Could I retrain on maternity leave?

[AwkwardPaws27]

Are there any good online courses that could actually lead to a career that I could do on maternity leave? Would need to be online as wouldn't be unable to attend in person, ideally no more than 12 hours a week and flexible so can work around DHs availability, new baby and DS (age 3).

I've previously done various admin roles, was an executive assistant & started training as an accountant (completed CFAB) but really didn't get on with it and last manager completely destroyed my confidence so ideally not finance related! I have a biomed degree but not IBMS accredited.

I currently work part-time in a school office but my hours won't work with nursery (I work 11-2 so would have to pay for a full day which would be far more than I earn) but if I'm going to have new baby in nursery and pay for wraparound & holiday care for DS then I'll need to earn more so wondering if any qualifications might help.

Ideally I'd like to do radiography in future but that won't be until DC are quite a bit older due to shifts. DH works away regularly so I need to be able to work office hours (so I can do nursery drop off /pick ups). But I need to earn more than minimum wage in the interim years!

Until you said more than minimum wage I was going to suggest looking for admin jobs in the NHS/a GP surgery. There are usually a few with a mix of hours, but it is only NLW, in primary care at any rate.

I have plenty of admin experience, & I don't think I'd have too much difficulty getting a full-time admin or receptionist role, but I need something better paid (hence thinking about retraining).
My other option is commuting into London for higher wages but the net loss of an extra 2-3 hours childcare per day for 2 kids + travel expenses doesn't really make sense unfortunately, although I haven't ruled it out if I could get a hybrid role with good progression prospects.

If you want to do radiography then I would look for a part time radiography assistant job. It might lead you into an apprenticeship. You’d also get a feel fr whether the job is right for you.

I'd love to but I cannot do shifts; every role I've seen advertised within commuting distance over the last year has asked for 24/hr availability.
DH works away regularly but unpredictably, and I have to be able to drop off and collect DS & new baby from nursery / wraparound care.

Do you have any centres near you that do X-rays scans 9-5 ? I had a scan but not at the hospital. It was on an industrial estate they did x rays and scans , still NHS.

They are 8am-8pm (outskirts of London) - grateful for the service if I ever need it but doesn't work with childcare unfortunately.

I'm really looking for course ideas for the next year though as DC2 is still cooking!

So do something related like Rehab Support Worker or Healthcare Assistant. Not all NHS jobs are shift work. That would be far more valuable than doing admin work. It’s hard to get a foot in the door or onto a degree course without any clinical experience at all unless you are a school leaver.

how is your excell?

By school hours I assume you mean term time too? Otherwise you’ll be scuppered in a year when your oldest goes to school.
Can you look for finance roles or FT admin roles in a school?

school bursar?
are those hours better?

university or college admin?

Have a look at these OP. Microcredentials you can study from home, they’re not too expensive and take about 10 weeks. Some are postgrad level but there’s a variety of subjects.

https://www.futurelearn.com/certifications/microcredentials?page=3

They do other bootcamp courses too and expert tracks’. Take a look and good luck!

Thank you, this is the sort of thing I was looking for. Do you think a prospective employer would take them seriously though?

OP book a call with the National Careers Service perhaps? I found them helpful.

Thank you. Definitely planning to do so closer to the time, but I won't be looking at radiography for about a decade - kids will need to be secondary school age really before I can commit to the shifts etc as DH works away.

In the interim I cannot really afford to be on a Band 2/3 salary and when I've been looking at our local hospitals most roles, including admin, are on 24 hour contracts. So really looking at course ideas to maximise earnings in another field for the next decade.

I did an intermediate course before but that was about 15 years ago so could definitely be worth a refresher. I'm good in some areas (did quite a bit of data validation, clean up & visualisation in finance role) but don't really have anything on paper to prove it. I'll have a look at Excel courses - any recommendations?

@AwkwardPaws27 to be honest I’m not entirely sure. But, as some of them are postgrad level, I don’t see why not! You’d need to do your research before signing up though. Maybe contact Futurelearn?