to wonder where jobs that don't pay peanuts or at least have decent prospects are advertised?

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

I left teaching at Easter, and though I have an NHS job that I enjoy, it's band 3 and thus isn't a long term prospect for me. I'd like to train in the discipline or another allied health profession but with no bursary I can't. I'm stalking indeed, my council's website, the regional paper's job site - but everything seems to be paying around NMW.

I'm a graduate and I do feel that I have skills to offer - so where does the job search for a realistic salary begin?

I've always got work through specialist agencies... but they probably won't register you without experience/quals in that field. It's the old experience catch 22 I'm afraid, but many people manage to break through that somehow and I'm sure you can too. Is a career development loan an option?

It could be, especially as I'm working PT.

I'd go and sign up with a local agency, somewhere that does temp work as well as finding permanent positions. They will be able to get you the experience you need to move on to permanent jobs.