Bored out my brains nhs job

[ihatemyjob5]

I've worked in admin for the NHS for around 7 years now and I hate it. It bores me to death most days. The 'busiest' I have been is when I worked within a GP surgery but still certainly not rushed of my feet. I now work for a trust and have been within 2 roles, most recent one for a year now. I'm a band 3 and know there are band 2s out there who work a lot harder than me/do a lot more. It's so painfully boring, I finish most my work within an hour or 2. The NHS wastes sooo much money on staff that isn't needed, always have. My manager isn't interested. My colleagues are lazy so they drag there work out as much as humanly possible whilst spending a lot of time browsing the internet and would not dream of being honest about the lack of work. I'm pissed off I'm having to go to work everyday during this situation to do the most mundane unimportant jobs and sit watching the clock as it's the furthest away from essential work. I complained again and was sent to another department and sat filing blank bits of paper all day long. I've just had enough. I desperately need out as it's soul destroying and I have no interest anymore. I'm trying to figure out a plan/career change but it's difficult when I have a mortgage and bills to pay for. Has anyone gone from admin to a different more motivating role, if so what was it?

I’m NHS and I’ve a suspicious that boring jobs like this will be axed when we realise how efficient we can be when we need to. 👍

@Daffodil101 I have my doubts with the service I work for, they even offered overtime as they had a lot of money left in the budget apparently, it's astonishing that there is such a lack of work anyway yet they offer overtime at a higher rate. A complete and utter waste. I think if they got rid of anyone it would be the band 2.

Agree with Daffodil, just now it's becoming really clear what jobs are and aren't needed and who steps up to the mark and who just takes the easy way out.

Middle managers hiding at home and sending front line workers out. Boring admin jobs with no work to do. All out of jobs.

@Daffodil101 exactly what my managers are doing, haven't been to work in weeks. I'm looking at other posts daily but I just don't feel like I want to do admin anymore my experience has well and truly put me off, it's the most unfulfilling job with pathetic pay. There is only a few of us admin and I believe they are already trying to get rid of one of them but it's a long process.

If middle managers can work from home then they should, to protect those front line workers and their families. Most of my colleagues are working from home, unless they have clinical duties. With remote working they are working longer hours than they would in the office. Otoh other depts have the view that managers should be on the front line with their staff - cue more staff absence with covid.

Ihatemyjob g then do something about it! Lol for opportunities to work elsewhere. Do training, ask for more work. In my experience those who are capable and good at admin tend to move on quickly.

Who are you admin for ??

I'm an Nhs admin for district nurses and we are always busy, even more so at the moment.

Check if your local ambulance service are hiring control room staff. You certainly won't be twiddling your thumbs. A general understanding of the nhs and admin skills will set you in good stead. I started in nhs admin band 2.
Call assessors at our trust start at a band 3, can move part way through a band 4. You can progress to dispatcher (band 4) and then Controller posts are a band 6.

There are plenty of jobs available at the moment. Why not ask for a transfer to assist with the covid emergency.

It’s a kind of open secret that some NHS office staff are surplus to requirements and unsackable. I couldn’t work in an environment like that. I’d do as PPs suggested, move sideways to a busy, useful NHS admin role.

Time to look for another job then, as soon as this is over.

Ambulance service would definitely be something that would interest me but I've usually dismissed that due to the shifts and the fact DP is only ever home at weekends, we would literally never see each other. Although he has encouraged me before as he knows I would enjoy that more than what I do now, I would love to get into the clinical side of things aswell eventually.

To the people saying well do something about it, I've vocalised at work how it is and I had been moved to another department to help out due to the current situation (other colleagues refused) but I was sat filing all day long. 3 departments I've worked at now and all have been the same minimal, lack of work and very boring which is putting me off applying for anymore admin roles due to fear it would be exactly the same.

Admin. is boring. But sometimes you can make a sideways move just to change company and then move into something more interesting from there. Perhaps look for admin. jobs in interesting companies. May be a way in. i don't know where you're based but years ago i did a lot of long term temp. assignments in London. Worked in some really interesting places: Royal Ballet, Chelsea Flower Show, Scotland Yard etc. Finally ended up doing purchasing of supplies for a museum. Some real characters there and very interesting. It's also the people you work with who make the jobs. More interesting companies may have more interesting people! I did finally get a degree as a mature student and went on to working in project management. I do feel your pain because some jobs can be absolutely soul destroying and make you feel miserable. You have a good track record and shown you can be reliable as you've stuck at a job and got promotion. That's a really good starting point to apply for jobs. Go for it!

And where do you work where you're still filling paper records??

Can you ask to be redeployed to portering or being a healthcare assistant during the current crisis?

I've spent a lot of time today looking on the internet but there is absolutely nothing at the moment. I don't know much longer I can deal with this before I lose my sanity. We have HCAs in our service who are twiddling there thumbs also as not seeing any patients and they haven't been sent elsewhere as they've been told they're not needed so that's not an option either.

I'm NHS admin, I'm convinced the reason I'm still risking my health going to the office every day is because our managers are terrified of someone realising they aren't as important as they want their own bosses to think they are. Our office really should be shut at the moment.

I'm a band 3 and know there are band 2s out there who work a lot harder than me/do a lot more

I think if they got rid of anyone it would be the band 2

Make your mind up.

Band 2 NHS admin here..

Why on Earth would they get rid of lower paid overworked band 2 staff, when they could get rid of underworked Band 3 staff on a higher wage bracket?

It doesn’t make sense to me, sorry.

I feel your pain OP! I am so bored at the moment . Constantly told how 'busy' we are. I ask and aak for more work, offer to support other departments. Nothing! I am worried they will get rid of me soon as a knock on from corona down turn. I was applying for jobs before all this but hadn't heard anything , now it'll be x10 as hard!

Honestly you need to whistle blow...

I’m looking at it from a business point of view, btw.

Band 4 NHS admin here. My job is boring and barely existent...luckily for me I have a boss who is not only willing for me to do other work but has happily let me second into a far more interesting and busy band 2 during the crisis (I started in the NHS at this band 2 level so I know the job well). Manager from the band 2 role has stamped his feet with management and ensured we can all work from home with a rota basis to cover the office.
So yes I’m doing a band 2 job whilst being paid at band 4 level.
It’s all messed up.

@AppleFruitloaf66 I meant harder working band 2's in other departments, not mine. The band 2 in my department is incredibly lazy and drags out a 20 minute job over 2 days.