AIBU to be torn over a job offer - NHS

Can't really see why you are torn.stsy put. See what unfolds.

It sounds like you really want to stay and will regret moving.

Exactly. I work in the NHS and I would not trust any promise of extra pay or funding for new roles. Everything has been frozen in my trust and posts are being cut monthly.

is there any chance that the new role could turn full time? Say you’ve looked at your figures and to make it work you’d really need FT and is there any option that it will be in future? At least then you have asked and if it’s a no they won’t be surprised if you turn it down.

if your aim is to buy a house over career progression then I’d go with the more secure income. Progression will come when it’s the right time and your manager obviously sees something in you.

edited to add: just read your last post- if the niche specialism won’t come up again and it’s something that will bring you more joy and you can push back the property buying then that’s your answer.

its always hard to leave a good team, its sad but don’t let other people stand in the way of what is right for you.

I guess that does change things. Can you ask for an extra day to work out your decision?

I would stay where you currently are, that makes most sense to me

What attracted you to this new job in the first place?

You need to think how likely it is that she'd follow through and get you the job. Everyone's had a promise of something when they threaten (don't mean that badly, but it's sometimes how it's perceived) to walk, but some places can't or won't do it.

Where roughly are you based? Do you have children etc. to worry about pick ups? I commute a couple of times a week and it's fine but when there are cancellations/delays it can be a nightmare. Door to door for me is about 1hr30+
I would consider staying just to avoid commuting!
Alos have you considered travel costs, my daily commute if £40+ a day!

The fact that you’ve immediately come back with this very much suggests that deep down you were hoping to be told to stay where you are. Often it’s not until we get an answer that we realise it wasn’t the one we wanted. Good luck whatever you decide.

If you're serious about buying a house do not change jobs

Now is not the time to be reducing your income if you are planning to buy your first home. A significant reduction in income could significantly jeopardise your house purchase plans. Keeping a good record of consistent income is integral to the mortgage process going to plan, it is a tough process for most first time buyers. Your finances will be scrutinised even if you have a healthy deposit and taking a 2 day income cut could affect your ability to borrow the desired amount. You will be so glad that you remained in your role once you have purchased your house. This should matter more than a public sector job who would replace you within a month if anything happened to you.

If you accept the new role, you will be on a lengthy probation period, which will automatically make you ineligible for a mortgage. Band 7 roles within the NHS are also like gold dust. So many experienced people are desperate to go from a 6 to a 7. There is so much red tape with all nursing vacancies, I would not take any manager's word that they will make you a band 7. The interviews are so stringent, objective and points based that that there is every chance that an external candidate with equal experience could be offered the role your manager is promising by scoring more points than you. Accept that you might be a band 6 for longer, but with a steady income and the ability to WFH which is also gold dust within the NHS.

Tell them you've been offered another job and see what they suggest.

You need to get your flexible working request in on your current role asap. They cannot take ‘forever’. Legally they have 3 months to let you know, and they cannot arbitrarily reject it either. There are strict guidelines

If you’re wanting to buy a house, 100% stay in your current role until you’ve done that!
I would feel that if I was 50/50, it wouldn’t be worth the risk and dropping money at a time when you want your income to be as high as possible

Stay where you are then.

Your team will move on. You must have been interested in the role on offer to have applied for it, surely?
Accept the role, take bank shifts nearer to home and see what happens, would be my advice. I think bank work us pretty much guaranteed, especially going into winter.

Your manager is likely trying to keep you by promising a B7 progression and discouraging you from applying for flexible working and reducing your hours. When it gets to it if you want to reduce your hours they will likely facilitate this as they would rather have you (trained and capable already) for some shifts, than have to advertise for and train someone new (if they are even allowed to advertise and recruit to a vacancy at the moment, there is huge scrutiny in our trust and its very difficult to replace staff who leave). I would apply for flexible working to reduce your current hours and accept this new job, if its permanent. It temp its a bit too much upheaval for a short period of time. But the experience, being on cv, the pay and London weighting, and the specialism will be so good for you. Good luck!

I wouldn't rely on bank shifts too make up the time, most hospitals have put as block on hiring Bank staff. My partners cousin was a bank nurse for decades working regularly until this year when it completely stopped for her and she had to go permanent. Also when I was in hospital for a month over Christmas they were permanently understaffed as they were not allowed to bring in bank cover.
Partner also works for the NHS in a back office role and I believe this is current official policy.
Would there be scope for the band 7 role to increase over time? I do also believe that non bank shift cover is available, does your current role have a skillset where you could cover shifts in sickness, etc?

Fair enough. But still halving your affordability (or a proportion of it).

They may - my mortgage takes NHS bank pay into consideration, 50% of the previous years earnings.

Also if you are looking to buy a house, reducing your take home pay and trying to sub the new role with bank work is a bad idea. Mortgage companies may not take into account bank pay as it’s not guaranteed.