My name is Karolina, I am 34, recently diagnosed with RRMS. I am very fit, train 5-6 days a week, eat very healthy, don’t smoke and rarely have a drink, I am feeling great at the moment.
I recently applied for police constable position with the Metropolitan Police and pass the first stage. Soon I will go through proper health assessment and would like to know how MS can affect my application. I was advised by someone to hide my condition but after reading preparation documents I received from the Met, I’ve realised this won’t be possible.
I would like to know how much I would have to talk about my condition? Is there anything I should avoid or I have to be completely honest about it? Can they reject me just because I have MS? Do I have different rights if I get the job?
In their “Fit for the job” guide, MS is not mentioned alongside epilepsy, asthma or diabetes as conditions that will require individual assessment but I am still concerned as this is the first time I am applying for work after my diagnosis.
I would like to hear your opinions. Would be grateful.
Hi Karolina,I’m not sure how or if it would affect your application,but from my experience i think you should be straight up with them from day 1…great to hear of your fitness and well being,but (just) incase your condition does get slightly worse in the future,you’ll be covered and hopefully still remain in the force even if it be at a lower capacity…!
if you don’t disclose your condition ,they could quite easily remove you for not disclosing the info…
also they’d have to know if only for insurance purposes,especially if driving a police car…!
when i was dx the first thing i was told was I MUST inform DVLA (and your new employers have a close relationship with these bad boys lol)
I hope it goes well for you,but due to the severity of your new career i don’t think you have much choice but to be upfront with them…(IF) you do get worse then they have a duty of care they must adhere to as your employer,but sure that’d all be void if they found out they was lied too…
i know,bloody cruel this Ms lark aye,it cost me my livelihood but hopefully it shouldn’t you…!
I’ve got PPMS, but first knew something was seriously wrong 12 years ago when I tried doing the bleep test (timed shuttle runs) at the gym with some folk who preparing for police entrance test. I failed miserably, having always been great at it (used to be a PE teacher), and the others only just made it. So long as you can do the bleep test you ‘should’ be fine. I would imagine. Just don’t say anything unless specifically asked; be thankful you have RR rather than PP ms!
Like Fletch I would advise you to be completely upfront from the start - lies and omissions always come back to bite you. I presume you have informed the DVLA because otherwise any driving you do will be illegal.
“I would like to know how much I would have to talk about my condition? Is there anything I should avoid or I have to be completely honest about it? Can they reject me just because I have MS? Do I have different rights if I get the job?”
I didn’t ask for advise on how to hide my condition. This is the first time I am applying for work after my diagnosis in May, so there’s still many things I don’t know about.
I was diagnosed in May so just a couple of months ago, I think I am still in denial just because I am in my fittest point at the moment and have no symptoms for over a year now. I do not want to be treated differently to other candidates but I understand that my condition can get worse at some point and can affect my work in the future. I just didn’t know how much I have to disclose if they ask me about it.
Thank you for your advise, much appreciated. I hope you’re well!
My diagnosis was a bombshell as I only had one relapse and since then I am totally fine. I didn’t know much about the condition but when I started to read about it, I’ve realised how lucky I am. I’m sorry this happened to you and I hope you managed to adjust to your new routine.
Beep test is super easy for me specially that I only need to reach level 5.4, I train everyday, do a lot of HIIT and Cross Fit so hopefully will feel ok on the day.
Thanks for reaching out and good luck with your journey, Karol
Karolina, I was referring to the previous post advising you not to say anything unless you’re asked. I wasn’t suggesting you were trying to hide your condition. Best of luck with everything.
Hi Karolina, oh it is such a blow that you have this condition. But there are people who never suffer badly with it.
But there is no way of predicting which way it will go for you.
I dont know how much you will have to talk about your condition. Nor do I know what you will be asked. I am sure there will be laws about discrimination in a work environment.
Does google help in this I wonder. I`ll have a google myself.
Meanwhile, I wish you all the best for your chosen career.
Hi, me again. Just had a google for you and feel it is looking quite positive. I googled Joining the Police Force and Illness.
The info read well and if you havent already seen it, have a look.
It said your application would not be automatically declined due to the DDA. It also said there would be a lot of the work you would be capable of carrying out.
I didnt read much further into it, so didnt see if there is an indication of the sort of questions you would be asked.
Let us know how you go on yeh? I am interested in your story.
I had to retire on ill health back in 2000 aged 48. But I did have a great working life, which has left me with good memories.
Good luck and I look forward to reading more from you.
As you have MS regardless of how fit you are you have the protected characteristic of “disability” and are afforded protection from discrimination under Equality act. I believe this would apply equally in being denied a job because of Ms as it would if an employer was trying to dismiss you? Whether the Police Army etc have a special get out i don’t know? worth discussing with Equality commission who have a helpline you can call Home Page | Equality and Human Rights Commission
Hi Karolina I used to be in a job of safety with the public. I was informed I had to tell them. It was the law. Without it I had no back up, insurance etc. Google it? At the time, all military and Police had to inform their employers. I did tell them. They were ok about it. You are now covered by the Disability Discrimination Act so google that too. Keep up with your fitness as that will help you. Good luck and keep in touch with how it goes. Anne
Sorry for late reply, I had to focus on backup plan. Due to Covid, Met just postponed their recruitment, they won’t be taking new officers until the rest of 2020. Apparently they are working with the Collage of Policing to explore ways to run their assessment centres, including virtually. That means I will have to wait for my assessment centre date, it will also mean that if I am successful I won’t be joining until 2021.
I am pretty much addicted to fitness, I train 5 times a weeks for 2-2.5 hours daily (specially now when I have so much free time), it keeps me mentally sane too
I will share an update about my progress soon, for now their recruitment process is on hold. I passed the first stage as it was was online but their one day assessment centre was postponed until further notice. ‘Uncle’ Covid did it again ;\
Hello Karolina, sorry to hear hear about your diagnosis. The good news is that this doesn’t automatically mean your application will be rejected. It is a condition which will need further investigation. They will have you medical records as part of the application process and will write to your doctor about your MS so your only option is to be open and honest from the start. I am a Police officer and got diagnosed with MS in March. It mainly affects my left leg and I trip up a lot which amuses my colleagues no end. I’m a response officer and I’m on full duties except no driving on blues and no lone working. I have told my colleagues how my MS affects me because it wouldn’t be right if they gallop off after someone for them to find themselves alone with said person should they catch up to them with me ten minutes behind dragging my foot along the floor. The question the job, and you, will want to know is whether or not your condition will put you or others in danger. It is too late to find that your MS affects you more than you thought it would when you are on the ground wrestling with someone much stronger than you who is hell bent on assaulting you - trust me on that one. That said, I wish you all the luck in the world with your application and feel free to message me if there is anything I can help you with.
