Quit NHS and retrain as a counsellor

If you enjoy your work now can you apply for the same job in a different Trust or part of the NHS - is it this office/manager that is toxic?

Forgot to mention that most FE colleges offer ten or twelve introductory part-time courses in counselling, so I would really recommend this to dip your toe into it all.

This totally, the NHS can be a very toxic workplace. However it is also a huge organisation and it should be possible to move roles or find other jobs, within the organisation, without having to leave and give up on your pension and length of service.
As for retraining to be a counsellor, I looked into this myself many years ago. It was a very long and arduous process, in my opinion and also, as a very empathetic person I realised it wasn't the role for me as I wouldn't be able to switch off.

Do look on nhs jobs within a 50 mile radius to see what vacancies there are. Here there are a few admin jobs, bank and ooh nursing shifts and hca. It really just isn’t a great time for changing fields if you already have a solid AHP job.

This is a little out of left field but would you consider retraining as a speech and language therapist? There’s a lot of demand in my area for SALTs

For working with CYP in the nhs you will be competing against a lot of psychology grads. The typical pathway is psychology degree and then either trainee cwp / EMHP or assistant psychologist. From there it’s usually a period of time and building up a key skills portfolio and applying for training for cbt therapist or a doctorate.

NHS don’t offer much in the way of counselling for CYP instead referring into charity sector for that. They only recognise specific courses for counselling so you’d need to make sure you investigate what roles you would like and what the nhs would accept.

You could look at training to be an adhd coach or sleep specialist or parenting support, there are quite a few different options and things that people offer privately in the wellbeing and mental health sphere.

I know someone who trained as a counsellor alongside still doing their NHS job, qualified and did private work as well, then got a job in the NHS as a counsellor (staff support, so counselling for other staff) continued training and plan is to do the counselling full time at some point as private practice. So it is possible.
Maybe doing it gradually is the way to go? You can build up your client base whilst still working.
You can put in a Flexi learning request as well

If you retrain a counsellor, you need to think about what would make you employable, and that means what the NHS would employ you for. That is children, systemic psychotherapy or CBT.
I make a living as a therapist in private practice, but I trained to masters level, over 6 years, and it was expensive. The market is saturated for those with shorter qualifications, and those who don’t like marketing themselves.
Despite my masters, I am unemployable in the NHS, because they are so restrictive on what types of therapy they offer. If you train in one of those, you’d easily get a job. Just not sure that would solve your dilemma!

I am a counsellor, I have between 20 to 25 paying clients a week both in a private capacity and with a charity I work with.
i know a fair few counsellors who are also working successfully within the field.
The training is a hard slog and expensive however the job is so rewarding. I can’t imagine doing anything else!

Have you thought about occupational health @Nmeag. I believe it's a shortage area and the providers are largely independent companys. Many of the referrals will be in relation to MH so a crossover with why counselling might be needed without providing any counselling.

Non-practicing counsellor here. Good to know you’ve changed your position and now want to side step because as others have said it is very difficult to get work. My former peers who’re making a good living in private practice are all in affluent areas, took on extra training and network like crazy. Some others got jobs in the NHS soon after they qualified (the qualification being a BACP accredited Level 7 diploma which perhaps was advantageous). But the majority of people I trained with don’t work as counsellors.

As a piece of personal development the training was invaluable (but financially expensive and tiring). It was probably the best thing I’ve ever done, on balance.

That's actually a really good point I live in a deprived area to so that is perhaps the reason we don't have many private counsellors here.

Very area dependent. I live in a fairly deprived area where the NHS and charity wait lists are years but private counsellors can’t make a living because no one can afford to pay for counselling.

I think its area dependant there aren't many where I live

I am unsure of what profession you are but can you access the Professional nurse/ midwifery/ ahp advocate service in your area? The AHP strand is newer so might not be in your area yet. They can help with career coaching.

Are people on waiting lists for years for private counselling? They are for NHS community mental health services and diagnostic services but don’t think there’s an issue in accessing private services.

For now, I’d try and stay and make the best of it. With nhs England going and cuts in lots and lots of teams and departments you are better with the devil you know. Maybe look at what training you can do in your own time to look at opportunities in the future.

You could also investigate paying for some career counselling or coaching to think about what you want to do.

Have you considered working at a GP practice, the nursing staff seem pleased at my health centre. It seems much better hours and you would probably not have to do retraining. Self employment would mean no sick pay or pension which is an aspect to take into consideration.

So my AIBU is am I silly to give up a career iv had for 15 years

Yes.

i need to harden up, dont give up the pension and job security and stick it out

Yes.

If you're done with the NHS, could you work in a private hospital. Or try the Civil Service.

@imaginationhasfailedme cyp counselling and school counselling isn’t a great idea right now. A lot of schools can’t afford to take them on and have access to the nhs mhst for free so won’t pay for an additional resource.

If you could retrain within the NHS you might find enough work as a counsellor (though still subject to the NHS!); but the profession is over-subscribed these days so tread carefully training outside if a regular income is essential.

As a PP said, have a look on counselling directory in your local area and see how many there are.
I'm lucky that I can be a counsellor but we definitely don't rely on my private practice income. You can get work through EAPs but often need extra steps of accreditation to get those roles.
Training as a CYP counsellor could be an extra bonus as some schools are willing to pay a private counsellor to work within their structure.
I mean, it's a great job and I love it, but I couldn't live on what I earn. Think a good three years training plus your own counselling costs throughout the course as a start.
Is there any way you can do PT and train PT?

Hi OP
I worked for decades in the NHS and have had some truly wonderful experiences. That said, I worked in a couple of places where the working environment was toxic and I had to leave. I wasn't in a position to leave without another job to go to but concentrated on applying for other positions until I was successful.
Please consider alternative posts.
I truly appreciate how horrible it is going to work in a horrible work environment.

It’s very hard to get a paid job as a trained counsellor from what I’ve heard. There might be the demand but there just aren’t jobs available