Thought I had found the ideal job but now stressing me out??!!!

[Tootsie1984]

OK maybe a long story but will try and cut it down.

I have worked in elderly care in the past. Actually in same place for nearly 5 years.

I left while I was pregnant. The home had a change of management. I had a difficult pregnancy with lots of bleeds and bed rest. My GP said I could go back to work part time on certain conditions. Work agreed but when I went back kept trying to get me to do the stuff that they had agreed I should not. I ended up being signed off sick for remainder of pregnancy.

After the birth of my daughter I suffered with depression, traumatic delivery which required surgery. Then I had my other child with more complications and then surgery for a very large ovarian cyst.

So anyway I am now looking to go back to work (different home. My previous one has since closed down)

So all been going well at start. Had interviews and filled in paperwork. They said 2 references would be good so we asked my 2 previous 2 trained nurses who I had worked for the whole time as had no idea where any management had gone as we had a change of about 3 in the last year I worked alone.

All going fine. Bit of difficulty with ID as I have no passport or driving licence. And the new job failed to tell me they needed more so there was a delay of 3 weeks and they only said after I contacted to see how it was going.

I was offered the job 25th April.

My DBS form came today and all clear. So thought I should be able to start to work asap. But now the manager is telling me they are still waiting on one reference so I cannot start till that is in.

BUT I though all references were got before the DBS check was done in case the references were bad?? So the home has paid £50 for my check but still do not have one of the references.

Is this normal? Just when I went for interviews he said as long as he got one of the references it would be enough as I had not worked for 9 years.

I am just really confused now as thought the DBS was the last hurdle and now seems not. I am going to be bank staff with minimum of 3 shifts a week but also will consider and take on more shifts when needed.

I am so confused and starting to get a little annoyed now as seems to be taking an awful long time. I am due over later as he wants to let me know which reference he is waiting for but all this is leaving me so stressed out

AIBU to be so annoyed about all this??? And what else can I do?

I would have thought that they would have requested references at the same time as dbs check - but perhaps they haven't had a response regarding references? Are there any colleagues or other managers you could approach for one?

They will be eager for you to start (never heard of an overstaffed care home) - but simply not worth the risk to have unchecked staff in post.

Perhaps ask if there is anything you can do regarding alternative references?

I will ask.

He had details of the references weeks ago and had said he had sent for them and that they usually wait for them to come in before they pay for the DBS check to be done as obviously may not bother if references are really bad.

He let me know 2 weeks ago all paperwork had been sent to head office and they had sent for the DBS so I just assumed everything was up together.

We chose the 2 best people to give references as they worked with me for the whole time I was there. They were also trained nurses and 1 was also stand in manager when we kept having new management come in.

Sadly the home closed a few years ago and I have no contact for any of the previous problems but also the only problem is some were just temp managers so there for a few months then gone again.

I had others who would give references but he thought these 2 nurses were the best ones to have.

I contacted them at the time to check addresses/numbers etc and both said they would happily do it.

I will ask him this afternoon if there is anything else that can be done

don't they usually ask for references before offering you the job? everyone else i know does this why would you hire someone without a reference?

Oh and I agree about them having to be careful. But he is the one who said one professional reference would be OK as not been working for 9 years so hard to find everyone now. And also he had personal references too. Just a bit confused I think so will hopefully find out what is happening today.

And they are always desperate for staff and he was eager for me to apply for the job as I though I need to work around partners hours I can easily do mornings one week and weekend if needed, then afternoons next week plus weekend, then back to mornings etc

Thanks for your reply

Deakymom- Hi yes that is what I thought. But I had meetings/interviews with him and the co-ordinator. Had met the residents and they gave the thumbs up apparently.

I really am not sure what is happening but he did offer me the job as long as my dbs form came back OK which it has.

I am puzzling myself now but really need some answers as been hanging around awaiting this job but seems 1 step closer and 2 steps back

Phone them and ask if they would like another name for reference ?

I think they have to have two references on file. They often don't wait for the references to send off the dbs as it can all take so long.

If I were you I'd call and ask what they have and what they are waiting for. Could you offer to chase up the second reference or provide another name as a pp suggested?

If you feel comfortable doing it, I would contact your referees direct. Explain that because of safeguarding you can not start until references have been returned and ask really nicely if they could return the form if they have not done already.

Hi thanks for all replies!

Popped in yesterday and he gave me the name of the reference he was waiting for. I contacted her last night and she had sent it so not sure what the post office have done with it but now sorted as she did it by email direct to him.

I am starting my training week from Monday 30th June so I am REALLY happy now!