Lost my job

TrueBlueAngel

I'm absolutely devastated. I work as a nurse/head of care and it hasnt worked out well for me. It was my first post in a senior role and, despite asking for help, and it being a very stressful job, it hasn't worked out and my employer (who I really liked working for) has served me one month's notice. I've never been unemployed, I don't even know where to start. I was on a really good income and its a huge blow to us as a family as hubby doesn't make the same income I did - I was the main breadwinner. We have two teenagers still in education at college and we privately rent our home and have been here for 10 years. I really don't know where to turn, where to go to, I just feel like such a failure and have let my lovely family down. Can someone please advise me what I need to do or where to get advice from? Thank you.

ky822000

TrueBlue, I really feel for you. I was in a similar position but please, TAKE A DEEP BREATH, it WILL work out.

You have not been fired as such, you have just been told that you were not quite ready for that position.

You are a qualified nurse and should have no problem finding another position, whether you apply for other vacancies in a similar role to what you were doing before the promotion or go to an agency you will still be employed.

Have a frank conversation with your current employer (I know it is difficult but it sounds like you get on reasonably well with them?). Ask what reference they will give; they may state they would be happy to recommend you for a role similar to your previous one, or they may agree to simply give a 'bland' reference stating your employment dates and job title.

New employers will understand that you can be a brilliant nurse but that you overstretched yourself too soon with promotion, because a current nurse manager role can include a heck of a lot of administration and HR duties that you would need specialist training for (which I am reading that you didn't get).

It is perfectly possible to move on from this x

missindecisive

Could they not redeploy you, say in another department?

mum2one

missindecisive wrote: »

Could they not redeploy you, say in another department?

great minds think alike x

elsien

I'm not sure how much help I can be, but I didn't want to read and run.
I'm sorry things haven't worked out in your job - been there myself a few years back so I know much it can knock your confidence.
Just a few initial thoughts that may or may not be of help to you.
How long had you worked there for - just wondering what (if any) employment rights you might have?
Have you asked for support and not received it or had help but still struggled? What reason have they given for letting you go, has there been any sort of performance management or disciplinary and if not can you negotiate a reasonable reference from them?
As a temporary measure, is there a less stressful role they might be willing to let you step down into?
In the meantime when you finish you will need to sign on. If you look at a site called entitled to, and put your husbands income into it it will give you an idea of any benefits your family may get so you can start to plan and work out a budget. Housing benefit, council tax benefit, tax credits etc.

Good luck and don't let it make you think of yourself as useless. I lost a managers job because I wasn't ready and didn't cope. Now I'm back doing a similar role and doing it well. Learn from it and either move sidewards or on.

ky822000

Good words from Elsien

I also lost a managers job because at the time I wasn't ready for it and home life changes put the final nail in.

Now I am also doing the job and doing it well.

Good advice about checking out your benefit eligibility and budgeting for the worst case scenario! Once you know your bottom line anything else is a bonus.

TrueBlueAngel

I work in the private sector as a psychiatric nurse and have only been with this employer since April 2013. So far, I'm sending my cv everywhere locally but living in such a rural area, it is going to be hard to find a post. Right now, I'll settle to anything that brings a wage in and isn't incredibly stressful.

I've looked at the 'entitled to' website (Thankyou for the suggestion), but its hard to see what I'm entitled to when I'm still working for another month (working out my notice) and its asks for benefits I have (I have none other than child benefit). Maybe I'm looking at it all wrong

pmlindyloo

TrueBlueAngel wrote: »

I work in the private sector as a psychiatric nurse and have only been with this employer since April 2013. So far, I'm sending my cv everywhere locally but living in such a rural area, it is going to be hard to find a post. Right now, I'll settle to anything that brings a wage in and isn't incredibly stressful.

I've looked at the 'entitled to' website (Thankyou for the suggestion), but its hard to see what I'm entitled to when I'm still working for another month (working out my notice) and its asks for benefits I have (I have none other than child benefit). Maybe I'm looking at it all wrong

Use the calculator as if you have finished your job.

The one thing the calculator doesn't do is tell you that you are entitled to contribution based JSA (which you are if you have worked and paid the correct NI contributions for the last two tax years - a general summary)

So, if you haven't found a new job then, at the very least, you will probably be entitled to contribution based JSA.

Anything else will depend on what your partner earns, number of children etc etc.

If you want to share with us about your partner's earnings, your earnings last year, number of children, any disabilities, I expect we can give you a general idea.