To wonder how on earth you find a job as a single mum?

[LancesGold]

Feeling so disheartened right now...

Single mum to 2.5 year old twins. DH left a year ago. I'm currently a SAHM but I seriously need to find a job.

I'm looking for PT hours but even so I am really really struggling. My back ground is in health and social care but finding something with suitable hours just seems impossible. It's all shift work/late nights/sleep in shifts. I've just called today for a chat about a decent sounding position and you have to be a car driver. I've not got my licence yet, test cancelled three times this year due to covid.

I just want to cry today. Feel so useless and stuck :(

I think that part time hours are difficult. The parents I know with part time hours generally worked FT before maternity leave and got flexible hours agreed when they wanted to come back. You may find that hours are better in hospital based jobs - clinics etc. but you still need to think about how you cover school holidays etc. when they're a bit older.

It is hard OP. It's always easier to ask a full time role you already have about rerduced hours or flexible working rather than starting from scratch. Childcare costs are prohibitive even for a lot of families so only makes sense when they are in school or getting 3 year old funding or if you earn a lot. And even then a lot of people rely on family or friends for support. I guess it's all twice as difficult with two.
Hopefully soon you will have your licence and that will open up more options. And it wont be too long before the 3 year funding. Have you looked into what help or benefits your be entitled to if you were working? You could always post your skills and past jobs so people here could give wome inspiration around different roles in case there are some you havent thought of?

@FFSAllTheGoodOnesArereadyTaken I'm on UC so will stay on that if I start working. I relocated while I was pregnant, hence starting from scratch. Obviously I had a DH at the time. I wasn't planning on being left alone with only my parents to help :(

All my background is support work, housing officer etc. I apply for jobs and mostly hear nothing back.

I just feel so useless. It's starting to really knock my self confidence.

I returned to work part time with my DS in kindergarten. I then signed up with a temporary agency and worked for them for a couple of years and applied for other jobs. It was hard going.

I know what you mean OP, I’ve just been made redundant from a job I loved which had hours that worked around my family.
The prospect of trying to find another job that doesn’t involves shifts, evenings or weekends is daunting as they’re few and far between at the best of times, let alone in a pandemic.
I have no one to help with childcare and my exh doesn’t see the kids at all by choice so I am very limited on what hours I can do.
To say I am gutted to be in this position would be an understatement.
I hope you manage to find something

Would you be interested in healthcare assistant work? If you join the hospital bank/ agency then it’s as hoc hours do you could book shifts only when your children are with their dad (assuming he still sees them).

@WishUponAStar88

Would you be interested in healthcare assistant work? If you join the hospital bank/ agency then it’s as hoc hours do you could book shifts only when your children are with their dad (assuming he still sees them).

This is good advice - if your ex spends regular time with the kids, you could do bank/freelance healthcare work then.

Childcare will be more affordable for you once you get the 30 free hours. Hang on in there.

@QuestionableDanceMoves I'm so sorry to hear you're in a similar situation It just feels so unfair doesn't it? I hope you manage to find something soon too.

@wishUponAStar88 @StoneColdBitch. I've applied for some agencies but keep getting told they want six months experience in the last year. My ex doesn't see DC and was incapable of caring for them alone even when he still did!

Have you been applying to NHS bank? NHS Professionals? I started working again as a Bank NHS NA last year after being out of healthcare for over 5 years.

Before I applied I completed a short online course via Learn Direct called the Care Certificate. I think it was about £50 and it updated my CV and refreshed my knowledge. I now work weekends when the kids are with their Dad.

There are a lot of apprenticeships becoming available in the NHS including Occupational Therapy, Nursing etc. Good luck!

Sorry, I didn’t see the ex part. Shift work is tricky without family help.

Once you pass your driving test there will obviously be more options. The local community rehab team has shifts from 4-12 hours.

I've worked in healthcare since before I was pregnant. I became a single mother and couldn't afford part time working so have stayed full time throughout my children's lives. I've used full time nursery, breakfast club, afterschool care and childminders. I have no family support so this has been the only option. Thankfully when they reached high school age they've been able to fend for themselves. It was a massive juggle for 8 or 9 years but it can be done.