Leaving the NHS... Advice please

[JobHunting4]

I've applied for a job with a local council. It's a nursing job, and includes some public health training. It's something I'd been looking at for a while, but I had been looking within the NHS.

Can anyone give me the major disadvantages (and any advantages), of taking a nursing job outside the NHS? Is it something you would consider?
I have about 8yrs service and am mid 30s. I've got 30+yrs left to work.

Thanks everyone

[Jackyjill6]

If you've got 30 years to work you have plenty of time to get experiences in different fields. If it's where your interest lies and you'll get extra training, your career may take off in a different direction completely.

[Babyroobs]

I have just left the NHS and the main disadvantage for me is to be losing the pension, although local council pensions may be quite good also. I know I can re-join the NHS scheme at a later date but I think it is one of the best schemes around.

[JobHunting4]

Thank you both. @babyroobs do you have any regrets over leaving? I'm worried I'm making a knee jerk reaction to being a bit fed up, and I'll regret it down the line...

[Babyroobs]

I don't have regrets at the moment- my Nursing job was so stressful I really think it was having a terrible effect on my health and mental wellbeing and something just snapped and I thought enough is enough. I'm not ruling out that I will never work for the NHS again, but for now the benefits of leaving a job I hated outweigh losing my pension !

[MrsJoshDun]

As long as you can keep your registration it will be good experience.

[retirednow]

The downsize to Leaving the nhs is the pension, unsocial hours payments and generous sick pay. Will you join the council pension. Will you be working normal 9 to 5 hours, not doing shifts after so long took a bit of getting used to. What is your new job, it will be exciting to do something different, if you really miss the nhs you can always do occasional bank. If you wear your own clothes will you get an allowance.

[JobHunting4]

It's still nursing, but health visitor training. I have considered leaving nursing all together, but not sure what I would do. Something needs to give though. Thanks for your replies, it's reassuring.

[retirednow]

Are you guaranteed a job as a HV at the end, it sounds interesting, working for the NHS is really challenging and it's always a good idea to try something a bit different, don't give up your registration just yet and make sure you meet the N.m.c, requirements to stay on the register.

[ayedidye]

The only downside I came across was when I wanted to go back to the nhs. Anything over 2 years (i think) is a break in service so your entitlements start at the bottom again even if you are on the bank.
Everything else kinda evened it's self out for me, the holidays in the council were less but my working week was shorter and could use flexi time and more public holidays.
My council pay was better and I got expenses.

[TittyGolightly]

Break in service is 12 months.

[ayedidye]

@TittyGolightly I knew it wasn't long. I was away for just under two years and managed to have mine reinstated as I was on a permanent weekend rota. It took a bit of fighting though.

[MrsJoshDun]

Why would you go back on the bottom of the band?

Just curious as I left a substantive nhs role when I was top of my band. I’m on the bank and still on the top of my band.

[MrsJoshDun]

Though I only left my substantive a few months ago. I thought if I stayed on the bank it wouldn’t be a break in service? Will they put me down to bottom of my band soon?

[ayedidye]

That's should have said 'thanks titty'

Not bottom of the band @MrsJoshDun, the banding is the job you apply for and where you are placed on the pay scale depends on experience. It's your rights that you lose, ie annual leave entitlement goes back to the beginning and sick pay entitlement.

May be different in England with privatisation- I'm in Scotland. The trust that I went to puts you back to the beginning after 12 months.

[ayedidye]

@MrsJoshDun my band didn't change, as I applied for a band 6 job. My experience took me to the top of it but they tried to start me at 27 days annual leave and sick pay entitlement for the amount of years I'd worked in the nhs being back at the beginning.

I had been told staying on the bank keeps your service but when I challenged HR they said it didn't. Luckily my last employer was able to confirm I was part of a permanent rota and the only way to pay me was via the bank. That seemed to work.

[takemetomars]

I thought that HVs had access to the NHS pension scheme? Practice nurses and DNs certainly do?

[JobHunting4]

@takemetomars that's interesting, I'll def ask about that.
I've only applied, so trying not to get carried away. The hv training is band 5 with a guaranteed band 6 position after, and this position need to be held for a couple of yrs as a condition of the job. The only reason I would leave would be to get a hv job closer to home, so that would off set against petrol and travel time. It wouldn't bother me.
Nmc has to be kept up as I'd be working as a nurse, so not an issue.
Ive heard mixed messages about starting at the bottom of a band if returning. Its not very clear (as always)

[ayedidye]

You shouldn't start at the bottom of the band, you'd negotiate where you'd go to on the scale depending on your experience. Normally inline with the salary you finished on.

I left the nhs at band 5 for quite a promotion with the council. When I went back to nhs on band 6 I negotiated that I was paid 1
Less than the top of a band 6 as it was the same was what I was paid in the council and my experience reflected that.

Don't know if that's the same for all trusts. I think they have to honour experience.

[takemetomars]

Pretty certain that you would have access to the NHS pension scheme.
I am sure that you know this but worth mentioning that the HV role is pretty much 100% child protection work now.