Just a quick question in relation to the legalality surrounding questions at interviews.
I am a serving Police officer, diagnosed in Oct 04 and started off on gliclazide, metformin pioglitazone etc, however my specialist moved me onto injecting NOVORAPID and LANTUS in June 07. Since then all of my HbA1c has been under 7, the last one was 6.7, which I, my GP & hospital consultant and force occupational health doctor are happy with.
I will be applying for an internal vacancy to join the Roads Policing Unit which will involve passing an advanced driving course and becoming an authorised firearms officer. My force occ health doctor can see no reasons why I shouldn't be considered for the driving aspect but a "NO" to the firearms. This was the case this time last year when I applied for vacancies then and I asked under the DDA for a reasonable adjustment to be made to the working conditions in that I join the RPU without the firearms qualification. This was because there are numerous officers who are currently serving on this unit without firearms and some who have held this qualification but have withdrawn from firearms duties, (you cannot be made/forced to hold such a qualification once you have it, you can withdraw at any time after 12 months). The only requirement for the firearms is because of the need to staff an ARV, (Armed Response Vehicle).
I didn't get in last time because I didn't score well enough at interview, and with hindsight realise that it was because 2 of the questions related purely to the management of a firearms incident, which, because I was aware I would not be serving as a firearms officer, I did very little research for, hence a poor score.
I've been speaking to someone who says that it's illegal (under the DDA and employment legislation) to ask questions at interview about a particular role, if the interviewee is not able to fulfill that obligation due to a medical condition.
The advert for RPU (with firearms element) will be getting advertised again within the next couple of weeks, and I was aksed if I would be re-applying because the relevant requests for a reasonable adjustment would need to be addressed as soon as possible and passed up to the Chief or deputy for approval.
My question is in relation to the interviews, it will be the same format as before, approx 8 questions of which 2 are always diversity related, 2 are about the individual and the role, 2 are about the management of serious & fatal accidents (and/or other roads related matters) and 2 are about the management of firearms incidents.
If it has already been decided that I CANNOT AND NEVER WILL BE ALLOWED to serve as an authorised firearms officer (AFO), AND they have already decided to grant my request for a reasonable adjustment in that I can join the unit without being an AFO, can they then ask me questions about a firearms role.
I have been advised that if they do this then they could be in breach of the DDA. I have also been advised that under such circumstances my employer is obligated to change those 2 questions to 2 which are more appropiate and applicable to me.
Whilst I may have good understanding of the law, this on relates to what I do as a PC, this DDA and employment stuff has me a bit confused.
Apologies for the length of this post, if you're still awake and not fallen asleep half way through I'd appreciate any help you can give.
Graeme.
I am a serving Police officer, diagnosed in Oct 04 and started off on gliclazide, metformin pioglitazone etc, however my specialist moved me onto injecting NOVORAPID and LANTUS in June 07. Since then all of my HbA1c has been under 7, the last one was 6.7, which I, my GP & hospital consultant and force occupational health doctor are happy with.
I will be applying for an internal vacancy to join the Roads Policing Unit which will involve passing an advanced driving course and becoming an authorised firearms officer. My force occ health doctor can see no reasons why I shouldn't be considered for the driving aspect but a "NO" to the firearms. This was the case this time last year when I applied for vacancies then and I asked under the DDA for a reasonable adjustment to be made to the working conditions in that I join the RPU without the firearms qualification. This was because there are numerous officers who are currently serving on this unit without firearms and some who have held this qualification but have withdrawn from firearms duties, (you cannot be made/forced to hold such a qualification once you have it, you can withdraw at any time after 12 months). The only requirement for the firearms is because of the need to staff an ARV, (Armed Response Vehicle).
I didn't get in last time because I didn't score well enough at interview, and with hindsight realise that it was because 2 of the questions related purely to the management of a firearms incident, which, because I was aware I would not be serving as a firearms officer, I did very little research for, hence a poor score.
I've been speaking to someone who says that it's illegal (under the DDA and employment legislation) to ask questions at interview about a particular role, if the interviewee is not able to fulfill that obligation due to a medical condition.
The advert for RPU (with firearms element) will be getting advertised again within the next couple of weeks, and I was aksed if I would be re-applying because the relevant requests for a reasonable adjustment would need to be addressed as soon as possible and passed up to the Chief or deputy for approval.
My question is in relation to the interviews, it will be the same format as before, approx 8 questions of which 2 are always diversity related, 2 are about the individual and the role, 2 are about the management of serious & fatal accidents (and/or other roads related matters) and 2 are about the management of firearms incidents.
If it has already been decided that I CANNOT AND NEVER WILL BE ALLOWED to serve as an authorised firearms officer (AFO), AND they have already decided to grant my request for a reasonable adjustment in that I can join the unit without being an AFO, can they then ask me questions about a firearms role.
I have been advised that if they do this then they could be in breach of the DDA. I have also been advised that under such circumstances my employer is obligated to change those 2 questions to 2 which are more appropiate and applicable to me.
Whilst I may have good understanding of the law, this on relates to what I do as a PC, this DDA and employment stuff has me a bit confused.
Apologies for the length of this post, if you're still awake and not fallen asleep half way through I'd appreciate any help you can give.
Graeme.
