Career change/upgrade early 40s-help please!

[ladybirdsaredotty]

I've been working in social care since I graduated...a long time ago. I'm not as badly paid as some but I need to earn more now, plus I'm getting a bit sick of it! My degree is a biosciences-type one (2:1) but is obviously quite out-of-date.

I'd like to get a postgraduate qualification but I've got 3 primary-aged children so can't faff about with something that won't actually get me a job. Some of the things I'm most interested in (midwifery, nursing, teaching) come with quite rubbish working conditions, especially at the minute (no offence if you do one of these jobs-they're the ones I respect the most and I'm totally supportive of the strikes). Also, I love the idea of these jobs and the theory but wonder if the actual jobs might be quite overwhelming-I'm essentially an introvert although not shy and quiet. I like the idea of research/teaching within these areas but I'd obviously need experience first.

I'm also interested in genetics, psychology, neuroscience but even if I did an MSc in one of these subjects, it wouldn't exactly guarantee me a job at the end.

Occupational Therapy is often suggested on these threads but I'm not sure I'm that interested in it! I'm also used to getting enhancements for nights/weekends etc but I know I'd be better off financially in the long run to change to something like this.

I feel like I go round and round in circles with all this (I could write an even longer post on all the ins and outs of each potential career!). If you've changed jobs/careers at a similar age, how did you decide what to do?

I have a supportive partner but he works shifts so everything also comes with added logistical childcare issues!

Thanks for any replies 😊

Bump!

How much do you need to earn?

Thanks for the reply...I'm currently on about 20k for 3 days a week so more than that! I could potentially pick up more hours at my current workplace but then I worry that I'll never leave 😅 And I do want a 'career' really now all my kids are at school...

How about one of the NHS Allied Professions?

Have a look at physicians associate. Your science degree and work in social care makes you well qualified. You can learn and earn. Qualified are band 6 NHS

Hi OP, I too have looked at the careers you mention. Some of the things that have been a barrier to me are like you say the huge workload for little pay, the training being very inflexible, placements possibly being too far away when you have a family to consider.

Unfortunately, it seems that more of the better paying jobs with more flexibility and better training options tend to be in different sectors such as finance or tech.

I think you need to look at what childcare you have, what is physically possible, where your heart really is and what matters more over money or enjoyment, or is their a balance somewhere? Some people I know seem happy in data science, others would hate it.

Sorry it isn't a post giving you a perfect option. But, I am with you. You have to make so many compromises and it can seem unfair at times. Is having a career really what you want or need? Perhaps you could just have a look and see if any other jobs take your fancy. You can often get assistant practitioner jobs that aren't badly paid with the council.

Alot to consider!

What are you currently doing in social care?

It might be worth looking at whether there are opportunities within your local council with adult social care. Once you work there they can be good about supporting people to do apprenticeships in lots of different areas so your course gets paid and you get some paid time for studying/attending the course and progressing.

There are lots of different areas you can move into with the ASC team - Care Quality, Care Management, Training, Safeguarding, Reablement, OT, Social Work, Direct Payments Team etc. and then there are lots of opportunities for progression.

The council's entry level/lower level jobs don't always appear that great pay wise (although quite often holidays, working conditions, expectations of what you do in the time can be better) but there are often a lot more varied opportunities to progress once you. move up the ladder and more support with training than you might get in care roles in the private sector.

If you're interested in teaching a training role could suit you.

Might also be looking at Pharmaceutical companies with your degree and the roles they are advertising e.g. training. There are lots of jobs in medical writing and editing if you enjoy that sort of thing, bio-science graduates are needed. Although it sounds like perhaps you would prefer a patient-focussed role?

I’d look at clinical research associate roles. You might need some trial assistant experience to get through the door but if that’s your current earning potential trial assistant work should be affordable or potentially a pay rise.

It would avoid going back into training and has better earning potential longer term than physicians associate roles in the uk (and no nights/weekends). The ceiling for cra is about 70k if paye or double that if contracting.

Thank you...yes, I have considered most of them. I like my job for the fact that I get to know the people I work with (as in, the ones we support) and I'm not sure you always get that in the same way with the AHPs although I'm probably a bit biased by what I see at my specific workplace which is potentially not representative!

Thanks! It was the funding (or relative lack of) during training that put me off this a bit. Also I worry it carries a lot of the responsibility of being a doctor without the training or pay! But it is something I've looked into

Definitely don't go into nursing now!

You get the relationship building working in schools but unqualified and the pay is awful, qualified and you are looking at 55 hour weeks. This would probably be more during the pgce. Possible with 3 young children, there will be some who have done it but most would end up burnt out I am guessing.

Thank you, yes, you've hit the nail on the head! There are so many options/variables to consider which is why I go round and round in circles. Thanks for the solidarity!

I have been looking for jobs (as opposed to training) too-yes, other sectors pay much better! Although obviously not always within a 15 mile radius of my house 😆 As a side note, I find it frustrating that jobs/careers that involve 'caring' in some capacity pay so badly in comparison to others but there we go!

Thank you!

I'm quite keen to get out of social care to be honest. I've liked it but I've done it for so long now! Thanks for the ideas, though.

I'm definitely interested in the things you mention in your last paragraph, though! Strangely I was reading an old thread last night that mentioned similar things so I did start tentatively looking but need to do further research!

Ha I know, what a time to consider it! Every time I think I should 'just go for it,' I read something else that puts me off!!

Thank you! Yes, these are the exact things that put me off TA/teaching. On paper I'm a similar level to a TA but my basic pay is about 7k more than they earn (if both full time) and then I get shift allowance on top. And I could get a great bursary if I got on to a science PGCE but I'm not sure we could make the childcare work (or if we could it would take away the financial benefits of the bursary!) nor am I sure my mental health could cope.

Great thank you, I'll have a look!

It looks to me that you'd be earning around 36k full time. That's not too bad, is it? I'm band 6 nhs after 10 years' experience (retrained starting in my late 30s) and I'm only on a couple of K more than that.

Would you consider going into management?

What about looking at the NHS bioscience training roles?

If you're interested in neuroscience and psychology, have you thought of going into market research or marketing? You can earn quite a decent salary once you move up the ladder into more senior roles.

I have no idea what it pays like but if you are thinking of teaching could you teach (well lecture I guess) social care? Wonder if it would be a quicker easter transition

Maybe a bit less than that but that sort of ball park, yes. But only because it's shift work and I do a lot of certain types of shift and that probably wouldn't increase much with my hours if you see what I mean so maybe 33k ish full time? But I really feel like I need a change now for various reasons!

I think I'd be rubbish at management and that is basically the only direct route from my current job!

I will have another look at the NHS science roles, thank you. I think I applied to similar a few years ago but didn't hear back-It's really competitive.

Thanks! Marketing isn't something I've previously considered but I'll definitely have a look. I feel so lost about what to do that I'm quite happy to consider stuff I've never thought of before!

I'll look into that too, thank you! I have a feeling you'd be paid per session but not sure I've ever properly looked into it.

If this change is driven by the need for more money then I would steer clear of nursing, midwifery and teaching. They’re striking for a reason.

Have you considered speech and language therapy or physio therapy? I don't think you've mentioned what you do in social care (residential work?) or whether it's with children or adults?