AIBU To consider a Functional Assessor Role

[Pippa12]

I’ve worked for NHS for 15 years. Majority of it as a sister on intensive care. After recent events, I’m exhausted and in all honesty exasperated at the lack of pay which I now accept will never improve.

For (a lot!) more money, I could work the same hours without nights/weekends/Christmas/bank holidays. I miss my children and I want a more normal structure. I also want a healthier pay slip and pension pot.

I am computer literate, have a good understanding of chronic conditions and an excellent communicator. However, I am very compassionate and absolutely love helping people. I never ever thought I’d look at private work, but every time my alarm goes off at 5:30 for yet another 14 hour shift on a Sunday whilst my husband and children go on a lovely day out my heart sinks. But 9-5 jobs in the nhs pay so poorly it’s not feesable for me to apply for anything without unsociable hour pay.

Anybody work in this role and can offer me any advice on the pros and cons?

Assuming this is for the DWP or their cronies YABU. If you truly care about people do not go down this road.

If you fancy it, go for it. Try it.... If you like it, great, if it doesn't suit, you don't have to stay.

@Slimeafterslime why do you say this? Have you worked for them before? I really am passionate about nursing and helping people, I could not work in a role where the patient was not paramount.

@WanderingMilly I would love to just give it a try but I’ve worked so hard to climb the ladder I wouldn’t get a position like I have now and likely end up right at the bottom of the pay scale for leaving the nhs. That’s why I’m after responses of people who can give me a balanced opinion.

As you can imagine, I am more than used to working in incredibly demanding situations. I can work to deadlines and I have nerves of steel I do truly like my current job, but sometimes you’ve got to accept your family and children are just so much more important, the extra cash would help too after my husband was furloughed and as he’s in hospitality I really doubt it will get the last time we are in that position.

No, but I've been on the other side of the process and it's not pleasant.

Theres plenty of anecdotal evidence it's not a disabled friendly role. The sheer number of applications that are successful at tribunal tells you everything you need to know.

Id repost as "AIBU to want to work for the DWP" and see how the responses look then.

What slime says. My background is district nursing. My conscience just said no. That said. I wouldn't judge anyone that does apply to do it.

Argh I don’t know!!! It’s obviously not patient focussed... back to the drawing board I think!!!

Have you thought about clinical advisor type positions in NHS arms length bodies, Op?

Also what would a step up from your current position be?

Do you mean doing appointments for people on disability benefit to assess their eligibility?

If so Yabu. I used to be a project worker about 12 yeas ago. I worked with offenders many of whom were disabled or unwell mentally an physically. One of the things I did was go to these assessments with them. I went to many many appointments as did my colleagues. The assessors completely disregarded what my clients said. Every single time. They were rude, lacking compassion and stuck rigidly to a script.

They often got things wrong in their write up of the assessment. Eg would say things like xx can voof for themselves when my client had said the opposite. I often wondered what type of person would do this job. I wondered if they really disliked people? Or the benefit system? So I suppose if this is you do it. But if you've actually been caring for people your whole career don't because this is the opposite.

I know people who have done (and all quit) this role. There’s a reason why the salary is so high and why there are always vacancies - workload is completely unmanageable. You have to type and retype excessive reports.
You have targets around making big decisions that massively affect people’s lives. I wouldn’t do it!
Maybe case management or occ health type role might be nicer?

The pay is probably good to try and make up for the fact that you essentially have to get rid of all your morals and reasons why you became a nurse in the first place.

www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/27/thousands-died-after-fit-for-work-assessment-dwp-figures

You really want to become part of the government machine that did this to vulnerable people?