Leaving Public Sector Advice needed

mangadarkogirl

Hi All, Ok I'll try and sum this up in as few paragraphs as I can.

I currently work in the NHS and my job is at risk. The trust is not doing well at all and I'm attempting to jump ship.

Due to lack of finances for most of my teen/adult life I've haven't gone past college qualifications. I have five years experience in the NHS now. Originally started out working in Mental Health as an nursing assistant. I went to University and completed the first year. Me and my partner bought our first house. At the time I was receiving a bursary and doing bank shifts to cover bills as the bursary only covered my mortgage. The shifts dried up with the cuts and I had to drop out. (I did pay back most of the bursary btw).

After this I got a job in another trust working as a physio assistant. I applied for a promotion to a one band up last year and was successful. In my current role I have my own case load and act as a triage service for the department I work for. I also assess and treat patients in another trust in addition to my role as no one else feels confident (it's within mh).

So I have English and maths and 10 other gcses. I also have a GNVQ and an ND in Performing Arts, but no formal qualifications in healthcare apart from the usual training in, infection control, integrated governance etc.

While I enjoy my job, and try to do my best for the taxpayer and my employer, with the cuts it's becoming increasingly more difficult. I'm thinking I should try a new career path. Initially I wanted to train as an OT. However I can't afford to, and with fees increasing and funding cut I've given up on that dream. The other thing is I seem to have a weakened immune system which doesn’t bode well with constant patient contact in a high infection environment.

I've been looking at admin jobs, receptionist, private healthcare but they all require qualifications or experience I don't have. In a way I have pigeon holed myself working just for the NHS. I did previously work in retail however for 8 years. While I wouldn't mind returning, I'd have to return at an entry level which is more often than not minimum wage or just above. Any advice or guidance? Anyone in a similar situation? Thanks.

KiKi

Firstly, you can probably tailor your CV more than you think you can for the skills you do in your role. I imagine that the triaging has a lot of admin in it, and that's very transferable - you just need to pitch your CV in the right way.

Also, just to add, depending on what sort of qual you want to do, the OU (I believe) still offer very good financial assistance to anyone who hasn't done undergraduate or equivalent education. So if you have an interest in a topic that they teach there are options for formal education that way as well.

Best of luck with finding a new role, though.
KiKi

mangadarkogirl

Thanks for the reply. Yes you're right, there's a lot of paperwork involved. I also work with the health promotion specialist, something I do out of interest and for my own CPD. Which involves referring to other agencies. I'll have a look into the OU too. I believe I have the intelligence, I have just lacked the finances to be able to study at UG level.

marybelle01

What about training for social work? There are still bursaries available, which can be topped up with grants - your background and skills seem suitable, it's relatively well apid, especially once you are past the first year or two; agency working is flexible and very well paid; and there will never be a shortage of jobs. A recent report from the Local Government Association reckoned that by 2020 something like 95% of all council budgets will be spent in social work / care because of increasing demand.

KiKi

Absolutely - if you're looking at admin roles, you can probably say you're in an admin role! And on your CV for admin jobs (because you'll have a different CV for every role) you list the key administrative elements, supplier management (agencies), customer service etc. The fact that it's medical is neither here nor there.

Some of our 'pigeon-holing' often comes from our own minds because we think of our role one way - but other people can see it quite differently, so list out *everything* you do, what skills are involved (and think broadly!) and you'll probably find there are lots of roles you have some really great experience for.

KiKi

MiddyMum

I understand how you feel. I did the first year of a Nursing Diploma of Higher Education 5 years ago but had to leave due to finances, I was devastated but that's another story. Like you I now have a catalogue of care work experience and not a great deal else. I am now about to submit my application for Midwifery...I have come to the conclusion that in order to move forward in life, we sometimes need to take a few steps back first. Some trusts will sponsor you to do nursing/midwifery/physiotherapy training, so you would in effect be getting a salary and not a bursary. With all your experience within the NHS, it would be a shame to not make use of that to gain entry onto your nursing again or even another vocational type course. Would this be completely out of the question? Or are you now fed up of the health sector? If so, that is fair enough.. Do you mind telling me what parts of the NHS you are finding particuarly difficult (genuine interest - I too have pondered whether I should go into something completely different i.e finance). Dont forget that sometimes we can look at what other people have, and think they are living the life of riley, but the truth of the matter is, it's tough out there for everyone at the moment..I am not sure how long ago you did your nursing, but how comes you had to pay it back? They offer non-means tested loans now on top of your NHS bursary, it is only 2500 a year but it is still something. In London, it is more.

mangadarkogirl

Hi MiddyMum, I know about secondment I have asked the trust I work for twice now, but they have refused. I can only afford to train on a secondment really. I had to pay the bursary back because I didn't complete the course. I was fine with it as it's only fair. What annoyed me was people registering onto the course and turning up for a few lectures until xmas to get the bursary as some extra cash. They should have paid back the money in full, but I don't think that was the case.

I don't think nursing is for me. It was 2 years ago when I was studying. While I love caring for people and really enjoyed the aspects of MH, I don't like the shifts or the endless paperwork for tribunals etc. Even as a student I could see there was little patient contact for nurses.

Regarding what parts of the NHS I am finding difficult, it's the cuts atm. Never ending, staff aren't being replaced and so the work load is increasing but we may have a pay freeze in the next 6 months. New wards are opening but there's no extra staff. I know it is difficult everywhere but I come home at the end of the day very tired. I mainly work with people who are dying, so it's emotionally draining. One nurse remarked that I get too attached to my patients. I disagree, I show them compassion, dignity and help them to maintain their quality of life. Yes sometimes I get upset when someone passes away, but that's human nature. And if I weren't to occasionally experience those emotions then I feel I such not be working in the healthcare industry. I work above my band a lot of the time and get nothing back for it. I don't think going to University for the short amount of time has helped as I always try and do more like leading on presentations, audits, health promotion etc. But at the end of the day I'm not trained as a band 5. I think my department ask a lot from me.

MissSarah1972

mangadarkogirl wrote: »

I've been looking at admin jobs, receptionist, private healthcare but they all require qualifications or experience I don't have. In a way I have pigeon holed myself working just for the NHS. I did previously work in retail however for 8 years. While I wouldn't mind returning, I'd have to return at an entry level which is more often than not minimum wage or just above. Any advice or guidance? Anyone in a similar situation? Thanks.

A bit like trying to get a job in the NHS doing accounts - 99% of jobs advertised always say NHS experience needed so there is not much point applying as you just get chucked to one side right away.

mangadarkogirl

Not necessarily. Yes a lot of trusts prefer to recruit internally, but I've seen jobs advertised like that, then when they don't get the quota for interview, they tweak the advert and relist.