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Original poster

NHS forcing full time work. Childcare issues

57 replies

formerchild · 01/04/2020 16:36

I have posted a bit about this elsewhere but the issues are intensifying.

I was a trainee nurse associate on a ward at a big trust in England. They have cancelled that contract due to covid 19 and have told us that we can either accept a lower paid job on a ward in the trust with a guarantee that we will have a place on our course when it restarts (could be many months or even over a year) or we leave without a guarantee.

Now they are saying we have to work full time in this new capacity with no flexibility guaranteed, it would need to be discussed after we start next week.

My issue is that I have small children and childcare issues have arisen. Originally at the start of the course my childcare plans were as follows
Monday MIL
Tuesday husband
Wednesday My mum
Thursday Nursery
Friday Nursery
Saturday and Sunday Husband

Husband is a doctor and no longer available on a Tuesday, MiL and mum can't have due to social distancing/being vulnerable and nursery has closed. I could get them into another nursery but the hours don't cover the hours needed for husband and I to work out required hours and would leave me earning £20 a day.

Can I accept a contract and go off sick? What are my options? What are other people doing in similar situations with childcare issues?

OP posts:
Devaki · 01/04/2020 18:12

High corona - everyone is on lockdown , childcare is a nightmare. Inviting random people into your house is not an option neither is taking kids on to ward , people aren’t even allowed in hospitals unless you work there. I assume that was a joke.

Devaki · 01/04/2020 18:13

Could you take carers leave on the days you don’t have childcare?

H1ghC0r0na · 01/04/2020 18:15

Also, why is childcare just your responsibility? If your husband is no longer able to provide childcare on his dates - poor him, maybe he will have to take unpaid leave to take care of his children or find an alternative?

SpudsAreLife84 · 01/04/2020 18:15

I am a key worker (not NHS) and whilst I can send the 4 and older ones to school could find no alternative nursery for my 3 year old so have had no option but to hire a,nanny to take care of them at home. I was lucky that one of the nursery staff agreed to do it, but I too an effectively working now for £50 a week and my employer could not give a shit. Might be worth contacting your nursery and see if the staff want to do similar?

zombieapocalypseisnigh · 01/04/2020 18:16

Tell them you can only work when your DH isn't, opposite shifts.

Ask if your parents or MIL can have your DCs for the foreseeable future and you and DH stay away from all of them.

Ask your DM and DMIL to pick a house, stay together, and have the kids together and try to make it worse while you and your DH work.

Ask your trust to arrange/cover childcare at one of the hospital childcare settings they have ties so; many do.

Turn down the job and look elsewhere.

Those are probably your only options, and you're going to have to pick one.

VEGAS2016 · 01/04/2020 18:17

I was told all carers leave has been suspended. I honestly think youre in a difficult position. Why was your flexible working request denied? Why will they not let you be part time?

Many hospitals have nurseries Geared towards hospital hours (mine does 06.00-20.00) you May just need to suck up the cost at this time.

Chrisinthemorning · 01/04/2020 18:18

Realistically the NHS need your husband most, then you. Tell them the score. Your DH does FT, you do FT or not at all.
I can’t believe they are treating our most valuable asset like this, they should be arranging your childcare for you!
Thank you for your hard work to you and your DH Flowers

H1ghC0r0na · 01/04/2020 18:21

@Devaki it was a joke.
Even if there was no corona problems, I don't think a toddler and a four year old would be able to help with putting up an IV, giving pain relief etc. Maybe they could give writing up patient notes a go?

Lifeisabeach09 · 01/04/2020 18:39

@formerchild, then quit. It's not worth the stress of trying to find childcare.
You and your DH are endangering your lives for an organisation that isn't willing to work with you and your care needs. Fuck them!

raspberryk · 01/04/2020 19:02

If your and dh parents aren't in an increased risk category can you still use them as childcare? This is what's been advised as a childcare solution above using schools or nursery I believe.

cansu · 01/04/2020 19:24

I think the advice to take the contract and then ask the LA for childcare help is the way forward. If they can't come up with it, you can then go back to the manager with the situation and see whether they are prepared to give you part time.

WhenYouveAFirstInEnglish · 01/04/2020 19:35

Honestly I would take the higher paid job you’ve been offered. The nursing associate foundation degree will still be there, or the new role may take you in a different direction entirely. You current Trust sounds shit.

GettingAwayWithIt · 01/04/2020 19:43

I’m in a similar situation, nursery is now closed. I’m part time / 4 days but I’m potentially having to take annual leave on the days I can’t get cover from another family member who works in a supermarket.

If you’re clinical can you ask for weekend shifts? Maybe look at options for condensing your hours so you work 3 or 4 days instead of 5?

I really feel for you OP as it’s an awful situation. Flowers
Not helped by condescending knobheads on here Hmm

curlychocs · 01/04/2020 19:56

I would leave. They are being ridiculous.

Zombiemum1946 · 01/04/2020 20:24

Phone and email the union rep, to an extent this is constructive dismissal. You've given them ample notification and they were aware of your circumstances pre covid. Being in the middle of a pandemic it's idiotic to force people out like this.

Aderyn19 · 01/04/2020 20:30

I'd quit. Not worth the hassle or stress. I wouldn't risk my life for an employer who treated me like this.

Maryann1975 · 01/04/2020 20:48

Have you spoken to your local authority? They are meant to be coordinating childcare for key workers. As some nurseries and schools have shut, details for the children who need care are passed on to other local settings that are still open. I’m a childminder and know of several other minders who have had key worker dc placed with them in the past week. I’ve been asked if I can childmind over night if needed and I know some others who said yes to that, so there is definitely childcare available in my county and I would imagine other counties are the same. Settings are desperately trying to make a decent income after loosing the majority of children, so I imagine a childminder would be really keen to look after siblings.

limpbizkit · 01/04/2020 20:55

Tell them you cannot work those hours due to childcare. They probably haven't got a, leg to stand on legally. I'm a qualified nurse working part time and if I were told to sling my two young children into the hands of strangers in order to work full time I'd quite simply say 'No'. No way do my kids come second to my job.

TestBank · 01/04/2020 20:55

Are you sure you want to continue working with this employer? Presumably you have a reasonable wage coming in from your husband and your children are very young. Would it terrible to just tell them what you can and can't do, see what they say, or just do agency work instead? I really wouldn't work for people like that.

MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 01/04/2020 20:58

Why would anyone even consider being backed into working FT and leaving their DCs in childcare for £20 a day? If the NHS can't be flexible now they will have to do without you. I would leave because it simply doesn't work. I doubt your course will restart for the foreseeable, and if it does they'll be crying out for staff to replace the ones who've left after being treated like absolute shit through all this.

Woofwoofwooof · 01/04/2020 20:58

I'd leave and gamble on a place when the course restarts. Youve already started the course, surely that wouldn't be a big issue? Especially when a pandemic and childcare are basically forcing your hand. I wouldn't increase the risk to your family for less reward when you are being treated badly.

Taking it up and going sick might have repercussions for recruitment into the future so don't do that.

BeetrootRocks · 01/04/2020 21:00

DH and his colleagues having similar issues, they are having their rotas changed, being expected to work far outside their normal areas etc. We are lucky as I am WFH and the kids are bigger but it's really a problem for a lot of people.

They are also being put into early and late shifts only not sure who you can get to look after your kids from 4 am till lunchtime!

Yes this is an emergency but, not everyone has the support etc to be able to change it all around like that.

AddressLabel · 01/04/2020 21:29

Your husband is a Dr, I presume you are reasonably well off? With children aged 2 & 4 I'd personally throw in the towel and stay at home with them. Especially with childcare issues and being worse off. The stress and risk of catching covid-19 would just not be worth the risk.

stairway · 01/04/2020 21:51

Call their bluff and quit. I think there is a high chance you will be able to get back on your course when it’s available again as nurse associates are needed. If not I suggest you consider getting onto a nursing course as I suspect there will be a drive to train more nurses after this.

Bellevu · 01/04/2020 22:01

What's your husband and his work doing about covering childcare for your children?

Has he received any response from his hr people or the local council to his questions about childcare arrangements for key worker parents?

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