To think social worker DH should have found a job by now?

[Cantdance]

My DH has a degree in SW and over twenty years experience working with adults and older people in the community and in care homes. But since moving to Liverpool six months ago he has been unable to find work.

We are really struggling to pay for food, housing etc on just my salary and we don't qualify for any benefits. He is only looking to earn £18k+ so not asking for a fortune.

I know he applies for 5 or more jobs a week and has had some interviews but not gotten anything. Is this normal at the minute - are things really that bad in social work and social care in the northwest?

I go back and forth between being frustrated and angry and then thinking bless him it isn't his fault, he's trying. However he hasn't been to the job centre as he says they'll make him work in Tescos (I wouldn't mind that but he wants to stay in his profession understandably). He also won't work in child protection and finally he won't ring recruiters who put their phone numbers in job ads, just email. AIBU to think he should be doing these things?

I wouldn't have much patience with a partner who would only apply for work in their field if we were struggling financially.

I met a bloke this week who has just been made redundant. He'd doing ad hoc painting and decorating while he looks for a job. He's a professional but doesn't see it as beneath him.

Why did he leave his previous job?

He would be sensible to get any job while he keeps looking. I left my job as a solicitor (due to bullying) and got a part time job in a library, it didn't do me any harm (I am a solicitor again now) and it paid the bills

He can't be fussy if he needs work. Yes it would be nice to get a job in social work but in all honesty graduates and professionals are amongst the largest groups in the unemployed at the moment. He needs to apply for everything - shop work, bar work, office work etc etc etc. To be honest if he is only looking for 18kish he should get close enough to that with full time retail work and a part time bar job. Not ideal but it's money. If he doesn't start applying for everything I'd get very angry, it's a bit entitled in this day and age to only apply for the big jobs.

He left to move with me for my work so totally not his fault. No way could he paint and decorate as he isn't skilled at DIY but I think he could get people's shopping, give baths, care for etc older people in our village on a freelance basis. He says he can't as the legal requirements are too restrictive. I can't see how that could be true though as he is a qualified experienced SW!

I've a friend who is in a similar position, but worked with children. He did a lot of work through an agency. He had an accident and had to take some time off work.

He applied for every single social worker job within a 30 mile radius of the northern city we live in. He has eventually ended up getting a job as a care assistant. He said there were roughly 200 qualified social workers applying for every post.

I'm afraid your dh will need to widen the area in which is he is looking, both geographically and job wise.

May be he could do a couple of days voluntary work a week as a way into an organisation?

He should definitely look at getting some work in a care home....there are always jobs in that field. Why freelance though? If he'd rather work privately, THe Lady has adverts for this type of thing a lot.

there is a lot of restructuring going on at the moment with social workers so authorities are not recruiting because they need to sort this out first (I am very local to you but not Liverpool, not a SW but work very closely with them so hear what's happening). My authority is using agency social workers at the moment, can he do this at least it will keep him up to date with changes so when he attends interviews he will interview better?

I live in Liverpool and the job prospects round here are very grim. Some potential employers don't even check their emails/online communications so he needs to be physically handing CVs over. He also has students to compete with. If your DP has a degree in social work tell him to apply to Autism Initiative. They're always looking for professionals. Just an online search brings up their details. Hope this helps a bit.

Is there any scope for joining an agency?

I am a NQSW and the majority of my cohort have jobs now (qualified end of July). I am not near Liverpool though. Is he getting feedback from his interviews as to why he isn't getting the job? If so, what feedback is he getting?

I agree with applying and taking any job going, care home, community care etc. Don't blame him for not wanting to do CP though. Has he considered joining a social work agency? My friend works with an agency worker who gets paid crazy money for the same job she does, and has been doing it for 2 years!

Does he get any feedback from the interviews as to why he's not getting the job?

Jobs in the public sector can be hard to get, you should see how many people apply for jobs such as nursing, health care assistants, physio's etc. maybe he needs to up his game? Write a better application form? Employers have to be picky now days due to the number of applicants.

How far is he willing to travel? He may have to widen his search.

yanbu to think he's not making enough of an effort, things are v difficult in the North west job wise in general atm, massive public sector cutbacks, but refusing to make phone calls and to look at the sort of work he used to do is being rather picky given the current economic circumstances.

Thanks everyone for the responses. He has had positive feedback from interviews but they just say they've selected a candidate with local experience. It seems that's more valuable than experience gained in another part of Britain for some reason .

To those suggesting agencies can anyone recommend a good one please?

Oh dear- that is a horrible situation to be in. . As for who is UR:

1. He is not UR not to want to work in child protection. I know a few people who have worked in this field and they all had breakdowns. If he feels strongly its not for him then its probably not for him.

1. Not chasing up ads that leave numbers- not sure about this one. If its usual to apply by email- does he feel the phone number indicates that the job may be dodgy or from an agency rather than an employer? Can't call that one without knowing more.

1. Applying for 5 jobs a week is a good effort as far as I'm concerned- so at least he is trying.

1. Not applying for things outside his field: Arguable either way. Its actually much harder to get unskilled work than work you are qualified to do. The reason being- there is nothing to distinguish you from any of the other 100's of candidates applying (and in this climate there often are 100's). Every time I've "broadened my jobsearch" I've found this to be the case.

6 months is not a terribly long time to be out of work in the current climate BUT it is edging towards the kind of point where you might want to reassess tactics. I wouldn't suggest just applying for anything- but perhaps lower paid work in the same field. Social Work Assistant or Care Worker- something he is experienced in but perhaps overqualified for- with scope for promotion once he's got his foot in the door.

1. He is BU to not sign on at the Jobcentre. You say you are not entitled to any benefits- but you are! He is entitled to 6 months Contributions Based Jobseekers Allowance at £71.00 per week. Its not a lot- but I'm sure it would be a help. They will probably hassle him to take any job but he can do what all the other claimants have to and lie give a creative account of his activities. He might also get a period of grace to look for work in his own field before they start the hassling in earnest.

To be honest I have little patience with social care professionals who think the jobcentre is beneath them. I'm sure a lot of his clients have had to sign on at the jobcentre. Is it all right for them but not for him?

Apart form that small point- I don't think either of you are BU really. You are in a tough situation. Try to be kind to each other . Also- he moved for you. Its a big sacrifice- don't lose sight of that.

Finally- does he pull his weight in other areas? i'd expect a lot of housework and childcare from an unemployed man

Dash thank you so much for your response. You're right, he moved for me and left a good job to do so and I definitely do appreciate that a lot. He does tons of housework and he doesn't think the job centre is beneath him, just that they won't help him or will bully him into doing child protection, etc. It is more about him being shy and anxious than stuck up. The shyness also explains emailing but not ringing up. When he's working he's fine but he finds it difficult asking for things for himself.

Does the job centre help people not on benefits find work nowadays? Many years ago I went to the job centre, they rang up a company and got me taken on as a trainee receptionist. Do they still do that kind of thing?

IME no, it's not like it used to be, with the cards on the boards and you fetching up at the desk for them to help you, it seems to be far more concentrated on getting people to look for jobs online these days.

btw I do appreciate it must be pretty gutting to have gone to the time/effort etc of getting the SW degree,and having to apply for the sort of jobs you did before the degree anyway, but life is v tough these last few years.

I'm sorry, but what kind of person, working in the Social Working field, won't make PHONE CALLS? To people who HAVE a job that needs filling?

He's not trying hard enough to help you financially.

I wonder if he's even any cop as a SW if he has such ishoos with human to human interface.

He ought to be the one posting on the internet for advice on how to get a job, not you!

I'd give him an ultimatum; benefits, any kind of £18k job, or he goes back to his old job/city.

You're not his mother here.

Ah, I see.

He is right I'm afraid- the jobcentre will be less than useless in helping him find work. The only reason to go there would be to claim Jobseekers Allowance- which I think he should do.

I really sympathise with your situation. Me and DH were a long distance relationship so I've been in the same boat twice. Once when he moved down to London to be with me and then again when we both moved to Glasgow at his suggestion. It can be a huge leap in the dark and very scary while your still waiting for things to fall into place.

I hope this isn't too personal- but I'm a bit curious about your income. You say you don't qualify for any benefits which suggests that you, at least, are bringing in a wage. But then you say you need to find another £18,000.

From what I understand, living costs in the NW are quite low. Were you overextended before the move? Have you definitely checked your entitlement to tax credits? Apologies if you've already been through this side of things (Im sure you probably have!)

Why didn't he find a job before moving to be with you? Just wondering.

I don't think 5 plus job applications a week is enough at all. yes some applications can take a couple of days to complete to do well but he needs to be it up with full on-applications, speculative applications, and relatively quicker CV library type applications. get him to call up national careers service to see if he can get some face to face advice on job search strategy etc. you can usually get about 3 free sessions.

mix it up not be it up :-)

So he gave up his job and home to move with you as you wanted to and you are angry with him!

Lots of people dont want to work in child protection for obvious reasons, its not something that suits everyone.

If he left his old job voluntarily and your income is too high for benefits then signing on would only be for NI credits.

Its a little unfair that you get to work in the job you want to but expect him to do anything. If circumstances were reversed would you be happy with that?

HappyMummyOfOne: "If he left his old job voluntarily and your income is too high for benefits then signing on would only be for NI credits."

Not true. He would be entitled to Contributions Based Jobseekers Allowance and while leaving a job voluntarily can be a problem (if its without "good cause")- "I had to move to another town for family reasons" ought to count as "good cause"

He should get work via agencies. Reed is the big one but there are lots of others.
Also the Community Care website is a brilliant resource for SWs, it has job adverts and a discussion forum.
He does need to find ways to overcome this 'shyness' though - that will not get him far in social work.