Unpaid work trials

Read Time:1 Minute, 33 Second

By Gul

I recently applied for a job as an A&E Mental Health Support Worker, which was advertised by a national mental health charity. I was unsuccessful at the interview stage. However, the director said that she would like me to join the staff bank. To work in a non-clinical crisis centre, on the advice line, and to help facilitate a support group.

Asked to work for free

Due to the unsocial hours I could not commit to working in the crisis centre. I was told that was fine, and that she would contact me the following week about the other two roles. The director then called me two weeks later and left a voice message on my phone. She said that she would like me to come in on Friday to volunteer in the support group, to see how I interact with the service users.

So, after I had completed a lengthy application form, and been interviewed by a panel of four people, and been offered a job, I was being asked to work for free. The director did not specify how long I would need to volunteer or who would be supervising me. I wasn’t offered an induction or training.

Exploitation

A DBS check was also not carried out, which is essential for the safety of people in a workplace. I was also not provided with an employee contract. I suspect this was because the charity had no intention of making me a staff member, and wanted to use me to fill staff shortages, and thought I was desperate enough to work for free.

What really upsets me is that a requirement of working for this charity is lived experience of mental illness. So, essentially, this charity is taking advantage of those who it is supposed to help.

Reproduced with permission, originally posted here: https://mhtalk.blogspot.com