To forgo the chance of a job (at last!)?

[Butterflybows]

Hi, I'm a newly-ish single parent to two teenagers and a new graduate with not too much work experience as I've been a sahm for too long.

I have made a job out of looking for a job, iykwim, and had no luck. Finally did get an interview for a carers job visiting old people in their homes. I assumed it would be cleaning, shopping etc and during the day. The hours are 7am -10 am then the same hours in the evening. It is for half hour visits to get them out of bed, change their incontinence pads/comode then get them dressed. It is £6 per hour and I have to pay petrol and additional car insurance and there is no guarantee I'll be workring close to home (doing several visits in those hours).

Aib very u not take this job?

[BlackandGold]

Horrible hours! And do you get a mileage allowance?

And it sounds exhausting!

[2to3]

Depends how much you want to be working long term. It's a job, and having something recent on your CV is much more likely to lead to other things than a degree, esp. during a recession. Go for it - if it's terrible you can always quit.

[FagAshLill]

If I remember right there is training involved in that job too which you will need to look into. It's not a lot of money for a lot of work.

The things you have to look out for is that you dont get paid for travelling to and from each house, it is only while you are in the house itself. You will expected to drive from one area to another in a silly amount of time, which you wont meet because of traffic.

A 3 hour shift on paper can turn into a 6 hour shift, plus there is waiting for another carer to join you, patients can be violent, awkward and very demanding - and none of this is their fault.

After seeing several friends do this line of work it is no wonder why the staff turnover in these jobs is so high.

Think very carefully and talk to as many people who already do the job as you can.

[cantspel]

Any job is better than no job

[ImperialBlether]

It's appalling that you have to pay your own petrol to go to visit clients. My son's friend does this job and there can be three or four hour waits between visits, he can drive fifteen miles to a client's house, etc. He wants a job in social services, he lives at home and his mum pays for his petrol, in an effort to get him started.

In your position I wouldn't do that job. You shouldn't have to spend money just to do your job (apart from travel to and from.)

[Butterflybows]

Thankyou so much for your replies. I felt any job would be better than no job, but have thought about all weekend and decided it is not worthwhile BUT I feel so guilty/lazy etc.

[FagAshLill]

Butterflies, in your position you will only be making things wordse for yourself.

My friends also had kids of various ages and husbands/partners to support them and they found it tough and very unrewarding.

As a single parent myself and desperate for a job, I looked into this as a job option, but for me it just wasnt worth it.

[Butterflybows]

Thanks FagAshLill x

[AnyFucker]

You shouldn't feel guilty

Those hours are not workable as a single parent family, full stop

Keep looking

I also think any job can lead to other, better things, but there is a limit

Split shifts are just awful...they should be outlawed, IMO

[Crosshair]

Don't feel guilty.

Hopefully something decent will come along soon.

[izzywhizzyletsgetbusy]

When you are working with the disadvantaged it can very often be a case of having to set your own incentives and making your own rewards to carry you through.

A lot of so-called 'caring' work with the elderly is not far short of exploitation - of them as well as those who are employed to care for them.

The work you have been offered is unlikely to be rewarding in any sense of the word, but looking after one or two elderly clients could fit in with your home circumstances and commitments.

If this area of work appeals to you, consider offering your services privately on local notice boards or gumtree.

[GetOrfMoiSamsungFridgeFreezer]

I would normally advocate taking any job, just to get a job iyswim, but that sounds like a shower of shit.

Split shifts are horrible - I worked them many years ago and it is very tiring - you can't relax in the bit in the middle because you know you have to be on duty later in teh day.

And the money is awful. Plus you should get petrol, those are rotten terms and conditions.

I would keep applying for other jobs and hopefully something better will turn up soon.

[SmethwickBelle]

I know of someone who worked for a private care organisation and was given these 20 minute or half hour windows and it was rarely possible to give each person the requisite attention, and get to the next appointment on time. He was forever getting grief from the company or the other clients and was a very dilligent person - so even though this work is hugely valuable I'd be cautious about set ups like these.

[Butterflybows]

Thankyou for your replies - I feel much better/less guilty now!