To give notice if work won't let me take time off... Very stressed

[littlemissangrypants]

I'm a support worker and am a part-timer. I only work weekends. When I started this job they gave me so many hours I almost had a breakdown. My doctor made me have two weeks off. Work forced me to return early so I didn't get the two weeks break but they agreed to decrease my hours.
I thought that would be the end but at the moment I do 29 hour shifts (without breaks) so still do far too many hours. They have refused my requests for leave so out of 106 hour entitlement I have only been allowed 19 hours holiday but I lose £50 as a result due to sleepover not being done.
Now I'm moving house and it's very stressful so I asked for a week off in April. They agreed but it seems like they now won't allow me to take the holiday. I'm going out of my mind with stress and need a break. Going bald too. So am I being unreasonable if I hand in notice to preserve my sanity?

Who are you employed by
what does your contract say
Have you been to your union

But you are off the other 5 days of the week?

Do you get to sleep at night during work?

As Holly says, how many hours are you contracted for and what is the holiday entitlement in your contract?

How many hours did you agree to do when you started? What are the terms of your contract?

When you say 29 hours shifts - do you mean on call for that length of time?

You can hand in your notice at any time. No-one can force you to work for them.

It sounds dreadful, personally I'd want something else lined up first.

what on earth is going on here?
could you find another job? i really think its worth a try.

So they are refusing to allow you to take holidays full stop or are they dictating when they can be taken?

And they are forcing you to work well above your contracted hours?

Do you have a hr dept?

I am contracted to do 19 hours a week but also do waking sleep ins. So another 10 hours on top. I also often do training and other hours so probably another 10 hours a month on top of this.
I realize that most people won't understand why I need a break. It caring for people with learning disabilities is very stressful. Yes I do have the week off but Monday's and tuedays I can barely walk as I am on the go for the whole 29 hour shift. The full timers have a lot of holidays so I have to cover those. We also have stupid rules like all windows have to be cleaned every shift, the fridge and microwave cleaned and all carpets so it is very full on. There is a huge amount of paperwork too and I do a lot of things outside of my hours to complete everything.
I am stressed out and struggling to cope. I have not been to unions or anything else. Have spoken to management though. I am entitled to 106 hours holiday a year but they just won't let me take it as they have no cover for me. I don't think I can spend the rest of my life never being allowed to have a single weekend off, never having Christmas or Easter with my kids. Frankly if they keep pushing me to do more and more I'd rather. Well I don't know what. This month I have done 168 hours and I can't go on anymore

Thats on average 42 hours per week. Are you paid for these, or just for the 19 you are contracted to do?

Is this in a private care home?

Anyone who is public sector, or working with vulnerable people really needs a union, I cant stress that enough, it's the best insurance policy you can have.

That aside, who are you actually employed by? LA? a private care home?

(Who regulates care home? they must have an inspectorate)

Is there a hr dept?

I think they are being unreasonable tbh.

You need to take this further imo.

You work for 29 hours non-stop? No breaks, no sleep, no food?

www.cqc.org.uk/

Are these people any help?

I am paid minimum wage for the 19 hours and a set rate of £50 for waking sleep. That works out at £5.84 an hour. Even on those hours I never earn more than £800.

who do you work for?
charity? or private business?

Your work cannot force you to return before the end of your sick leave. It's illegal.

Is this a private outfit?

By "waking sleep", do you mean a night shift. I've never heard of a waking sleep.

Yes I do have the week off but Monday's and tuedays I can barely walk as I am on the go for the whole 29 hour shift

Do you mean you are literally working for 29 hours - because this must be against the law! My DH does a similar job and supports a young man with learning disabilities in his own home and does a 24 hour shift on a Saturday - on the go the whole day, takes him out and does all his housework, but he does get to go to bed at night when the client does.

Private business. Just to give you an idea of size .. 70 members of care staff, about 20 off sick and another 5 off on maternity leave. We are all understaffed and struggling

You do 19 hours a week but only on weekends. Plus 10 hours waking sleep, which I'm guessing means you can sleep but you have to be prepared to wake up and deal with any problems, yes?

So that's 29 hours over the weekend. 29 hours out of 48? Is that right? What actual hours do you work, can you give an example.

Why do you have to do them all at once?

And why did you go back to work if the Doctor signed you off sick?

Whoever employs you, they sound awful. If you're good at your job, you should be able to find employment with better organisations, no trouble.

I assume the CQC do their inspections? I wonder what they'd think of this set up?