what would you do?

[hollyatchristmas]

Hi

Here is my situation.

I have a DD who is 8 months. Before I had her, I was working (full time) in a zero hours role, although you never actually got zero hours, it was in home community care.

I split up with her dad when she was 2 months, I've had maternity pay just the basic from the government.

Now here's the problem, I need to go back to work. My mum died when I was 13, she left me her house. I don't live in it as I met my boyfriend when I was 17, but I had some money left from what my mum left me, I bought a flat. Me and DD live in the flat now, obviously will prob need somewhere bigger when she's older but luckily she's a quite good baby.

Anyway because I have this house that is rented out to people I am not entitled to any benefits apart from child benefit.

But going back to work is difficult. I have to do anti social hours. I just can't as even if my baby is in nursery they aren't open nights and weekends.

So I need to think of another job, but don't know what. And I'm really starting to panic. I'm just looking for advice on what I can do, to support me and my baby.

No I agree Aye but if there's 2 of you it's easier to work round each other.

Move into the house, rent out the flat and become a childminder. Childcare taken care of.

ok, train in something.

you need to think long term, selling the house will give you quite a bit to live on while you train, brush up on IT skills so youre up to date, nursery care, customer service courses etc will make you more 'attractive' for daytime call centre roles, basic admin, child care or whatever.

are you getting maintenance?

Hello. The house is not local. I can't do all that in 2 months. Also I think you do need some qualifications. Not sure though.

There are loads of jobs that are 9 until 5 OP. It doesn't really matter what it is. Town centres are good for those kinds of hours. Or markets.

Think about what you want to do and start applying. Childminders are more flexible than nurseries. My sister uses a childminder as she works in care and her minder will take dn from 6.30am.

Could you go to uni to study something related to care work? Nursing? Social Work?

Hi my ex is abroad.

I don't have any qualifications. The only thing I've ever been interested in is nursing. I can't really pay for DD in childcare and living costs while I spend five years or so at college. It might be right for the future but it isn't for now.

That's good to know Frouby thanks

Supermarkets? Retail? I know you said you need to do antisocial hours but I know people with fixed shifts and don't do weekends or evenings. Harder to get but not impossible.

Maybe go to an agency which specialises in unskilled work and see what they have. It's temporary so more risky but may help boost your cv.

Also what about private carer? I imagine some families need help in daytimes when they work but can do weekends and evenings themselves.

Also thoroughly investigate child care options. Some childminders do weekends but it's rare. I also may be wrong on this it thought some nurseries cover weekends especially those near hospitals or places where shift work is common.

Also how expensive would hiring a babysitter be to cover a late shift ?

My hospital advertises sometimes for phlebotomists. They train you. I think you get about £16,000 a year. It's a step into a hospital, normal hours, short training. What about something like that?

Support worker type jobs for charities and voluntary sector organisations are often day time hours and the fact you have done care work will be a bonus. Try looking on local organisations web sites or on the third sector jobs site. Would also be good experience if you later decide to further consider nursing.

Do you drive? Parcel delivery work, school transport, taxi work could all be options if so.

Mothers help type jobs where you could take your little one with you for some of the time.

Any local cafes or places like that that need people to cover lunchtimes.

I know the last advert I saw was for normal hours but just looked it up on Direct.gov and it is saying some evenings and weekends. Every hospital could be different though so still worth looking at perhaps.

you can do most qualifications as home study now at your own pace.

maybe sell the flat, move into the house, do a course while still looking for kid friendly roles and if you get one happy days, if not you canlive off the money from the flat until you get sorted.

i reckon i could live pretty comfortably if i had no mortgage to pay and income from renting out a home + child benefit. what youre getting from renting will be similar to what im left with after the mortgage is paid i bet. youre honestly in a good position

Are there any Care co ordinator roles in your area? I started off as a career but after I had my son I got a job co ordinating which was 9-5

When you say you have no qualifications do you mean vocational or even basic GCSEs? Maths and English can be taken free of charge and even alongside other accredited courses. Can cms pursue your DC father?

I don't have any GCSEs. Thank you in the future I will.

Jon wise looking at working as a TA in school is a good option.

You don't say (nor do you have to!) how much you receive in rent.

But ta positions can earn you 8-15000 a year. If (for example) you are getting 6-700 min in rent with no mortgage costs then that should afford you a fairly comfortable living as well as juggling being a mum.

OP won't be able to be recruited as ta without basic GCSEs. Possibly lunchtime supervisor to accrue relevant experience while she studies towards it.

OP, sorry if I've missed this, but have you considered childminding?

Hi where I live now isn't suitable. In think you may need some qualifications.

you could sell flat, get qualifications while living off the proceeds and then do childminding. long term career, care for dd sorted......christ i might do it myself

Why don't you try and go back to school to get your GCSE's or some sort of certification? You'll find that the better paid jobs (and the ones with more flexible hours) will be given to people with qualifications of any sort rather than to someone who has no qualifications at all.

I understand that you're looking for advice but if there was a house I owned and a flat that I also owned, I would have to give a lot of thought to possibly selling both to have a bigger lump sum and buy a 2 bedroom flat/apartment or a smaller two up two down style house in an area that I do like.

You have options but I think at the moment, you can't see the wood for the trees. Take your time and what you end up deciding to do will work out.

Hi I appreciate the advice but I can't play a Russian roulette with the only money I can give my daughter

A friend of mine is working in a pre-school setting. She has had to do a maths GCSE whilst working there as part of her on the job training so presumably you could do something like that.
You need to look for the apprenticeship type roles that will give you some income whilst working and training.