Mum is worried for her job, any advice welcome

elsien

That is new information that you didn’t put in your original post! 

So you now have two issues here – whether this is simply a training issue and they’re getting rid of her because she can’t do the training, or whether her post is being changed or amalgamated into another one (so perhaps the activity worker role is being replaced by more qualified occupational therapists, for example ) and it could be redundancy in which case they need to look for other suitable things to offer her as a starting point.

I still think she needs to get more information but if they’re getting rid of her position they might be suggesting she retires to avoid paying redundancy so she needs to be very clear on whaf is being said. And my suggestion remains to sit tight and not resign.

BrilliantButScary

Does your Mum work on an Adult Acute in-patient ward, Older Adults ward or a Rehabilitation ward?

I think the training she will be being asked to do will be Breakaway training, I would be very surprised if she has not done this before:

https://www.nhsponline.nhs.uk/s/article/Physical-Restraint-Skills-and-Techniques-Practical-Training-Information

https://www.dynamis.training/nhs-breakaway-training/

The other training is PMVA, (Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression):

https://www.nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk/trusts/south/berkshire-healthcare-staff/training-requirements
 
https://www.dynamis.training/pmva-training/

Everyone should have completed Breakaway training, in my experience. Dependent on the type of ward, there should be at least 3 people on each shift that have completed  PMVA to respond to incidents appropriately.

ohreallƳ

Tell mum do not resign, leave the decision on next steps with the employer. Worst case, this situation handling has a detrimental effect on mums mental health and she requires to go off sick.

If this has the potential to affect others, has occupational health had input?  I'd argue that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment would go a long way to identify cohorts that your mum may benefit from not working with and that could be implemented as a reasonable adjustment.

Get trade union H&S rep involved in the first instance.

p_anotherguy

frogga said:

Ah, I thought maybe that was the case, thank you for replying. They have offered all of those who can't do the course to do another role but she does not feel able to do any of those either (admin type jobs on a PC and she struggles with a phone!). She wants to do her job as she loves it and feels good at it, but things have changed. It's sad but my sister and I think she should retire to be honest. 

I'm so sorry about your mum. Unfortunately, there's nothing much she can do. Good that she contacted her union, they'll surely be able to advise her on this matter.