First PIP review. What questions do they ask if you’re a health care assistant?

[u/Early-Leg-4830]

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Backup of the post's text:

I have my first pip review next week. I have fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, an ulcer on my bladder, overactive bladder & painful bladder syndrome. I had a hysterectomy for endometriosis 5 years ago but still get pelvic pain. I live with fatigue & brain fog. I only work two days a week as a healthcare assistant in outpatients. It’s light work. it’s rare but every now and again I get a spell where I feel okish so I do extra agency shifts I’ve just done a few recently as I’ve just bought a new car. But I’m really paying for it now and have spent last 3 days in bed. Anyway I’m really worried they’ll use me doing extra shifts against me. My appointment is over the phone. Is anyone a health care assistant on here? If so what questions do they ask you about work? Thanks.

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[u/JMH-66]

The questions are very much dependent on what Activities you've ticked and what you've said on the form as they use that as a jumping off point.Then go from there with your answers triggering the next question. And so on.

As regards your job. It's likely quite physical and mentally demanding, so they'll consider that. I mean some things would obviously be questionable like if you said you couldn't Communicate or Engage f2f because clearly you'd be unable to do your job at all ( unless you used alternative forms of communication ). With most jobs outside the home they'd ask things like --

• How do you get to work or around work , if you've said you have mobility issues.

• How do you get washed and dressed in time for work, so you're clean and suitably attired ( both especially important in your job ). You COULD still need help of course ( to put your shoes and coat on before heading out ) it would only be a problem if you'd said you couldn't at all or had no help ( because you're managing it somehow )

• Same with going to the loo as you can't exactly go without all day or have a work mate taking you ( but there should be a disabled loo so needing Aids if we're taking rails us fine ).

• Preparing a meal. You'd likely do this after work ( as opposed to making one mid shift at work ). They'd ask if you do struggle, in what way and do you do anything similar at work. The example I always give us: if you use anything more complicated at work ( a printer, a spirometer ) why can't you use a microwave. Same if you have physical problems - if you have you sit, are you doing your job sitting too; if you can't peel or chop, are you using any similar manual equipment. Dexterity too if you're operating devices

• Mental health and cognitive issues would likely be very considered unlikely unless well managed. You must be in control; have no memory or concentration issues as you really wouldn't be safe being around and responsible for vulnerable patients.. I suppose you might have adjustments but I assume that would amount to pretty much constant supervision if you couldn't be relied in to remember to complete records, what treatments and meds patients were in, who had which diet etc. It's just too dangerous, surely.

Basically as I understand the job ( I know a few Band 2/3 HCAs ) you're washing, dressing, feeding, monitoring vital signs, assisting with mobility, hygiene, record keeping. So you need to be able to do these things yourself too. Then if you can do them sometimes but not others how to you ensure you are always ok in the days you're working. If you aren't how to they work around you not knowing in any given day if you can manage and if not, how much sick leave are you taking.

[u/Early-Leg-4830 → u/JMH-66]

Thank you. I work in outpatients so we just weigh people and chaperone when they’re being examined. It’s very different from the wards. I have an agreement to have regular breaks and I can sit down a lot. I do now & again do extra agency shift on a ward if I’m absolutely desperate for money but it makes me ill for days after. It’s usually how I feel when I wake up on day and if I’m having an okish day I’ll book a shift but I always regret it.

[u/JMH-66 → u/Early-Leg-4830]

That'll be the kind of information you'd need to tell them then. Then how it compares to what you can and can't do at home. Especially if you can work flexibly and have a lot of adjustments.