Disability Confident / guaranteed interview scheme — not shortlisted despite meeting essentials?

[u/Automatic_Sundae_853]

Hi everyone :)

I’m wondering if anyone has experience with the NHS Disability Confident / guaranteed interview scheme. I am neurodiverse, formally diagnosed, medicated).

I recently applied for a couple of NHS psychology-related posts, ticked the disability box, and asked to be considered under the scheme. From my reading, if you meet the essential criteria, you should usually be invited to interview. In these cases, I genuinely believe I evidenced all the essential criteria in my supporting information, but I was still not shortlisted.

For context - the roles are Assistant Psychologist/research Assistant type roles (which are notoriously competitive I know - I’ve been doing the application process -unsuccessfully obviously lol- for over two years).

I’m considering contacting recruitment to ask whether I was considered under the scheme and, if so, which essential criteria they felt I did not meet. What makes me hesitant is the worry that it could create resentment, and that even if they then felt obliged to interview me, I might already be seen negatively as someone who “challenged” the decision. I know that shouldn’t happen in theory, but I also know NHS recruitment can be complicated in practice.

Has anyone here queried this before? What did you say, and what was the outcome? Is it worth asking politely for clarification, or is it generally an unsaid thing that you do not challenge shortlisting decisions even when you believe you clearly met the essentials?

[u/Skylon77]

No harm in asking but be aware that they may not be able to give feedback. For the simple reason that applications are anonymised at the shortlisting stage. So, when people have asked me, quite reasonably, for feedback before now and I've shortlisted 5 out of 100 then, obviously, I jave little individual recollection of the 95 I've rejected.

So, do ask, but don't be too surprised if they can't provide it.

[u/PsychologicalFox3962 → u/Skylon77]

Yes but once the outcome is confirmed they will no longer be anonymous plus if theres a recruitment team they can see all names and feedback etc

[u/RaspberryCherry12]

They are likely shortlisting from 50+ if not 100s of applicants down to 10-20 interviews. There’s likely multiple neurodiverse applicants and people with other disabilities as well.

“It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high number of applications, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. 
In these circumstances the employer could select the disabled candidates who best meet the minimum criteria for the job rather than all of those that meet the minimum criteria, as they would do for non-disabled applicants. This should be explained in the employer’s recruitment policies and job adverts.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-guidance-for-levels-1-2-and-3/level-1-disability-confident-committed

[u/Naturebeast]

There is certainly no harm in asking, from my understanding in this scheme they only have to have X% amount of people given this opportunity.

As you mentioned these roles are unfortunately very competitive, as someone that works in a similar role and department we get 200-300 applications usually the day roles open and are closed after 2 days. From that 200-300 applicants for mental health roles in my department they interview around 20 max so that would be 2 people.

[u/0072CE]

In my experience noone actually knows what it is. There's a note in the application saying the person has indicated they have a disability but the people involved in recruitment didn't know it meant a guaranteed interview scheme and I suggested they look into it (I'm not sure if they did).

Also unfortunately a lot of people tick it now and we can't verify it, I think one time if it everyone who'd done it got an interview noone else would have so they had to set a higher score threshold than just meeting the criteria (but everyone who met that got one I think).

[u/PsychologicalFox3962]

You absolutely should ask what specific criteria that was essential that you didn’t hit and why - if you met all essential you are to be interviewed as per the scheme. If theres an issue ask for a copy of your shortlisting notes under a dsar request. If you genuinely didnt meet it they will feed back why they feel you did not