To leave the care sector and drive a milk truck?

[Atmywitsend29]

Semi light hearted.

I've worked really hard the last two years to progress in my career within the care sector, and I am now Care Team Leader (Head of Care). Now I'm here, I don't want it anymore?
Working through the pandemic has ruined this sector for me,for an enormous amount of reasons. I've worked in care for 11 years. I'm very skilled, I'm good at my job, I have a couple of specialist areas within the limits of my role. But I don't want to be here anymore. I don't want to be in this industry.

So, should I just leave and go and drive a milk float for a living?

I say go for it. Whatever job you take now doesn’t have to be forever.

I did something similar after working on GP practices for 30 years. I was miserable. I did take a job in a connected field but not public facing and not managing anyone else. It took me about a year after leaving to realise just what a toll it was taking. I never thought I’d leave but Ive never regretted it and definitely wouldn’t go back.

Good luck!

OK so not nurse training.

Social Work training - I know several folk who did well-paid locum work while training?

Life is far, far too short to spend your time in a job that makes you miserable. I have a professional, well paid job but I’m so unhappy in it. I’m currently working out my exit strategy but will almost definitely mean a significant pay cut; however, I’ve concluded my state of mind is more important.

There's nothing wrong in leaving the sector you're in and trying something new.
I recently left my job and area of expertise (20years) to pursue another area as my job had changed and become much less enjoyable due to covid (I travelled internationally frequently) minimum manning, and loss of basic fun and interaction with colleagues.
I'm very happy in my new role, have excellent possibilities to move up the ladder and enjoy a much better work life balance.
I'd say dip your toe in the water, if it really doesn't work out you have your previous experience and qualifications to return to the care sector.

One of my good friends was a carer and now she delivers people's home shopping for Sainsbury's

Much more money an hour so she's able to do 3 days not 5

If you aren't happy I'd say think about it and see what other options are out there

Life is too short to be miserable

What does your husband do can he support the family
While you train to drive the milk float

Also OP the prices of things are going to increase
Do you have children

If you are experienced and have management responsibilities you should be thinking of looking at roles where you can transfer your skills rather than simply thinking’we can survive on the bare minimum’.

Write a list of things you enjoy about working and all your skills then try to work out a sector you think you’d enjoy? Might be sighing the very broad scope of ‘care’ or something entirely different.

And retraining in a career is a very good idea as you unfortunately have approximately 40 years until you retire.

Just a thought. Good luck.

Occupational therapy might be a good avenue to explore?

We've got a school age child, and husband earns alright money. Neither of us earn enough to survive for too long on one wage though.

You've all given me really good advice and things to consider, I am very grateful

I reallt wouldn't write off training for other professions...

I'd look at the benefit over say 5-10 years when you can me in a role that pays a lot more...not just the immediate years.

A person I tutored was quite senior in care home... Got fed up.. Injured back the usual stuff... Earnt about 500£ weekly with huge amounts of overtime.

Trained as a social worker... Picked up care shifts here and there to keep body and soul together.

She's now earning 50£ as a locum social worker. So wte of 100k pa

I used to manage a large admin team, we had multiple people join us from care work because there are a lot of transferrable skills - attention to detail, accuracy, managing peoples expectations etc

The salary wasnt amazing but lots of opportunity for progression etc

I'm not writing off training for other roles, it's something I'm actively looking to do. It's just finding the right something? I wouldn't want to be a social worker, and I don't want to stay in healthcare. But there's lots of other stuff out there, I just need to keep looking.

It's heartening to see how many of you are saying about transferable skills! I really try to highlight my transferable skills when I write a cover letter,things like leaderships ability, ability to work as a member of the team, attention to detail, calm in a crisis, able to work under pressure. Communication and interpersonal skills, ability to facilitate and support difficult conversations.

Civil service?

Forgive my ignorance noctu but I'm not sure what the civil service is

Move across in to charitable sector as a locality manager? Lots transferable skills; people management, aware of CQC/commissioning, risk/Safeguarding, budgets, KPI’s/Contracts, Care Planning and support etc