To feel I've reached my limit with my job. But don't know what else to do.

[Circuscats]

I used to come on here a fair bit but not so much now ... Anyway, I am 37. I have one DD who is 21. She is at university.

I've done a couple of different jobs but for the last 4 years I've worked in home care. I feel I've reached my absolute limit with it. I spent most of the 4 years working for the same company for £6.70 an hour, obviously this went up April 2015 to £7.20. But it was never £6.70 or £7.20... you get allocated times in quarter of an hour slots so 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or one hour. Most calls were fifteen minutes so to make £6.70 you had to go to 4 different people. No travel time. Anti social hours - up at 5 to be at the first one for 6. Home past 11 at night. Up again early the next day. Weekends, Christmas, baking hot days in a traffic jam and sweaty uniform.

I mean I am saying the worst of it there and don't get me wrong I enjoyed some too otherwise I wouldn't have stayed so long but no doubt it did have an effect on me.

When my bed calls got to 14 people I decided enough was enough, I went to a new agency and this was in June. I really don't like it even though it's better run than the old one. You have to log in and out so you're on less money a lot of the time. Not enough hours either (opposite problem to the old one) and so you have to take what you can get to pay the bills. The people are quite rude too, not all of them but I have four calls in the morning and three are nice and one isn't but I dread it for the one whose rude.

So I'm desperate to do something else, away from care. But I've no ideas at all. I don't think I can retrain. DD has said when she's finished at university she will move in with me for a couple of years and pay the bills so I can refrain but I think that's a big ask of her and I don't feel it's fair to make her commit to that (she's a for offering though, that's something I did right!)

The other thing is I love DD to bits but I have been having these thoughts that maybe I'd love to have another baby. And I need to meet a man so is that possible/practical when being a FT student? And when I finished I'd be 40 which I know isn't totally past it in terms of having a baby but is pushing it.

Oh I don't know, I am just wondering, what would you do, if you were me?

[ImperialBlether]

You need to hang onto your house. It's your security.

I think you're in a great position. Think about what you really love to do - not what you think can make you money, but what you would love to do each day. Whereabouts are you? Are you near a city? In the north or the south? I would imagine from your mortgage you're not in the south!

[Adnerb95]

Forget NHS and all forms of care work - you've obviously had enough and in any case, will probably not pay you sufficient to justify the time training/retraining.

There are lots of other areas of work you could look into. I've suggested one - which you've ignored - if you don't fancy that, look into something else, for goodness sake!

[Circuscats]

I ignored it because it came in the middle of other suggestions, not to be rude. It really isn't something I feel I could do or be good at.

I'm sorry people feel I'm being negative but a lot of suggestions have focuses rather doggedly on other forms of care / other minimum wage jobs and that really isn't what I want.

I suppose there aren't any answers, which isn't negative and is rather just practical.

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

What were your A levels in? (I know it was a long time ago but it probably shows us what you like / how your brain work.)

What do you enjoy doing?

What are you good at?

Are you practical? Arty? Good at writing? Mathematical?

[GenerationX2]

Dear Circuscats - I admit I have not read the full tread, but I just wanted to say thank you for what you do. We recently had to get a carerer for my dad and they were a life saver bitterly for him. Im overseas, and knowing someone was coming into him regularly helped me sleep at night. It truly sounds horrible and I can't believe that employment law lets you be exploited like this, but do know that the vast majority of families you work with are so very grateful for everything you do for their families every day.

I hope you figure out a better situation

[NightNightBadger19962]

Was it the Halifax who were advertising apprenticeships aimed at a slightly older demographic? It might be worth talking to recruitment departments for big organisations (if you would consider private companies rather than public sector) to explain your aspirations and skills that would probably come across well in a conversation, and see if they can tell you where to look out for opportunities. you could work your way up within an organisation quite effectively once in the door, I should think, especially as you are keen to train.

[NightNightBadger19962]

I meant to say I did lots of pension and financial services training in the past working for an insurance company.

[Adnerb95]

Why are you assuming there are no answers? Of course there are.

Come on OP, there is retail work, HR, tourism, catering. These often start out low-paid (no worse and possibly better than you are getting at the moment) but you can work your way up. - there is at least a career path.

Or what about something like the fire or ambulance service?

Or estate agency? (Yes I know we are all supposed to hate them but the good ones do a fantastic job)

Have you looked into the alternatives? Really?

Don't give up until you have.