NHS forcing full time work. Childcare issues

[formerchild]

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?

Surely they’re not allowed to just cancel your contract and put you on lower pay? I would email hr and ask for part time if they refuse then I think it would be constructive dismissal.

I’ve never heard of nursing associate before and I’ve just looked and it’s a band 3 role so is the new role a band 2? There’s no way I’d be putting myself out for that assuming your husband can cover the bills?

I’d honestly just quit if they won’t offer part time and if your course doesn’t start up again I would look at training to be a nurse.

Have you contacted the RCNM? They're effectively your union and should be able to advise you. I can imagine it's almost impossible to suddenly get childcare in this climate. I imagine your husband is the Marin breadwinner and completely understand your predicament. Hopefully the RCNM can help you with advice.

The main breadwinner!

Can I accept a contract and go off sick

No self respecting GP is going to give you a sick line though some cant imagine that in any way being an option - thank goodness

You can take unpaid parental leave (or paid if in your contract) until you can find suitable childcare cover. Some councils and trusts are subsidising nursery places for key workers.

I suggest saying you are happy to work, but you have childcare responsibilities and your husband us also a keyworker in the NHS.

Do this in email. And cc in your union and HR. You will not be the only person in this position.

I'd also call your local council and ask for key worker childcare support.

To those saying the LA will allocate childcare... they may not. I am NHS and our nursery closed and I was emailed a list of some open nurseries from the LA. Most of which are too far as I live in a very big Borough. The whole keyworker childcare thing for pre school children has not been thought through AT ALL. And the whole childminder thing is crazy. My DH is also a keyworker but WFH. He cannot work and supervise our two children, and neither could I on my WFH days (have to phone patients etc). It is a ridiculous expectation and putting so much pressure on people who are doing their best to help this situation :(

I would leave as take your chances. There is no guarantee what will happen to your DH’s hours - they could be increased significantly.