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A mandatory training course for a new job requires physical contact - but I have sensory difficulties. Help!

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Hi everyone!

 

After 7 months of waiting to start my new job (long story - bad GP not recognising my AS diagnosis), I am finally having my induction week.

 

I have several things that I would like to ask for people's thoughts on, but one in particular that is causing some issues. Basically, I am working for a Mental Health hospital. Up until now, I have always been told that my role was based in an administration building and would not involve any contact or interaction with patients in the wards. Because of sensory difficulties I have with physical contact, I did not actively take part in the "breakaway" training (which involves practically demonstratiing your ability to escape from holds, grabs etc). The instructors and the person running the induction were fine with this because, as mentioned, to the best of all our knowledge I will not be in a situation where these skills would be required.

 

Now, the problem is that it has since been stated by my line manager that I will in fact be classed as "clinical staff" and will therefore need to be present in patient wards on a regular basis and that, because of this, it is mandatory for me to participate in the training. Of course, this will cause me difficulties because, unless under very specific circumstances, I cannot tolerate touching or being touched by people (whether that be light touch or firmer touch), particularly if I do not know them. Therefore, the two issues appear to be mutually exclusive - I cannot complete the training because I cannot tolerate being touched, but I cannot perform my role without completing the training.

 

Does anyone have any ideas on how we might be able to resolve this issue? I did observe the training and the techniques used, but apparently it cannot be listed that I have "undertaken" the course unless I physically engaged and demonstrated the techniques on another person. I would just like to point out as well that my employers were aware that I had sensory issues surrounding physical contact prior to offering me the job! I do have a life partner, who also acts as my carer, and through a lot of experience, discussions and trial and error we have managed to overcome some of the problems with physical contact under very controlled (and brief) circumstances; unfortunately, it would not really be practical for them to act as an "intermediary" in this matter as they have their own job. We need to resolve this as I am due to start my job "proper" on Monday but can't until I have completed this training. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

In addition, I was not contacted prior to this induction week to be informed what would be involved and to discuss any potential problems/adjustments that may be required for this introduction to the job- that's why this issue hasn't been able to be dealt with until now (among several other issues that could have been prevented had we known in advance what exactly would be involved this week). I feel that this is down to a general lack of awareness of the sort of issues that an ASD can cause rather than any deliberate exclusion (which might sound strange in a Mental Hospital that has dedicated Autism and Asperger's units), and I have noticed that there is no "autism awareness"-style training provided to staff. Would this sort of thing perhaps be covered in the Autism Act?

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I would really like some comments on this! No matter how silly you might think your idea is, it could help :-)

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Really don't know -

 

This would come down to 'health & safety' I would guess? Really, the place to start I would think would be with the job description/C of E/ staff handbook you were given. If it says in there that the position is 'clinical staff' or that there was some crossover etc then I'm not sure what you can do, unless you have it in writing somewhere that you would not be expected to undertake such work or that you were exempt from the training for it. That may seem hard, but in reality your reactions in difficult situations could lead to harm to you, to others or to the patient themselves and liability for that if you are not appropriately trained etc would be with the employer. Frustrating if it's only just been realised - by you and/or the employer - but maybe they were just unaware of the full extent or implications of your phobia.

If you do have a job description and it defintely states that you would not have to be working directly with patients etc then the employer shouldn't be able to move the goalposts on you, but the difficulty is if you haven't finished your induction/properly started yet then it's probably a moot point. Also, many C of E's these days tend to be quite 'open' in their job descriptions saying things like 'other reasonable duties' - the point there being whose interpretation of 'reasonable'?

H&S/Risk Assessments etc are a real problem these days, because we live in a world of ambulance chasing no-win-no-fee paralegal parasites. One successful 'case' against an employer could be enough to wipe them off the board, so it's understandable that they have to be quite rigid about stuff like training and H&S protocols.

 

Hope that's helpful

 

L&P

 

BD :D

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Hi

 

When it comes down to the training aspect, is it possible that you could be present as an observer without actually having to participate? I realise that by being present may suggest you will have to participate at some point, but nevertheless for health and safety issues you will at least be informed even if you don't actually have to put them into place yourself. Is there a union rep that you could speak to for advice?

 

Caroline.

Edited by cmuir

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If I read your post right I think you have observed the training?

 

I guess the problem is that if they want you to have the training there is a possibility (although it may be slim) that you might have to use the techniques. If you aren't able to use them in a controlled training environment with a great deal of preparation then you won't be able to demonstrate your competence and, even if you did, most likely won't be able to use the techniques if a real situation did require them.

 

Therefore, it sounds as though the job isn't suitable.

 

Your only hope is to address the miscommunication issue and see if there is another role which doesn't require this.

 

I'm sorry - it must be very frustrating for you,

 

Carol

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Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for your responses!

 

Luckily, the issue is now resolved. I had a conversation today with one of the instructors who actually runs the Breakaway training. He said that he had been "quite angry" when he had heard that they were trying to force me to participate in the training despite my difficulties, especially as they had previously said that I didn't need to participate. It turns out that while I may be required to very occasionally visit a ward, it will always be escorted, probably for no more than 5 minutes at a time and I would never be in an area that a patient would have access to (in essence, they exagerrated the risks to "scare me" into taking the training without considering my difficulties proerly). Therefore, the training has been determined to be non-mandatory for me and I am most definitenly non-clinical staff. He did seem genuinely annoyed about the whole situation and it turned out eventually that he conducts a large amount of work on one of the Autism wards, so he had a very good knowledge about the various sensory problems that occur.

 

I've been reassured that it won't happen again and I've been told that I am going to get an opportunity to speak to someone in charge of staff training about the possibility of developing/working on an Autism Awareness course for staff.

 

Phew!

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I would really like some comments on this! No matter how silly you might think your idea is, it could help :-)

 

You mention you can cope with stronger holds, could you use them instead to make the touch issue less of a problem?

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The instructor who actually runs the Breakaway training said that he had been "quite angry" when he had heard that they were trying to force me to participate in the training despite my difficulties, especially as they had previously said that I didn't need to participate. It turns out that while I may be required to very occasionally visit a ward, it will always be escorted, probably for no more than 5 minutes at a time and I would never be in an area that a patient would have access to (in essence, they exagerrated the risks to "scare me" into taking the training without considering my difficulties proerly). Therefore, the training has been determined to be non-mandatory for me and I am most definitenly non-clinical staff.
Hello there, relieved to hear this was resolved. I do think it was well out of order to try to "scare" you into taking the training though, as it is after all THEIR duty to make reasonable adjustments to a role taking your condition into account, you had been upfront and honest with them. I can so empathise as I was put in bad situations myself in one particular previous job, and when that ended it had been hard to get another one because I don't do well at interviews, though I've had a good temporary job on a special scheme for a few months now.

 

Anyway, best of luck with the job.

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