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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To leave my part time NHS job I enjoy?

33 replies

ravenousunicorn · 28/06/2019 12:34

I currently work in the NHS part time as a band 2. I enjoy my job but I'd like to progress (and work full time!). I've been told the only way to do this is to go back to university and do another undergraduate degree. Talking to other students it sounds like there's really no guarantee of a job at the end and the course is quite substantially oversubscribed. I already have a degree so don't really want to go back to university and also would really struggle financially if I did.

One thing I dislike about this area of the NHS is the inability to go away over Christmas / New Year as we always have to work a few days. I love going away at Christmas with DSD and DH and really miss it. I also dislike the pay. I know it's not the be all and end all but I miss being able to go away at the drop of a hat (well sort of considering DSD and our pets). I've looked into going full time in my current role but it's just not an option at the moment.

As much as I enjoy my job, WIBU to leave it and go back to my original industry? The pay there is far better than the NHS. It's a totally different field but uses my original degree. There are options to progress and there is more flexibility with annual leave. The pensions and benefits are nowhere near as good though.

I think I feel at this stage in my life (late twenties), I want to have the money to have fun, to actually have a honeymoon, finish redecorating our house and then in a couple of years have the money and stability to be able to ttc. I know money and progress really isn't everything but still.

OP posts:

Babysharkdododont · 28/06/2019 13:08

Crikey op that's all very vague. Why can't you progress in a different area of the NHS? What do you do now?

CaptainCabinets · 28/06/2019 13:12

Could you join the bank? NHSP.

Completely flexible, pick your hours.

CornishMaid1 · 28/06/2019 13:22

You like your job, but don't like the lack of flexibility or pay.

Did you like your previous industry? If you did and that fits what you need better, go back.

Only you can decide where you would like to work as it is balancing the job against the pros and cons.

In terms of progressing, depending on what your role is and what you want to progress to, can you get the degree through OU or distance studying? My mum finished her nursing degree that way so she could still work and not give up her job completely.

NurseButtercup · 28/06/2019 13:22

If you can you return part-time I would say do it. And start looking into a private pension.

Original poster

ravenousunicorn · 28/06/2019 14:11

Did you like your previous industry?

I did but for personal reasons the job I was in didn't work out. I found the work itself really interesting though and it was something I was good at.

can you get the degree through OU or distance studying?

As far as I can tell, this isn't an option as OU don't offer anything similar and I can't find anywhere offering distance studying as ideally you need to have a variety of different placements.

What do you do now?
Assistant Technical Officer in Cardiology - i.e. clerical work and helping out in clinics

OP posts:

Original poster

ravenousunicorn · 28/06/2019 17:50

Quick question on this. I've been out of my original industry for over a year. Would I be looked down upon for this? Also would an employer ask what I've been doing the rest of the time if I'm only part time at the moment?

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RubberTreePlant · 28/06/2019 18:17

I can't understand why it's a difficult decision. Former industry sounds way better.

sevenoftwelve · 28/06/2019 18:21

Well, what was the previous industry? We can't answer without knowing that.

sevenoftwelve · 28/06/2019 18:26

As for part time, lots of people work part time for any number of reasons. It's not the same as having been out of work from an employer's perspective. Asking you to justify what you do on your non working days would be like asking you to justify how you spend your evenings and weekends.

tealandteal · 28/06/2019 18:27

So would you be progressing to some sort of clinical role? Are any of the qualifications available through the apprenticeship levy suitable for the role?

Justathinslice · 28/06/2019 18:33

What did you do before?
What do you want to do?

Starlight456 · 28/06/2019 18:36

I agree with pp I can’t see what’s to stay for

Justaboutawake · 28/06/2019 18:55

What makes you think you can’t work up from a band 2 in the NHS? I, and many others, started as a 2 and got as far as 7 before specialist qualifications were needed (VSM now)

PookieDo · 28/06/2019 19:02

There are other NHS routes your org should have info on ‘apprenticeships’ which are just on the job training (20 %) study as they want people do this because of the 5% levy

It’s not quite the same area but 10 years ago I was a band 2 and I am now a band 6, I am not a clinician but I also have friends and colleagues who have ‘made it up the ranks’. If you want to do something completely different or clinical then yes it is probably worth studying but you could go part time? Bank work?

missyB1 · 28/06/2019 19:07

Tbh I would leave and go back to your former industry. I say that as someone who did 26 years in the NHS, and is married to a hospital Dr. Working for the NHS is just a bloody hard slog with very little reward.

Basketofkittens · 28/06/2019 19:51

NHS under a band 5 is awful. Since they’ve downgraded all the admin bands, a band 3 19-21k is now a supervisor. A band 4 on 21-23k is now a manager.

In theory, you can work your way up, but without being a healthcare professional it’s very hard.

Original poster

ravenousunicorn · 28/06/2019 20:01

In terms of working my way up, I'd rather be on the clinical side than the admin side, hence needing the degree.

I can't understand why it's a difficult decision.

The difficulty is because I enjoy my current job / where it could potentially lead.

OP posts:

PleaseGoogleIt · 28/06/2019 20:05

There's literally thousands of clerical jobs in the NHS that are higher bands and full time hours.

PleaseGoogleIt · 28/06/2019 20:06

I'm a band 7 and I'm not clinical in the slightest. I adore my job too.

Original poster

ravenousunicorn · 28/06/2019 20:12

There's literally thousands of clerical jobs in the NHS that are higher bands and full time hours

Not where I live and in the same department. And as already said, I'd rather be clinical than clerical.

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Alsohuman · 28/06/2019 20:16

My last (non clinical) job in the NHS was 8c. I can’t believe they’re now employing graduates on 2. Has it really come to this?

Cryalot2 · 28/06/2019 20:21

Do what is best for you and your family.
As you have said, you have a degree, another would be difficult for your family.

MeerKitty · 28/06/2019 20:45

Of course the pay is better in your previous industry than for your role in the NHS. You're not working in the field you have a professional qualification in.

Your current role is one step above an entry level position, you shouldn't expect a graduate salary as you are not a graduate in that field.

If you are not able to retrain, why would you not consider other clerical roles and move up the ladder?

If you were to train for a clinical position, now would actually be the perfect time as you don’t have dcs.

Bear in mind, you would be putting all of your eggs in one basket if you will be banking on a role in your current place of work.

You would likely have to move to seek employment.

Waveysnail · 28/06/2019 20:49

Theres loads of graduates in band 2/3/4 support roles in labs where I work. Often with non related degrees so they get stuck at those levels.

Original poster

ravenousunicorn · 29/06/2019 06:29

you shouldn't expect a graduate salary as you are not a graduate in that field.

I don't expect a graduate salary. Sorry if it wasn't clear in my OP. What I meant was even if I were to get the undergraduate degree and get a band 5 role the pay is still less than what I was previously on.

why would you not consider other clerical roles and move up the ladder?

It's not the clerical bit I enjoy, it's the clinical aspect within cardiology. I'd rather go back to my old job / industry than to remain in a clerical position for the rest of my working life.

Bear in mind, you would be putting all of your eggs in one basket if you will be banking on a role in your current place of work.

By current place are you referring to hospital or department? I'm not able to move house due to my family circumstances but I'm more than happy to commute and by area I meant within a commutable distance. There are 5 or 6 health boards with hospitals within a commutable distance for me. There haven't been many band 5 jobs come up over the last 12 months, or any other band come to think of it. My worry is on that front even if we managed to scrape by the money to finance the degree, there's no guarantee of a job at the end of it.

I can’t believe they’re now employing graduates on 2.

@Alsohuman that comes across as a criticism.... are you criticising me or the NHS? As @Waveysnail has pointed out, it's not that uncommon to have graduates in support roles.

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