To ask how to get through the next few months

[CalmDownFaye]

NC in case outing

I am currently job hunting. I am a trained HCP (similar to at OT) but currently working in HE doing some practical teaching and lecturing. I've done it for 4 years but have had 2 x mat leaves of 9 months. Been back for the last 9 months.

I am desperate to get back into practice. I miss my patients/clients. I miss being good at my job. I have come to hate the teaching. Its boring, students are ever more demanding (and I am used to stroppy patients!). On return from mat leave I was given more responsibility and a more demanding role with no financial remuneration, no training, very little support and not enough staff to run the bloody thing.

I've worked 12 hour shifts for the NHS and covered 3 x peoples jobs at the same time and I've never been more stressed than with this now. I constantly reach out for help but get rubbish responses, platitudes of 'you're doing a great job!' and people saying they have no time to help me. My line manager works term time only so isn't reachable since May and we are all wfh so I can't wander down the corridor to a colleagues office and get advice.

I am applying desperately to jobs and have 8 years experience in my role so I feel I should get a job back in the NHS soon. Work will be screwed when I go because they only gave me this new responsibility as we are so low on staff there is literally NO ONE else to do it and next year will be left in a mess if so. However I can't stay just because I feel bad can I.

How do I get through hopefully just the last 4-5 months (if I can get a job soon- applied to 6 in the past 2 weeks luckily in London so lots of jobs come up). I have applied to a lower band for some posts than I worked before just to hopefully guarantee I'll get something. Just get my head down? Continue killing myself to do it, asking for help to no avail? I'd love to go off sick but I wouldn't do that to them and don't feel THAT stressed (yet- ask me again mid September!) so really dont want to let down a team of generally nice people.

I feel so low and unsupported. I hate wfh and having no one to ask- I miss working with my little team, meeting back in the office after ward rounds etc.

Bump

Sounds awful OP! I can't believe that you can have a 'line manager' who works term time only! That's ridiculous! Assuming that your line manager has a boss themself, I would speak to them, lay your cards on the table, and tell them that you're fed up with platitudes, which neither pay the bills, or make you feel better, and that the situation simply cannot go on. I might even be tempted to tell them that you're looking for another job, and point out that this will only leave them even more in the shit. Something clearly needs to be done, and you're the only person that can do anything about it. So put on your big girl pants on, and tell them!!

I don't know what to say yo help but I'm also in a job I hate...also teaching. My contract finished at Xmas so even if I hand my notice in now I still have to work most of the rest of my contract.

I took the job because I had to (corona finance situation) and now I don't need it and I'm kicking myself for not handing my notice in before the holidays but I thought we'd need the money. Happily we don't but too late for me. I'm so fucking miserable, the kids are shit and I'm only back teaching to stop us losing the house which now isn't a problem so I hate it even more.

When I finally leave I will be working on our business (a specialist shop) which I love and hate that I can't be involved.

Sorry my own rant there but I feel you, it's so depressing so stressful and I don't know how to get through it either

If something comes up, go for it. It's not your responsibility to run the organisation. Ultimately employers would replace you in a heartbeat (tough luck if they can't). If they're allowing the work environment to become toxic, you must go!

Thanks all. Yes @Speakuptomakeyourselfheard need to take on your username and raise it with someone v senior really. It’s v hard in academia I always feel like I have no idea what I’m doing and don’t know who to ask. Before this job I was a v good efficient competent worker!
Sorry to hear you’re in the same boat @frazzledfragglefromfragglerock. I’m sure school (primary or secondary) is unbelievably hard at the moment . Think what a weight will be lifted at Christmas it’ll be the best one ever .

So I emailed my manager yesterday. Auto reply saying they are still on A/L for 4 more weeks and to contact X In their absence. Emailed X- also on A/L. FML!