Quit a permanent NHS job?

diamine

Hi all,

I got a permanent job in the NHS (non-clinical) last September, which unfortunately turned out to be completely different to what I applied for. My line manager acknowledged the substantial difference between my role and the the JD, but there is nothing they can do apparently, as the team was new and the hiring managers weren't clear about the role/ people they needed in the team.

this has caused me a great deal of stress, anger, and made me lose confidence in my skills and vision for the future, as it basically derailed me from a career path which i believed was fairly well defined for me. Additionally, the culture in the totally dissonates from my values and what motivates me at work. My colleagues are decent people but really we have nothing in common, so the atmosphere in the office is very artificial and relationships are transnational

I have started looking for jobs but my depression is hindering my ability to a) be clear about what i want to do and b) prep and perform well at interviews (i only had one so far and am prepping for another obnne but i feel totally demotivated and distracted)

I have been seriously considering to resign as I believe that it would make me feel liberated and would free up my mind from negative thoughts and allow me to focus on the job search. At the same time I am scared of leaving a permanent job, so rare and precious these days, without a new role to start. I had mixed advises, but most pending on the 'suck it, stay and search' side.

I am interested to hear your suggestions, especially from people who found themselves in similar route

thanks in advance

BorisThomson

Do you have sufficient savings to live off? Any claim for JSA would be sanctioned if you resigned.

I would treat your current job as a means to an end until something more suitable comes along. You're not there to make friends and the environment you describe is fine, it's far better than the environments many have to work in.

diamine

Hi,

thanks for replying. I do have savings to sustain me for few months.. plus the notice period is 3 months...
I guess is more of a mental health related issue. My unhappiness, dissatisfaction and above all fear to go adrift from who I want to be professionally play the main role. I really struggle to apply/ interview for other jobs whilst hating this one.

aife

Can you request flexible working ?- maybe reduce your hours or consolidate them into less days so you can set aside time to focus on what you want to do
It's easier to get a job from a job
I assume you have to go through the same supervision/appraisal / personal development plan nonsense as the rest of us , make it one of your goals to find ways of making use of your core skills and ask them to help you find a more appropriate post , or give you training that would help with whatever it is you're doing now . The more training you get the better , it can not only make you more employable but gets you a bit of time away from the office , and might get you helpful contacts

aife

This is the way things are in the NHS now. HR 'Business Partners' control everything , you have managers that didn't work their way up , people parachuted into made up !!!!!!!! jobs and outside agencies and 'consultants' brought in all the time . The people actually runnning the service and doing the job are ignored and patronised. I used to be proud to work for the NHS but it's been ruined

diamine

Indded Aife! my boss and all senior colleagues are ex civil servants, they moved to the NHS a year ago or less and it feel like working in the cabinet office or in a gvt department. there is also a believe that perople are resources and can be used as needed. I may agree with the principle but in my case it was giving a doctor a lawyer's job. Thanks for your suggestion. I thought about going part-time, i have just been scared to ask!
I have also 'partially' obtained to collaborate to another project within my team, which I believe may be more relevant to my interest and future career moves, I say partially because my line manager agreed for 2 days a week- so I would split between two jobs...and i am not sure it would work. Additionally, the role that i would undertake is 2 bands above my current, but being a stretch assignment i will retain my grade and pay. The prospect of the assignment becoming a job are slim atm..
just to wrap up- I don't want to rant and complaint for the sake of it, i just trying to weigh up my perceptions and the thought of leaving with external and impartial advises.

APOLOGIES FOR THE TYPOS

Thanks a lot

BonsaiClouds

You mentioned that you've spoken to your line manager a little about the role, have you spoken to them any more about how you're feeling about it? It's unlikely, but if they're sympathetic they may be able to make some changes or concessions, or give you some advice or contacts about moving on.

ReadingTim

diamine wrote: »

I really struggle to apply/ interview for other jobs whilst hating this one.

Hatred of a current job is usually a great motivator for applying for a new one - aside from more money I can't think of a better reason to move.

If your current employment position has caused you stress and depression and an inability to apply for other jobs, I can't see how being out of work and rapidly running out of money will improve that position. Especially if other jobs aren't easy to come by.

I also doubt your mental health issues are caused solely by work - have you spoken to a doctor about them, because I don't think a new job will be the "fix" you're hoping for.

lincroft1710

Your managers will not be interested in or concerned about your perceived career path. People are resources, surely you've have heard of "Human Resources" (used to be called Personnel). If a particular job needs doing, that's where you direct the people.

Probably not what you were expecting, or in your eyes not very fair, but many organisations work this way now.

I would have suggested trying to avoid large corporate or establishment employers in future, but you may find smaller employers adopt the same policies.

diamine

ReadingTim wrote: »

Hatred of a current job is usually a great motivator for applying for a new one - aside from more money I can't think of a better reason to move.

If your current employment position has caused you stress and depression and an inability to apply for other jobs, I can't see how being out of work and rapidly running out of money will improve that position. Especially if other jobs aren't easy to come by.

I also doubt your mental health issues are caused solely by work - have you spoken to a doctor about them, because I don't think a new job will be the "fix" you're hoping for.

Thanks- I know very well what HR is about and have worked in large organisations prior to joining the NHS, but I still believe that is not acceptable to deploy staff regardless of their jd. One of the key function of HR is supposed to be to support organisations to find the right people for the jobs. In my case they advertised for ' apples' and recruited an apple, but in fact the job is about broccoli, and there is no similarity whatsoever between the two other than belonging to the plant world.
Managers acknowledged this discrepancy and defended their mistake with flakey excuses..they also said that I am doing well anyway so why would I want to do another job!?

FBaby

Are you looking for another job in the NHS or elsewhere? How often are these jobs coming about?

In the end, it all comes down to how quickly you can find another one but you need to be careful as a lot of it comes down to luck so you have to consider what would happen and you were unlucky and not able to find another -better- job for 6 months.