Difficult work environment... Advice needed

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LC1988

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Type 1
I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 25 years. I work as a primary school teacher 3 days a week as I have 2 small children.

I am mostly well controlled, but have been having some issues with night time hypos and as a result my consultant suggested I trial a continuous blood sugar monitor.

I have been under stress at work, my headteacher made the decision to move me out of the team I have been working with, into a new year group with a new member of staff. I think all of this change has made my sugars quite hard to control. He is aware that I have been having difficulties but just said that he 'can't keep everyone happy.'

In addition to this, I have also been told that next year the new LSA (learning support assistant) I will be working with leaves at break time each morning, so I only have support for the first part of the morning and then I am on my own. This wouldn't usually bother me, but with increased sugar control required and more possibility of hypos (much tighter control) I feel uneasy about managing my injections/sugar control in front of a class of children as I couldn't leave them unattended. What upsets me the most is that all the other teachers in school have the support of a full time LSA.

I just wondered if I have grounds to ask for additional support? Perhaps having an LSA who is with me more consistently so if I do have an issue with my sugars I have someone to support me with the class.

Thank you in advance!
 
I just wondered if I have grounds to ask for additional support?
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No idea but I should blinking well hope so! Somebody on here will be able to advise you.
 
Welcome to the forum, LC1988.
A few questions:
Are you a member of a union? Then ask there for advice.
Have you got your continuing glucose monitor yet? Is it a Libre?
What happens in your class on the other 2 days a week? Does the LSA only work part tine when you're not there?
 
Thanks for replying, there is another new teacher two days a week who also will work with the LSA in the morning only.

Yes it is a libre device, being fitted in September. Not sure what to expect!
 
Great news that you're getting a Libre. That will making testing in classroom and elsewhere so much quicker and more discrete. If arrow points down, you could pop a fruit pastille or similar.
Is there anyway it could be fitted before the term starts?
One question (I'm not a teacher, although do work at a venue that hosts primary school visits) - are learning support assistants allocated on basis of needs of children or teacher?
 
Hi Copepod,
The device is being fitted just as term begins, I'm not sure if I could re-arrange, if I did it might be later on in the term.
LSA's are usually allocated based on class needs, it is unusual that one class is being left out of getting full time support, especially as there is still quite a few children who require support in my class and they have always had a full time LSA with them.
I guess for me I just want to feel able to manage my condition and my teaching, without feeling embarrassed about having to go to another teacher's classroom and have to ask for support. Up to this point I have always had a fantastic support network and colleagues who would stay with the children while I test/inject or manage a hypo. In a new team, on my own, I am nervous about how it is all going to work and would have preferred to have an LSA who I could discuss my condition with.
 
LC1988 said:
I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 25 years. I work as a primary school teacher 3 days a week as I have 2 small children.

I am mostly well controlled, but have been having some issues with night time hypos and as a result my consultant suggested I trial a continuous blood sugar monitor.

I have been under stress at work, my headteacher made the decision to move me out of the team I have been working with, into a new year group with a new member of staff. I think all of this change has made my sugars quite hard to control. He is aware that I have been having difficulties but just said that he 'can't keep everyone happy.'

In addition to this, I have also been told that next year the new LSA (learning support assistant) I will be working with leaves at break time each morning, so I only have support for the first part of the morning and then I am on my own. This wouldn't usually bother me, but with increased sugar control required and more possibility of hypos (much tighter control) I feel uneasy about managing my injections/sugar control in front of a class of children as I couldn't leave them unattended. What upsets me the most is that all the other teachers in school have the support of a full time LSA.

I just wondered if I have grounds to ask for additional support? Perhaps having an LSA who is with me more consistently so if I do have an issue with my sugars I have someone to support me with the class.

Thank you in advance!
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Hi LC1988,

"can't keep everyone happy" correct, but they can keep you "happy" or at least give the necessary support you need.
The libre will be a massive help to you in the classroom, just swipe the sensor on your arm with the meter reader, as many or as few times you want through the day. It does what normal meters don't, that is, shows the trends of your blood glucose, it would show if your were heading for a hypo or hyper before it happens, leaving you to take any necessary glucose tablets and relax and get back into the lesson. You could adjust any hypers at next meal and will let you learn from the experience for the next days meals and insulin doses.
 
Speaking as an ex headteacher - I think your head needs educating (putting it politely!). I'm sure if you were a pupil your head would be falling over him/herself to make sure the child was safe. You deserve just as much consideration. Your class and your colleagues need to know what to do. Have systems in your class to get help if necessary. I don't know how old the children are in your class, but they need educating too - even with the Libre, and LSA's (or not) you need a back up plan. I'm sure you have some responsible children who can be trained to get help, jelly babies...
Get your nurse in to talk at a staff meeting and individually to the head. I didn't have diabetes when I was teaching, but I would have felt happier knowing that people knew what to do. I want to give your head a slap on your behalf🙄
I don't envy you having to manage diabetes in a very unpredictable environment.
 
pottersusan said:
Speaking as an ex headteacher - I think your head needs educating (putting it politely!). I'm sure if you were a pupil your head would be falling over him/herself to make sure the child was safe. You deserve just as much consideration. Your class and your colleagues need to know what to do. Have systems in your class to get help if necessary. I don't know how old the children are in your class, but they need educating too - even with the Libre, and LSA's (or not) you need a back up plan. I'm sure you have some responsible children who can be trained to get help, jelly babies...
Get your nurse in to talk at a staff meeting and individually to the head. I didn't have diabetes when I was teaching, but I would have felt happier knowing that people knew what to do. I want to give your head a slap on your behalf🙄
I don't envy you having to manage diabetes in a very unpredictable environment.
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Thank you so much for this advice. It is a daily struggle and I really don't feel my head teacher is being very supportive. I am just not sure whether he has even considered my reasons for being distressed about being changed around and left without support. I don't know whether it would be worth asking for a more consistent LSA just while I am finding my feet and trying to get better control. I feel it would be in the best interests of both the children and their teacher!
 
Hi. I'm a primary school governor and used to be a secondary school head teacher.

Couple of points. Firstly, the school should be supporting you. You come under the disability discrimination act, so they need to make reasonable adjustment. However, schools are also very cash strapped at the moment.

I taught older children. I would happily test in front of them. They all knew I had sweets on me in case of hypo. Admittedly injecting was harder. I would inject discretely through the trousers. I also kept glucose gel with the school nurse and the kids knew that if I needed help, they were to go straight for help.

I was in a very lovely school though, with really great kids who behaved well. And being a secondary school they were older. So may be different for you. What age are yours?

They have to allow you to test, and treat your condition. I remember having to make a complaint when I did my teacher training. I was failed on an observation because I hate skittles half way through to treat a hypo. When the teacher spoke to me after, she told me I should have waited until the end of the lesson. She clearly has no clue what diabetes is all about.
 
Agreeing with Amberzak. The key words are "reasonable adjustment" and those should have people falling over themselves to help you.

Also, if you have a union I would definitely get them involved.

The headteacher giving you less support than the other teachers when you have more need of support is clearly discriminatory. I hope you can get it sorted out without too much hassle.

https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers
 
LC1988 said:
I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 25 years. I work as a primary school teacher 3 days a week as I have 2 small children.

I am mostly well controlled, but have been having some issues with night time hypos and as a result my consultant suggested I trial a continuous blood sugar monitor.

I have been under stress at work, my headteacher made the decision to move me out of the team I have been working with, into a new year group with a new member of staff. I think all of this change has made my sugars quite hard to control. He is aware that I have been having difficulties but just said that he 'can't keep everyone happy.'

In addition to this, I have also been told that next year the new LSA (learning support assistant) I will be working with leaves at break time each morning, so I only have support for the first part of the morning and then I am on my own. This wouldn't usually bother me, but with increased sugar control required and more possibility of hypos (much tighter control) I feel uneasy about managing my injections/sugar control in front of a class of children as I couldn't leave them unattended. What upsets me the most is that all the other teachers in school have the support of a full time LSA.

I just wondered if I have grounds to ask for additional support? Perhaps having an LSA who is with me more consistently so if I do have an issue with my sugars I have someone to support me with the class.

Thank you in advance!
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Hi @LC1988, you might also want to have a look at the Diabetes UK guide on employment, diabetes and your rights - you can find it here on our website (https://www.diabetes.org.uk/upload/How we help/Avocacy/Advocacy pack_EmploymentV3-Jan2016.pdf)

Hope you get things sorted without too many problems. You can also call our Helpline number is you need any other support, which is 0345 123 2399
 
LC1988 said:
I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 25 years. I work as a primary school teacher 3 days a week as I have 2 small children.

I just wondered if I have grounds to ask for additional support? Perhaps having an LSA who is with me more consistently so if I do have an issue with my sugars I have someone to support me with the class.
Click to expand...

Yes. As Amberzak and Fairyhedgehog have mentioned, your school must abide by the Equality Act 2010. Although it is not always clear if diabetes is considered a disability under the act, it is likely that type 1 would be. Therefore employers have a legal responsibility to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure that you are not being put at a disadvantage to employees who do not have a disability. What adjustments they make, is something to be agreed upon by you and your employer but they must serve the purpose of removing any obstacles that may be limiting you to do your job. The other thing to consider is whether the adjustment is 'reasonable' - eg. is it affordable, is it practical for the school to implement. This could, in this case, mean that having additional support in the classroom is resource that the school cannot afford but they do need to consider the option and if they decide it is not 'reasonable' then another adjustment must be found.

Do take a look at the Employment and diabetes Advocacy Pack as Stefan mentioned, but basically, you do have rights and your Head should be making considerations for your safety and well being.
Best of luck, let us know how you get on.
 
Thank you for all your advice and support.

I met with my headteacher informally to raise my concerns, and share my worries about managing testing/injections/hypos without being able to leave the children unattended. I asked if I could perhaps work with a more consistent support team (one of the LSAs that are full time) so I knew who to turn to if I needed them. I did raise the fact that I am the only class teacher not to have full time LSA support.

Although he said he was sympathetic he refused to make any changes at the moment. He has referred me to occupational health, although I am not sure what to expect from this. To me, it felt like he didn't want to make any changes and that he thought I was being difficult, he said it wouldn't be fair to the other teachers at this stage to take that support from them.

No really the response I wanted. Having worked with him for 4 years I thought he would have been more open to an adjustment in light of my concerns.

Any advice on what to expect from occupational health would be great!

Many thanks
 
LC1988 said:
Thank you for all your advice and support.

I met with my headteacher informally to raise my concerns, and share my worries about managing testing/injections/hypos without being able to leave the children unattended. I asked if I could perhaps work with a more consistent support team (one of the LSAs that are full time) so I knew who to turn to if I needed them. I did raise the fact that I am the only class teacher not to have full time LSA support.

Although he said he was sympathetic he refused to make any changes at the moment. He has referred me to occupational health, although I am not sure what to expect from this. To me, it felt like he didn't want to make any changes and that he thought I was being difficult, he said it wouldn't be fair to the other teachers at this stage to take that support from them.

No really the response I wanted. Having worked with him for 4 years I thought he would have been more open to an adjustment in light of my concerns.

Any advice on what to expect from occupational health would be great!

Many thanks
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Occupational health should interview you in detail about your condition and how it affects your work. This could be your chance to get the help you need. I was a teacher too but secondary so not so much of an issue to test if I needed to, although I never needed to inject in front of them and am not really sure why you feel you would need to inject other than at break/ lunch? If it's to do a correction would you need to do that so urgently?
As mentioned earlier, the Libre will be a boon as you can test as often as you like which will be a great help in detecting impending hypos!
When I saw occupational health as part of my induction it ended up with me getting my timetable adjusted as I found it tricky coping with half hour lunch breaks and they recommended I have my free periods before or after lunch. I know you don't get those but there should be some way of them getting help to you if you need to step out for a few minutes. Good luck!
 
Occupational Health should be well aware of the obligations an employer has with regard to disabilities in the workplace, where in law Type 1 diabetes is a disability. I would hope they can put pressure on the headmaster to make very reasonable adjustments. The problem with head teachers is that they often only become aware of employment law when people take them aside and tell them. Or remind them.

As others have mentioned, the Libre will transform your day. It makes such a difference. The kids will love it🙂
 
Hi. Being referred to Occ health may well work in your favour. As Mike has said they should be well aware of the obligations an employer has in regard to disabilities in the workplace.
Please let us know how you get on.
 
Libre is available for purchase, starter pack costs around £150 for 2 sensors and the reader. You may consider that a good investment over the summer before you get your free sensor from the clinic.

'Get fitted' makes it sound like a very complicated procedure, whereas inserting each sensor is a very simple, almost painless and intuitive process that takes a few moments. They last for up to 2 weeks each.
 
Hi everyone,

After a meeting with occupational health, they made the recommendation that I should receive adequate LSA support to ensure I can manage my condition and the safety of the children. Their report referred to the disability act, and mentions that reasonable adjustments should be made. I have a meeting with my head on Monday, he has not yet made any adjustments.

When speaking to occupational health, I was distressed to hear his view of my concerns, it just shows he has no idea of the impact diabetes can have if not properly managed!

Have managed to get libre device early, so hopefully I can start to spot patterns to get on top of the hypos!
 
Hello, advice would be appreciated again unfortunately!

I met with my head teacher today, who has decided not to follow the recommendations made by occupational health. He saw the need for LSA support (the same support he has allocated to all the other teachers) as excessive, stating that the report made out that I could not be left alone with children unsupervised. I said that is not the case at all, and that the learning support assistant would be there to support the children (as is their role) so that if I needed to could attend to my medical condition. I said I would feel more comfortable, given the age of the children, to know that they were supervised should I need to manage a hypo or inject.

Am I being reasonable? My union representative at the meeting said that it was discriminatory as no adequate reasonable adjustments have been made. My head did make the suggestion that I am 'checked on' by a member of the leadership team if I needed support. That feels like checking up on me!

I really don't know where to go from here. I feel like I am being treated differently to other teaching staff and I am really not comfortable in an environment where my head is so dismissive of my concerns, even going against recommendations of Occ health.
 
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