53, burnt out, knackered and considering college. Anyone relate?

[Gingernaut]

I've broken down, mentally and physically, after flogging myself in an NHS job I was unsuited for.

I'm currently off sick with joint and back issues and am waiting for an OH report on whether I could be redeployed.

I have no recent further or any higher qualifications and have been toying with thoughts of an access course.

Has anyone retrained at a late stage?

What did you study?

How does the modern education system work?

Tuition fees are frightening and I have no idea what I want to study, how to go about choosing or where to go for unbiased information.

I'm in England, btw.

Hi Op
I would sort out your current health issues before applying for a new job.
Currently you will have sick pay.
If you move then you will not have the same rights .
What are you doing about your MH?

Me too op

I'd try and get myself sorted out physically and mentally first as it sounds as though your self esteem is shot to pieces. Re a career change, whatever pp have said, once you're over 50 it's difficult to find work with no experience in that field. Think about a 10-year plan: can you afford to go part time and then retire early? Can you train in something where you can be your own boss (sounds scary but a flexible option)? Can you pay off debts/mortgage early so that you're not as financially dependent on a full-time salary? I'd stay off sick until you feel a lot better and spend the time looking at options.

Go for the job and if it doesn't work out, have a look at study.

I first went to uni in my 30s, I'm a couple of years older than you and currently doing an OU degree for fun/personal interest.

I'd suggest looking at the OU, they have a lot of advice and there are also some free courses to see what you are interested in.

I'm off sick, getting sick notes 1 week at a time and I'm doing stretching exercises every day.

Until someone actually sees what the problems are and not just hear me try and describe the problems down the phone, I'm a bit stuck.

A diagnosis and treatment could take months.

@Gingernaut

I'm off sick, getting sick notes 1 week at a time and I'm doing stretching exercises every day.

Until someone actually sees what the problems are and not just hear me try and describe the problems down the phone, I'm a bit stuck.

A diagnosis and treatment could take months.

It could but if you are burnt out then isnt that in your best interests? Burnt out generally means a mental breakdown -are you looking at help for this or do you mean physically ? Whatever the situation I would stay in your current post and go through diagnosis and treatment. If they redeploy you into a less taxing role then you retain all your current accrued benefits-sick pay, leave, increments.

That's what I'm thinking.

I'm physically and mentally wrecked and can't carry on limping from job to job.

I've declined tomorrow's interview and withdrawn my application.

The other two interviews in June are with my current employer.

There a great book called
What Color Is Your Parachute 2020 by Richard N Bolles which is helpful in identifying what you are really suited to work wise. I have changed direction a few times, mostly because where I live jobs are not easy to find but have in my 50 s found the thing that makes sense of all the other jobs and experience. Burnout is a hard place to be. I hope you find your thing.

Yeah, read the parachute book.

I don't know what I missed, but I didn't find it helpful.

What role are in now Op?

The wrong one, apparently.

It's a high faluting technical sounding role, but it's essentially a specialist cleaner.

I have a telephone appointment with the OH physiotherapist booked for tomorrow, a telephone appointment with the NHS physiotherapist on Friday and (you guessed correctly) a telephone appointment with an OH doctor for 17th of June.

Looks like I'm off sick for the foreseeable future....🤒

Hope the appts go well @Gingernaut and I'm sure you made the right decision about the interview today, take your time and get well before you make any big decisions.

My boss called me while I was in the toilet at Costa, to catch up and see how I was.

He was so kind and full of praise for me, I nearly cried. I told him I was blushing.

He is so supportive and wants to help any way he can.

@DotBall

I’m the same at 53. I think it’s an age where we’ve worked for 30 years, age is starting to take a toll but retirement is stretching further away from us and the gap in between looks grim.

Is there any way you could phase retire and go part time for a few years before fully retiring? That’s my plan..

Depressing isn't it. I too am 53, like my current job but thinking should I try to do something else as I potentially still have another 15 working years left.

Haw you considered HRT ? Might help with joint pains etc

I'm not considered a candidate for some reason.

My joint pains can be atributed to injuries.

@Gingernaut

My boss called me while I was in the toilet at Costa, to catch up and see how I was.

He was so kind and full of praise for me, I nearly cried. I told him I was blushing.

He is so supportive and wants to help any way he can.

Thats so nice

Had a telephone consultation with a physiotherapist, who told me that as the GP had only referred me to her about my knee, she couldn't offer help with my back, heel or ankle, all of which are damaged due to compensating for my damaged knee.

I now have some exercises to do on an app for my knee.

I'll be grateful when face to face meetings are back.

Can anyone recommend a social media course?thought maybe I could do that as I’m so ancient and no skills at all as far as I can tell. Tho have a background in design, a long long time ago.

Have you been in the NHS long ? Some professions can take retirement at 55. If you are in the 1995 scheme and have special officer status. That’s included physios and some nurses . You would loose a percentage every year you take earlier but not much for two years. Sounds like you need some breathing space and a chance to test before you can decide what to do next.

Have you checked your local colleges. ? There’s lots of level 2 courses you can do for free on line.

Might just boost your confidence and spark some interest while you are off. I’ve just done one in safe medication but there’s lots of subjects not all health related. I’m going to do one totally desperate to my role next.

I've got 'Meeja Studies' under my belt.

I was looking at the local Access courses, but many are feeders for an unpopular local university

I'll keep looking, thank you for all your suggestions so far.

Apologies, I have posted in the wrong thread. Good luck gingernaught.

I went out this morning and came back to a letter from my employer, stating that I'm on half pay from yesterday until August and from then on I'm from unpaid sick leave.

I'm panicking now.

Who pays Statutory Sick Pay these days? Who applies for it? Do I?