump so wireless pump. Fingers crossed

With an omnipod I highly doubt it. If it did "kick off" inside and your pump started screaming you may not be able to get to your supplies to change it. Pump could get knocked off if you had to restrain anyone.

 

[Turner90]

Hi Bignewt, not true, I am one!!!

So you are a prison officer with type one diabetes? This gives me some hope then. Thanks for this.

 

[ringi]

Some of these organizations don't employ anyone with Type1 but will try to keep any employees who get Type1 at a later date. For example, the military has roles that are not combat based but needs people with combat experience.

 

[phoenix]

The last respondant on this post seems to have had type 1 since infancy but is working as a prison officer.
https://prisonofficer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4769
Here is another T1, don't know when diagnosed
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-cross
Since 2004 disability acts have applied to the uniformed civilian services
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3850051.stm
Lastly https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/employment

But whatever the legal position, if you don't have good control it wouldn't be a good job to have. If your control over T1 wasn't excellent and meant you couldn't function efficiently then it would not be good for you or your colleagues.

 

[Bluey1]

Hi, I have recently applied to become a prison officer and I have my RAD day on Monday. Does anyone know if you can be a prison officer with type 1 diabetes? I don't want to get my hopes up for them to turn around and say sorry you can't because your diabetic.

Thanks
Lee

How did things go?