Who else has been in this mess?

andyscott

Basically i am 30 years old have no job, live in a run down council estate and standard grades is only qualifications I have and I was sacked from previous job after 13 years.

Left school and went straight into healthcare work with my standard grades, spent 13 years there then was sacked last year. It was because staff had been mistreating a patient. I was not involved but still got sacked as could not proof i was not involved. No matter what I say I think it will go against me in any interview. I dont think any healthcare company would even consider employing me.

I want a job that is going to pay a good wage so that I can buy a good house for my family. I have 8 and 2 year old sons, so my partner cant afford to work just now. There are very few jobs that I have came across and what I have found is minuimum wage and I dont even know if I would get a job because of previous sacking. All the better paid jobs you need qualifications.

I was considering uni to get a qualification but what puts me off is having to spend about 3 or 4 years studying and then not been able to get a job still either through lack of jobs or because of my sacking and lack of experience in that sector.

I really don't know what to do. I just feel that I have messed up my life and I now know that I should have went to uni all those years ago and would have been qualified in something about 10 years ago. I hate been on benefits.

cockaleekee

Why can't your partner afford to work? One child is at school and you will get help with childcare for the other.

silkyuk9

Well if this was me, and I work in the healthcare industry, I would fight to clear my name, if you cannot prove you did nothing how can they prove you did? There are lots of employment solicitors who do no win no fee or if you are in a union then they should be consulted. If a patient has been mistreated has there been an investigation? Has this gone to a tribunal? You need to fight this and clear your name.

andyscott

I did contact a employment solicitor and union and was informed that I have no chance of overturning it as employment law states that they can sack you if theres more than 50% chance that I was able to do it. Me been on shift meant that was 50% straight away, another member of staff saying I was involved put it over the 50%. It really is not fair ecspecially seen as though the member of staff had previously been accused of stealing from other members of staff.

jobbingmusician

I don't have any answers, but didn't want to read and run. Two things strike me

1. If you did some voluntary work, perhaps this might lead to work, or at least develop your CV so that it would overcome the problem of your past sacking. In your position I think I would get a friend to pose as an employer and ask your previous employer for a reference, to see what it says. It might not be as bad as you think - worth finding out.

2. You say that you can't afford for your partner to work as you have young sons - have you considered that she could work and you could become a stay at home dad?

3. If you can sort anything at all out in the way of employment, could you do some part time study such as the OU, or a short focused course?

Good luck with whatever you decide, and I hope you get some good suggestions on here.

Tryingagainandagain

I think that if you want a decent salary you need to stay away from care work anyway.


What do you like doing? Would you like office work for instance? The variety of this type of work is immense but if you need to be outdoors and active for example it won't be a good fit for you.

Exactly what qualifications do you have - subject/level/grades. If you cannot get onto the degree course you will need to spend more time and money, so choosing the right fit for you is important.

It's no use trying to go for a career that offers high earnings now - the work situation in that field may have changed by the time you are trained.

Tryingagainandagain

andyscott wrote: »

I did contact a employment solicitor and union and was informed that I have no chance of overturning it as employment law states that they can sack you if theres more than 50% chance that I was able to do it. Me been on shift meant that was 50% straight away, another member of staff saying I was involved put it over the 50%. It really is not fair ecspecially seen as though the member of staff had previously been accused of stealing from other members of staff.

Were the police involved? Was there a proper investigation by the commissioner of the care? I think your solicitor was talking about "balance of probability" for civil law.
It sounds as though there was no real investigation at all.
You need to be wary of a marker for a CRB check, but it sounds as tho' the company were dealing with the matter on the quiet.

I would call the management (or get the solicitor to call them) and point out that as nothing was proved against you, if a reference states anything about this matter, you will contact the Care Commissioners, local authority, MP and newspapers.

People who work as carers are
Good people who are treated like s**t by the care firms or
People who should never be allowed near another human being.

I helped out at a care home for a while at weekends - I have a good education, had a good full-time job as a manager and was confident enough to deal with the bosses (not one of them was a real manager). The employment rights of the other care staff were just ignored.

Home care work is far worse.

heretolearn_2

A bit of hope and a lot of determination can get you a long way. Don't be despondent, put in the work and effort and it can get you out of even the grottiest situation.

Me aged 30
Suddenly found myself a single mum, living in a horrible flat on scummy sink council estate next door to a crackhead that kept getting firebombed by someone or other, only qualifications O Levels, not worked properly for 9 years (SAHM) other than shop and factory temping.

did an excellent IT course (free one - and I'm sure there is still some help around) as had not really used computers back in the day when I had worked, (not in most offices, I'm old, lol!).

got a first 'back to work' job thanks to this course and experience from before I had child. Had less money than on benefits, struggled with only 2 weeks holiday, but gritted my teeth and got on with it. Got promotion. Got made redundant. Got another job in hellish place and left within 3 months but due to all my experience by then, got dream job. Got more experience and contacts. Went freelance and had a lot of fun and earned pretty good money for couple of years. Went into business with someone else in a new field but using my existing skills (and developing lots of new ones) - still here 6 years later as a Partner of a firm employing 10 people. And on the way doing an Open University degree that I will be completing this year - hopefully with a First unless I manage to really stuff up on last module.

This is not to brag. This is to say, ok, you don't like where you are, then work hard and do whatever you have to, to change it. Take the long view. Life can change, a LOT. But it takes time, a few years, but it's worth it. It was hard, and plenty of blood, sweat and tears, plenty of times when I felt down. But if you sit around with no hope, then you have no hope of improving things. Fight for yourself and having a decent life, how you want it. I'm a different person now to when I was 30 and life is hugely better - I'm far from rich, quite a lot of the time I've been really skint, but I enjoy what I do, I'm independent, I live in a much nicer town (still only rented but working on that), place with lovely neighbours, plenty of space and peace and quiet. So, not perfect, but I shudder to think where I'd be or what life had been like if I'd stayed where I was.

So I hope my little story gives you some hope and encouragement. I was exactly where you are now, worse really as it was just me. There are two adults in your house. One of you can work (it doesn't matter which) or both of you can work (many parents do - maybe again taking the long term career view rather than just immediate money in your pocket).

zzzLazyDaisy

Tryingagainandagain wrote: »

.

I would call the management (or get the solicitor to call them) and point out that as nothing was proved against you, if a reference states anything about this matter, you will contact the Care Commissioners, local authority, MP and newspapers.

You are giving OP false hope which is not helpful.

OP has received sound legal advice. In employment law, the employer only has to show that they conducted a thorough investigation, and came to an honest and reasonable belief that the employee was guilty of the conduct complained of, based on the facts revealed by the investigation. OP was there, and at least one person said he did it. The employer simply has do decide which employee to believe and be willing to state under oath that this was their honest belief. The employer does not have to PROVE the employee did it and they do not have to involve the police.

Yes it sucks, and yes it does mean sometimes innocent employees are dismissed, not because they are guilty, but because given two conflicting stories, the employer decided to believe the other person. That is how employment law operates.

Further, if asked for a reference they have no obligation to give a reference, but if they do it simply has to be truthful and factually correct. It would therefore be perfectly lawful for them to state that OP was dismissed for gross misconduct. Many employers will simply stick to the dates and job titled in these circumstances, and the advice to get a friend to pose as an employer and request a reference is good advice, as the situation may not be as bad as it seems.