If your job involves helping people or children, what do you do?

[Tigersteakpie]

I'm looking to change career. Just after sort of upper level ideas ATM. I like helping and supporting people. I can retrain to an extent. I need to earn at least 28k. I do have a job at the moment but it doesn't involve helping people. It's a sort of sales role. I've been doing it for 2 years now but have hated it since day 1. We can now afford for me to take a paycut and retrain so I'm weighing up my options!

I have a history of quite bad health anxiety so it cannot be anything adult health related, so dr's and nurses etc are out for me. I'm already a trained teacher (taught for 6 years) so teaching also out but something teacher related is not.

Use the term helping loosely too, it doesn't need to be like really wholesome help, I just like talking to people and helping them with things, whatever that may be - I used to work in a clothes shop and I loved that.

You could always work in a nursery or as a private tutor.

I am a nurse, but I am a mental health nurse (also family therapist and EMDR therapist) working with kids in a secure children's home (I.e. kids who have committed offenses, are on remand or are detained through another route).

I love it and I feel like we can really help people. If it is too medical for you, there are lots of other roles in our Centre. The residential workers are absolute heroes, there are things like case managers, TAs and teachers in the school.

I work for a social enterprise that raises money for the local community. I manage the office and get to decide where the money goes/how to divide it up among the community. Ie last month we give to a fuel Poverty charity. It’s very rewarding.

I am a foster parent, I mainly foster babies with more complex needs or who are born withdrawing from substances.

What about a SEN school teacher?

What about a charity that supports disadvantaged schools? There are loads of these in UK and lots of employees are former teachers and that background really helps.

Look at an agency called "Charity People" that recruits to charities.

What about adult education or training? Doesn't have to be classroom based, you could look at being a one to one coach for a private provider working on e.g. the work programme or a local council funded scheme. (Not dwp though- stressful). Your teacher training would be really relevant but it's a different environment.

These are so wonderful these ideas. And have cemented that sales really isn't for me!

I’m a community OT. Love it. Flexible working. Supportive NHS trust.

Patients are older people who have fallen or are at risk of hospital admission. We look at ways to promote independence, keep them safe and at home.

I'm a paediatric speech & language therapist. It's a nice balance between health and education. Some roles are more health-led (complex needs and swallowing, for example) and others are more education in nature. There is also on-the-job apprenticeship training due to start soon (I believe that it was delayed due to Covid). Might be worth a closer look?

Oooh I am ex teacher and interested in OT and Salt (had planned to be an Ed psych in the past).

The full time training away from home was a barrier in my case. I didn't realise apprenticrships were a thing!

I'm looking at council jobs around early help/parenting education/send

I work in CAMHS

To earn 28k you are likely going to need to do a degree or post grad to work in a professional role with children.
Nurse, social worker, OT etc

You could probably get just under that as a family support worker in social care. Maybe 25/26k with experience. NHS is lower paid than social care.

Childcare/nursery staff would reach nowhere near that.

Sorry I missed the teacher bit. That opens up more for you.

@justjuggling

I work in CAMHS

Can I ask how you got into CAMHS. Are you a nurse or other route in? I would love to work from CAMHS but not sure I can go in on a training wage as I don't have therapy training but do have a registration that meets the basic requirement.

What about advocacy? It's something I've thought about. You could see if there are are volunteer opportunities.

It won't make you rich in money but it will make your life richer and those you help.

Some other ideas to consider. Most of these options start or require training to treat adults and children, but you could specialise in children down the line

• osteopath. There are full and part time courses available. My osteopath also treats animals, but specialising in children and babies is an option too ! She is self-employed, rents rooms with other osteopaths and a physio and sets her own hours. You would need an interest and good knowledge of anatomy.

• Dietitian. Good knowledge of nutrition, but its also about educating people with various health disorders to help them eat for their condition. For example newly diagnosed diabetes, coeliacs, allergies, high protein for burns victims etc. Also scope to work in a health spa/clinic/gym.

• A first aid/CPR/mandatory trainer. There are various levels of qualifications. Generally the ILS and ALS levels are nurses or have some other direct health care experience, but I'm unsure of the exact requirements. Some people run these courses as a side line to their regular job.

• Medical rep. I'm unsure of the requirements, but with your teaching background, might be an option. Although its not generally direct with patients.

• Foster carer

• Volunteer at a local shelter, charity, luncheon club etc (not paid, but but might give you some direction)

Social worker
School therapist
Speech and language therapist
Camhs psychotherapist
Care home manager
Tutor one to one

I'm a SEND teacher. It's different to mainstream teaching..... not necessarily easier but the pressure points are very different (full on and physically tiring but less results based pressure)
It's incredibly rewarding and you do get to do a lot more of the fun stuff.
Is that something you'd consider?

Pastoral role in school, sixth form or college
Learning mentor type roles
Tutor

Roles like this ?

www.cv-library.co.uk/job/214798113/Student-Adviser