Lost my job today

[QuestionableMouse]

I've been working as a private housekeeper for about 18 months now. The lady who owns the house had a very bad fall a few weeks ago and has been in hospital. She has three adult children.

I went in today and was locked out of the house with no key in the safe. Rang her oldest son with no answer - he text me back and told me my services were no longer needed and he'd transfer my money tonight.

It has absolutely and totally dropped me in the shit - I was doing 12-15 hours a week to top up my UC. No idea how I'm going to live on £780 a month and I've been applying for jobs but I have a chronic health condition that means I struggle with anything too fast paced (and couldn't stand at a till for 8 hours or whatever)

I'm absolutely gutted too because I loved it - it was a beautiful house, she has a small dog who I've really bonded with and I'm really going to miss it.

I know there's probably stuff I can do legally but I honestly don't have the heart for it!

Definitely message back and ask if they’d like you to work your notice or if they’d rather just pay you for the week and you not work. Could you look at a similar role in schools/offices if not care homes? Some cleaning, some organising, not full time hours etc

Can you look for some more home help type of work? Perhaps put something through doors locally saying a job with a neighbour has just come to an end (obviously don't say who on the paper but you could explain more in person if they ask to meet you) and say you are available for shopping/light cleaning/company/preparing meals etc. Check with the son that he is happy to give you a verbal reference and you can put on the leaflet reference from last job available.

I was in a similar situation a while ago, and I know what you feel. I worked for more than ten years for a family, and in the end, they just changed the locks and blocked me everywhere. After millions of attempts to reach them, I accepted the situation and let it go. Frankly, it took me a lot of time to recover.
If you are afraid that you have remained without a job, please do not. You cannot even imagine how many cleaning jobs there are. Many people look desperately for your help and services.
As a suggestion, you can list your services on AroundWire or Home Advisor to faster find a job. These can be helpful tools to connect with potential clients who need "service master cleaning jobs" or similar services.

Sorry OP that's awful. If you were on friendly terms with the lady's neighbours it would be worth letting them know you are available. Also what's happening to the dog? Would you like to walk it, you could ask the son, although he sounds like an asshole.

She lived on a large farm with no neighbours so that's not an option unfortunately. And I have no idea what happened to the dog - I've been either ignored or blocked when I've contacted them to ask.

That's awful, and I'm sorry. It really does knock you for six, doesn't it?

What a horrible rude man the son sounds. Obviously he must be devastated by his mum's diagnosis, but it's no excuse to treat you like crap and ignore you, op.
I hope you find another suitable job soon 💐

Thank you! I'm struggling with my health at the moment (waiting for testing for a genetic condition) but I'm still looking. How he did it made me feel uncomfortable and awful, honestly.