STANDARD LICENSE; PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL ASSET FOR FULL LICENSE TERMS.

Getting support

Advice on approaching employers and getting the support you need 

In this employment guide we're highlighting the support available from the Careers and Employment Service, as well as what to consider when making career choices and how to find positive employers. We'll also help you with advice on disclosure, requesting reasonable adjustments and signposting to other support organisations.

The Careers and Employability Service is committed to equal opportunities and all of our services are available to support you.  We can make adjustments if you have additional requirements due to a disability or combination of disabilities. Our Careers Centre has full wheelchair access and an induction loop is available if you have a hearing impairment. The induction loop can be used by turning a hearing aid to the ‘T’ or ‘MT’ position.

 

We can offer confidential and impartial advice and support in the following ways:

  • Individual support with career planning
  • Advice on disclosure of disabilities to employers and education and training providers
  • Advice on requesting reasonable adjustments that you might need in employment and training
  • Information on recent career paths of graduates with disabilities
  • Access to advice and information about specific organisations and details of employers who can provide work and training opportunities for students and graduates with disabilities
  • Links with other University services, for example Additional Support and Disability Advice Centre (ASDAC), Academic Skills (ASK) and the Wellbeing and Counselling service

We encourage you to contact us to discuss how we can best help.

The following information will provide guidance on getting a diagnosis, disclosure, reasonable adjustments and finding support to ensure that you give yourself the best possible chance of success during and after your course.

STANDARD LICENSE; PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL ASSET FOR FULL LICENSE TERMS.

First thoughts - what's a disability or mental health condition?

Under the 2010 Equality Act, disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term negative effect on your ability to perform daily tasks. Long term is classed as a period of 12 months or longer. The UK government website offers further information on the definition of disability.

It is important to consider whether a condition you have is considered a disability. Some people may have a medical condition which does not cause a significant impact on their daily life. Equally, someone with a neurological difference such as autism may not consider this to be a disability. Many people now prefer the term ‘difference’ over disability.

A benefit of determining whether any physical or neurological difference or condition is classed as a disability is understanding if you are entitled to additional support, or reasonable adjustments, from an employer within a work context.

The Mental Health Foundation provides a list containing types of mental health conditions and things that can affect your mental health on their website. A mental health condition is considered a disability if it has a long-term effect on your normal day-to-day activity. Long term is classed as a period of 12 months or longer, as defined under the Equality Act 2010. You can find out more about when a mental health condition becomes a disability on the UK Government website.


You can still get support for your mental health even if you don’t have a diagnosed mental health condition. The Mental Health Foundation provides information on the different types of help available to you if you are struggling with your mental health. Mind UK, a mental health charity, also has lots of information available on their website about the support available to you.

If you think, or have received professional advice, that a medical condition might have some impact on your ability to study or work in certain environments, it will be helpful to assess what effects it might have. For example, this might be difficulty in concentrating for long periods of time, or inability to use building features such as stairs. Understanding the impact of how your condition or difference affects your daily life can help you and potential employers to consider what support might be beneficial to you. 
Mind UK has a helpful resource that provides some advice on how to cope with everyday life with a mental health condition. 

 

For the purpose of this guide and ease of reference, we will refer to mental health conditions as disabilities.

 

What to consider about disclosing a disability or mental health condition

Deciding on how to disclose a disability can be a complex issue. It's natural that you may be concerned about telling an employer about a disability when completing applications, writing a CV or going for interviews. 

If you require any assistance with this, or other matters related to disability, then please contact staff at the Careers and Employability Service.

When applying for any opportunities, preparation is always extremely important. Remember, the provisions of equality legislation can protect people with disabilities.

  • You might qualify for various forms of help such as financial assistance, practical help like a modified computer or perhaps access to expert support such as occupational therapy.

  • Many employers have specific equal opportunities policies. These might include commitments to the Disability Confident scheme. Employers who participate in the scheme have signed up to a specific commitment to support disabled job applicants. 

  • Declaring a disability may help you to explain some aspects of your education and work history on your CV. 

  • It can help you to discuss your disability in a clear and positive manner. Building a good working rapport from the outset can help a recruiter to prepare before your interview. 

  • Importantly, employers may require you, possibly by law, to inform them if you have a medical condition. In such cases, it's essential to answer all questions fully and honestly. For example, you may be asked to complete medical screening questionnaires during your interview, providing false information could place you at risk of losing your job or having a job offer withdrawn. 

  • If you have a disability that may have implications for the health and safety of others, it's essential to inform an employer or prospective employer.

If you've made a decision to disclose a disability, the next issue to think about is when and how to do so. This depends on your own circumstances and those of the employer. However in most cases, it's probably best to consider disclosing early on in the process, perhaps even before the application process begins.

For example:

When sending a CV and a covering letter, you could use the opportunity to clarify any disabilities, explaining any specific issues such as support needs or medical terms. Explanations in a letter should be concise so you could contact the employer directly before applying to discuss your situation further. 

If completing application forms, there might be sections asking you to talk about specific skills (or competencies) or asking you to explain your reasons for applying. It's essential to write about your skills and experience in a positive way, stressing your achievements and abilities and how they relate to the job.

Application forms may also have a section which invites you to disclose any disabilities.

At the interview stage, plan ahead by researching the employer and see if there's anything that may affect your support needs. The interview can provide a useful opportunity to clarify your situation, emphasise the positive aspects of your experience and skills and to clarify any specific needs you may have. You may also wish to discuss with the employer if there are any adjustments which could be made to aid you in attending the interview.

Many employers, especially a lot of larger organisations, use assessment centres as a way of helping them to recruit. 

If you're invited to attend an assessment centre (or to complete some tests beforehand), ask for information about the process involved and assess whether you may need any additional support to enable you to take part.

If you need to declare any disabilities, it's usually best to disclose very early in the recruitment process so that you can be supported during the application an

  • You might be concerned about sharing information with somebody you don’t know.

  • You might worry about how this could affect your prospects.

If you are worried about disclosure we can talk through your concerns as each situation is different.  

STANDARD LICENSE; PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL ASSET FOR FULL LICENSE TERMS.

Advice on asking for reasonable adjustments

If you declare your disability you can ask employers or education and training organisations to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to access their jobs, course of study, induction, training programmes and other services.

It's important to seek advice where necessary and there are numerous organisations that can assist job applicants and employers on what adjustments can be made. Please contact us if you require advice on relevant organisations that can help.

What sort of adjustments can you ask for?

The list is potentially very lengthy and it depends on your individual requirements, which may change.

Before submitting applications it's important to think about, and discuss with others, what help you might need and how it might be obtained. An employer is generally better able to help if you can provide clear guidance on the types of support you need.

Think about the environment you may be working in. You can ask to work in a quieter part of the office, for example. You could also think about the tools and resources you may need, such as an ergonomic chair. 

It's important to make early enquiries if this sort of help is needed, especially if any applications for funding are required.

Adjustments are available to support almost any condition and they're generally easy to put in place, so you should feel confident in asking about them if necessary.

Citizens Advice have some guidance on how to request reasonable adjustments, including how to write an informal letter stating your required adjustments. If you would like some further guidance on this, please contact one of our advisers at the Careers and Employability Service.

12/05/2021.University of Portsmouth - B Roll - Day One..All Rights Reserved - Helen Yates- T: +44 (0)7790805960.Local copyright law applies to all print & online usage. Fees charged will comply with standard space rates and usage for that country, region or state.

Next steps: 

Having read the above, it might be useful to think about some action points to help you from now on. Some examples could include:

  • Try to gain as much work experience as possible during your studies, as this will help you in the future. You could start doing this early in your course. We can provide information on volunteering, part time jobs and work experience opportunities that will enable you to contribute to the local community as well as adding to your confidence, skills and knowledge and providing useful evidence for your CV;
  • Keep records of any jobs, work experience or volunteering that you do. These will help you when writing CVs and applications and in preparing for job or course interviews;
  • Make sure you know about the various individuals and organisations that can help and consult them immediately if help is needed;
  • Start networking. It's easy and the Careers and Employability staff can help you;
  • If you need to seek a diagnosis, declare a medical situation or request reasonable adjustments, do these in good time and ask for help if necessary;
  • Prepare well in advance – draw up a plan of action for yourself and don’t leave everything to the last minute

It's most important to think about the demands of the job and any assistance you might need. Prepare thoroughly and always be positive in the way you discuss disabilities.

Some useful resources: