I need support in finding a job and the possibility of supporting myself

Hi Tycek

My name is Linda and I am a Work Support Adviser. I can advise on a person's rights at work if they have been affected by Cancer.

I am sorry to hear about your bladder cancer diagnosis and I hope you are being well supported by your medical team.

When seeking new Employment it can be helpful to have a chat with The National Careers Service as they can advise adults on suitable careers, interviews and sometime training courses if needed.

They can be contacted by webchat, on the phone or face to face. An appointment can be made for the local service on 0800 100 900. The website address is: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

When you are diagnosed with cancer, you are considered to have a disability under the Equality Act 2010 (or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 if you are in Northern Ireland). This means your employer should not discriminate against you because of your cancer. Your employer is also under a duty to make reasonable adjustments to help you at work. This protection is lifelong and does not depend on an active cancer diagnosis.

Disclosure

When applying for a job should I disclose that I am suffering from cancer or have had cancer treatment in the past?
There is no requirement to divulge this information at any stage of the recruitment process, however, it can be an advantage to do so if the employer has a positive policy towards employing people with a disability. Sometimes an employer may offer an applicant a job interview if they say they are disabled and match the criteria expressed in the job profile. The job advert may include the ‘disability confident’ symbol which shows that the employer is committed to employing disabled people and an interview would be guaranteed if the basic conditions for the job are met.
If an employer has no knowledge of an applicant having a disability then the applicant would not have the protection of the Equality Act.

Recruitment agencies can also be helpful if you know the type of work you are interested in: https://www.rec.uk.com/jobseekers

Looking for work – additional help if disabled: https://www.gov.uk/looking-for-work-if-disabled

Searching for courses and training on-line and advice about qualifications and funding can be found on the following website: https://www.gov.uk/career-skills-and-training

An employer should only ask questions about your health before offering you a job for the following reasons:
They are taking positive action in that they wish to avoid any discrimination during the recruitment process. They want to make sure they are recruiting from a range of different groups – such as those with disabilities. They need to identify as to whether any reasonable adjustments are needed to gain access to the interview

They need to establish as to whether the applicant can carry out the essential job duties of the role. For example, an employer has a duty to consider all aspects of health and safety at work. For example, for a driving /forklift job they may need to ask about health and medications. There may be occasions where an applicant may simply be unable to complete the job duties – for example, heavy lifting. However, the employer should also be mindful of whether it would be possible for the applicant to carry out the job if they had reasonable adjustments to complete the tasks.

Job application/CV

There is no requirement for an applicant to declare that they have previously been unable to work due to having cancer treatment. If an employer spots a gap, the applicant can say ‘I have been off work for treatment but am now recovered and able to return to work’.

Post recruitment

If an employer does not offer or withdraws the offer of a job, then it must be for reasons that are non-discriminatory.

I hope this information has been useful. I wish you all the very best in your new job search.

Kind Regards
Linda
Work Support Advisor

Remember you can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or by email