To leave my colleagues in the shit (NHS)?

[Makinitrain]

On Friday I had my fourth unsuccessful interview in a row in my current hospital. There always seems to be some internal or external candidate with more experience. I then have to return to my entry level admin role which gives me little extra experience to add to my CV.
After my interview on Friday, I was called in to say that if I wanted the experience then there was a higher band job coming up however:
1.) it would only be for 3 months.
2.) there would be no handover as the person leaves at the end of the week.
3.) there was no cover at present for the two wards I currently manage.

I feel torn as I don't want to leave the ward staff and other admin in the shit, as who is going to apply for a job in the NHS at this present time? Lots of people might be unemployed in the future but right now I think people would be reluctant to start work in a hospital, especially immediately.
I also think that this is the only chance I have to gain more experience. All the other admin in our place seem like they're staying out for a long time and they've just put restrictions on the amount of band 4/5's they can hire.
In the back of my mind I feel I deserve it as I'm still working whilst the majority of people I know are at home and I have done lots of stuff which is beyond my basic duties (driving around to pick up PPE, setting up Skype enabled laptops for patients to keep in touch with relatives.)
My worry is that I don't go for it and when the permanent job goes out to advert, I won't be in a better position to be successful than I am currently. Sorry if this wasn't a very juicy post!

Do it!

It's not your concern. You are not HR.

What happens at the end of the three months?

Hmmm I would apply but unless there was some certainty beyond 3m, I wouldn't go for it.

What happens after 3 months? You could be out of a job!

I also think you should go for it. You would be doing yourself out of valuable experience if not. I would think both jobs are of equal value in terms of need and two departments want you.

Apply. It can't be that difficult for them to get a replacement for an entry level admin job.

I'd say take it and not worry - but what happens after 3 months?

Take the job.

Take the new job.

It would be an acting up post so my job would still be there afterwards. They would fill it with bank.

100% take it. That experience may tip the balance in your next interview. The cover is their responsibility and worry, try not to make it yours.

I would take it just to be able to put it on your CV, so a stepping stone to something better. But don’t expect it to go smoothly. I don’t want to be a doom monger but these situations in the NHS almost always are because the job is shit, and likely you will be thrown in the deep end potentially with very little support. Sorry it’s just I worked in the NHS for many years and I recognise this scenario. But for 3 months it’s probably worth it if it leads to something better. So take the long term view.

Just go for it! As you said, they'll get babk staff.
If I were your colleague and you taking this 3 month role made things difficult for me, I'd be more pissed at the situation l, but I wouldn't begrudge you at all. You gotta do what you gotta do!

@missyB1 thank you for your honesty. I've already heard the millions of reasons that no one wants to go for it in my workplace, but I like a challenge! It's experience if nothing else.
I think I've realised that my role now has changed because of Covid. We now have no patient contact which I really miss. We aren't working in the ward office but hot desking and no one knows how long this will go on for.

In that case you must take it.

Think about it - you've been offered a role to give you experience in a higher grade than you are currently in, you won't lose out because your job will be there when you return WITH said experience - if you knock it back, you'll lose any chance of getting a promotion within your current employment because they will think you're not up for the challenge.

I worked my way up like this from a band 2 to a band 7. I have no medical or nursing qualifications.
I took the weirdest jobs, temporary etc, volunteered to help with projects. All for experience. It is who you know as well in these situations, if you get to know managers and are useful they will find a way to keep you.

As long as you have a job to return to I would take it. You need the experience to build up your cv and then when another suitable post comes up at least you will have experience under your belt to support your application.

I would take it for the experience provided you could go back to your other job , but don't expect any loyalty

@Menora please could you give me any advice? I keep getting knocked back. They all give the feedback 'you gave a great interview but we are looking for specific experience' which I can't get in a ward clerk role. I could be the best ward clerk in the world but it's not going to improve on my experience of note taking at senior meetings. Anything you could pass on would be really useful to me!

I can try!

So do you have any experience for the roles you are going for?
Have you done any relevant courses?
Could you ask to shadow anyone you know in another role on your day off? (So in your own time)
Could you do bank in other departments?

Take all the courses on offer
Do all the online courses on offer as well via your workplace
Do any courses you can outside of work too
Ask your manager if you can take on any extra jobs to help their workload
Write down what jobs you are doing, and maybe google some CV’s for some concise ways of expressing them - so for implementing the tech to patients, you could say ‘led on an IT project’ which is makes it appear like a broader area
Don’t talk too much in interviews
Watch tutorials on giving good interviews and filling out applications
Make friends with all the other admins in other departments

Could you sit in a ward round and practice taking notes? Would your manager allow you?

If it’s acting up in your old job is secure then you need to take it otherwise you’re never get considered for promotion again

A couple of years ago I offered to do some extra work in another department that was bloody miles away. But I did it so I could learn from someone who worked there, I picked her brains and worked with her and then shortly after felt more confident to apply for a higher band job
I try not to be a kiss ass but involve myself with things and in things where appropriate and see everything as more learning

Nobody is irreplaceable. It’s just a job!