[access-uk] Re: Access to support
- From: "Jillian Grant" <jillian.grant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 7 May 2005 05:02:25 +0100
Andy.
I don't work, so I can't really help you at all. One thing though. In the
Northeast of england, we have an organisation called disability North. So I
was wondering whether there is such a thing in scotland. so when doing a
quick sneak-a-peak on the web for you I found this small bit of info.
Disability Scotland
SSC
Sensory Information Service
Disability Scotland
ADDRESS: Disability Scotland, Princes House, 5 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh,
EH2 4RG
TELEPHONE: 0131 229 8632
FAX: 0131 229 5168
TEXTPHONE: 0131 229 8632
EMAIL: enquiries@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
DETAILS: National representation of the disability equality movement in
Scotland. Services include enquiry service; open 9.00 -13.00 weekdays,
information
directories on a range of relevant topics; DS Data on CD-ROM for
professionals and an accessible Internet site with news and articles.
Last Changed - 28/12/03
[SIS Main Index]
[SSC Home Page]
© Scottish Sensory Centre 2005
0131 651 6070
-----
I know disability North have people who can help with the DDA and other
things. I used them when starting my fight to get direct payments. sorry
if this isn't any help, but it's all I know.
Keep us informed.
Jill.
Original Message -----
From: Andy <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Access-Uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 3:05 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Access to support
> Hi all.
>
> I'll try and not make this too lengthy a message but I really need help
from
> you guys!
>
> On 28 January I was interviewed by a Scottish Local Authority for the post
> of Community Care Social Worker. Some on the list wished me all the best.
>
> The same day, I was offered the post and subsequently, received a contract
> within a few days for the post of Community Care Social Worker.
>
> My problems started when my prospective line manager turned out to be more
> interested in me undertaking a different job than that interviewed for and
> that contracted to do.
>
> Since January, I have had numerous meetings with Access to work, an agency
> who will provide support for my Personal Assistant, and meetings with my
new
> employer..
>
> Unfortunately, Access to work could not commence application until I had a
> start date from my new employer, and unfortunately, my new employer could
> not provide a start date until my Disclosure Scotland had come through.
In
> addition, my Guide Dog, Nairn, became lame during this time. However,
> although these things take time, I do feel that my employer has been
kicking
> the ball into the long grass, so to speak and that they are no longer
> interested in employing me for the job I am contracted to do.
>
> Since January, I have had three start dates and all have been rolled back
> for reasons such as you cannot start without your guide dog, you cannot
> start without your personal assistance and you cannot start because your
> I.to equipment has not yet been set up.
>
> Some may recall that my Health and Safety Assessment recommended that I be
> located on the ground floor as a blind person may place able bodied people
> at risk, in the stairwell, during a fire emergency. As a consequence, the
> Whole Community Care Team was move from the first to the ground floor.
>
> My prospective line manager had suggested that rather than undertake the
> job I was interviewed for, the job I was offered and the job I was
> contracted to undertake, that I undertake a Duty Social Workers post. As
I
> was only awarded 24 hours a week funding for my Personal Assistant, I felt
> that I could not possibly undertake this job without a full-time Personal
> Assistant.
>
> I declined the offer a month or so ago and subsequently fell out with my
> line manager. Since then, I've been fighting my corner. The
discrimination
> I am experiencing is killing me and I don't have the knowledge or skill to
> hold them back. This is really getting me down folks.
>
> On Wednesday of this week, I became very upset and walked out during a
> meeting. I was so thrust that knowone understood my needs and no one was
> interested in my views.
>
> I telephoned Access to Work this morning who advised that they were only
> concerned with assessing my needs and any difficulties I was having with
my
> new employer was nothing to do with them.
>
> I telephoned my employer and spoke to the Area manager who advised that I
> presented as very aggressive during my interview and that caused him
concern
> as I would be expected to work with service users.
>
> I explained that I walked out because I was very upset adding that I was
> trying to be assertive not aggressive but I was indeed very upset. And
that
> I was attempting to challenge negative attitudes regarding blind peoples
> capacity to hold down a job.
>
> I now feel that I cannot possibly work with a line manager who has
actively
> discriminated against me for four months and I suspect that the letter
which
> is coming to me is withdrawing my offer of a job. However, I do have a
> contract. of employment.
>
> My wife is a nurse and on low income and I am on Income Support. I really
> need help but cannot assess legal Aid as a consequence of my wife's
income.
> and I really feel that I need to hammer through to this authority that
they
> cannot treat disabled people like this. I'd like to sue the Local
Authority
> through the DDA but don't have the funds or the knowledge to do this. I'm
> considering writing to Action for Blind People to see if they could help
but
> I thought I'd sound the list out first.
>
> I have had 13 interviews over the last four years for a job and I'm a
> qualified social worker. I only happen to be blind. All of the
interviews,
> apart from my ;last one in January, proved negative. The newspapers say
> that Local Authorities are crying out for qualified social workers so why
am
> I not working. I firmly believe that it is because I am a blind person.
DO
> YOU KNOW OF ANY SOCIAL WORKER WHO HAS HAD 13 INTERVIEWS AND IS STILL
> UNEMPLOYED.. I bet you don't.
>
> My question at last folks, is what do I do now?
>
> I'm really losing it folks and feeling very depressed, alone and
> unsupported.
>
> Any advice would be very appreciated as I'm at my wits end.
>
> Andy.
>
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