To apply for a full time job...

[WishIWasAsGoodAsBlueysMum]

Currently on maternity leave with my three month old (also have a 2YO). I’ve just seen a job advert for something I’d really enjoy doing. It’s similar to my current role and the same pay band, just working for a different NHS trust, and doing something slightly different.

It closes today (I’ve only just seen it on realising that a friend who had the role was leaving!) and I’m unsure whether to apply.
My concerns are:
-Presumably I would have to cut my maternity leave short.
-I wasn’t planning to go back FT (I was working 3 days PW prior to mat leave - although depending on the shift pattern, this role may still be 3 days but longer shifts)
-My current team are lovely and there is a certain degree of flexibility as we are all good at helping each other out in an emergency.
-Whilst the role has a degree of patient-facing work, it would not involve any real physical practice of clinical skills. I worry about ‘de-skilling’ or having to work additional clinical shifts in order to maintain my skill set.
-I’m not sure that there is much scope for progression. Although I’m not sure how keen I am to progress.

Reasons I’d like to do it:
-I really enjoy working independently as part of a wider team.
-I would be good at the role and had been doing similar work before maternity leave.
-In some respects it would further my knowledge and skills.
-It would force me to keep up to date with guidelines/research/skills drills.
-It’s based at a hub with other health professionals and I think I’d find that interesting.

Do I just apply? My main issue is feeling like I’m not being loyal! I’m sure I could work around all the rest of the stuff...

Go for it.

What's the worst that could happen? You don't get the job. But you won't spend the next few months with the "if only I had..." feeling.

You don't need to have to hate your job to apply for a different one.

You can always withdraw an application if you change your mind.

Having just gone back to full-time, it's something I'd think long and hard about doing with such young children, especially as you'd be leaving a flexible, supportive team. But I'd probably still apply.

Given the timescales, put the application in. You can always pull out of the process at any stage. Applying gives you the possibility. If you dont submit the application today, the opportunity has gone.

Unless it's a genuine once in a lifetime opportunity I wouldn't.
Who knows if / when childcare will settle down / what the NHS will look like in a year.
I'd go back to your present role where you've established yourself and got respect, so if you need flexible working / WFH / anything else you can have it, and maybe revisit a move after a year or so. I say this as a fellow HCP.