work - Disability

Cam120

Hi all, i'm struggling to find an answer to my question, so I just thought I would try asking you kind people.

So basically, I have recently become disabled. Briefly explaining, this is ataxia - a neurological condition characterized by loss of fine motor control - and as such I struggle with walking (day to day, i use a wheelchair) and my voice sounds slurred.

I however, was a nurse within the NHS - SPFT. Before I became disabled and so have lots of skill. I am looking to get back into work but I don't really know how that would work. I don't know how far I can push the equality act, to work for me?

As an example, working on an inpatient ward could be unsafe for me, but could I request a support worker to escort me on wards. For example.

Are there any examples of other disabled nurses? (I was mental health)

Does the NHS have a department that could help?

Mary_Scope

Hi @Cam120

So sorry you didn't recieve a reply sooner, it must have got lost in the community.

How have things been? Have you been able to find support?

There is access to work which gives disabled people support for them to be able to stay in employment, a support worker may fall under this.

noonebelieves

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/128400/work-disability

@Cam120
Hi,
I’m really sorry to hear about your situation, and I truly empathise with you. I’m also a disabled NHS employee (currently on long-term sickness absence), though I work as a Registered AHP.
Depending on where you live, it might be worth reaching out to the recruitment or HR teams of your local NHS trusts to see if they run any specific schemes to support disabled staff. Your nursing skills, knowledge, and lived experience would undoubtedly be a valuable asset to any organisation.
I’m based in the West Midlands, where there’s a scheme called Thrive Into Work—it may be worth looking into if you’re nearby or have a West Midlands GP. Additionally, I know of an NHS scheme called WorkWell Employment Scheme, but this is specifically for those living in the Black Country or Staffordshire area.
As @Rosie_Scope mentioned, you may also want to explore DWP Access to Work self-referral scheme, which provides workplace adjustments like specialist equipment, support workers, and workstation adaptations (subject to employer consent). I’ve personally benefited from this service-they provided me with ergonomic furniture, a specialist laptop for my visual issues, a standing desk, and Dragon voice activation software and many other equipment.However, I’ve heard that waiting times can be quite long at the moment.
I’m not an expert, but I’ve either accessed these services myself or contacted them for information. Hopefully, someone from the Scope community with more expertise can offer further guidance.
Wishing you all the best.