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Original poster

To want a job?

106 replies

Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 01:52

I hope this is okay to post. I've been a Mumsnet lurker for weeks and only just made an account to follow a couple of threads.

I'm 35, childless and physically disabled since birth.

I graduated university with a law degree.

I have never had a job. Until 4 years ago I had various regular volunteer jobs both for charity and in industry. Then, I became very unwell and unable to continue anything.

Fast forward 4 years. I have recovered and adjusted to a new normal.

DH I have looked at our finances and figured out that we can finally afford for me to look for paid work. So if I lose my ESA because I earn to much and then lose my job, he can fully support our lifestyle.

At 19, government decided I was too sick to work and I got zero support finding employment.

On Monday I had an appointment with a government careers advisor and it was a shambles. DH and I both got the impression that she didn't know how to help.

Am I being unreasonable to want a job? It's all I've ever wanted. I don't even know where to start or how to pitch myself. I was told I'd struggle because of the cv gap and my age.

I don't want much. Just something part time and WFH. I don't care if it's minimum wage. But after Monday, being told I get no more support I'm feeling rather dejected.

DH wants nothing more than to help, but he's at a loss. He walked into the first job after uni and they bent over backwards to meet his disability needs.

I know I should be grateful I have benefits and I am.

But I want to work.

Thank you for letting me vent.

OP posts:
Aprilx · 05/10/2023 04:15

You say you don’t want much “just something part time and WFH”. This is wanting a lot and I think as a starting point you need to rethink that, as you otherwise are going to be seriously limiting your options.

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 05/10/2023 04:22

What can you do?
Did you physically attend uni? Is it the travelling to work or being in an office that you would struggle with?

ThreeLeggedPug · 05/10/2023 04:29

I wondered about information or help lines? To start with. If you’ve a law degree I imagine you’re articulate

ItWasntMyFault · 05/10/2023 04:31

Could you volunteer for Citizens Advice or similar for a bit to see how you get on back working again before you give up your ESA? Then you will know if you can manage working regular hours?

ThreeLeggedPug · 05/10/2023 04:32

Google Scope

lljkk · 05/10/2023 04:35

Why do you need to WFH?
What can you physically do, OP? Are you a wheelchair user? How good is your vision or hearing? Do you have good manual dexterity?

Can you travel independently?

Why could you not do an admin job in an office?

Can you use a keyboard & mouse?

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 04:35

Aprilx · 05/10/2023 04:15

You say you don’t want much “just something part time and WFH”. This is wanting a lot and I think as a starting point you need to rethink that, as you otherwise are going to be seriously limiting your options.

How do I rethink this?

Neither of us drive. DH is permanently wfh due to his health.

Full time isn't an option. I'd be exhausted

I had to do part of my degree part time for that reason

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 04:39

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 05/10/2023 04:22

What can you do?
Did you physically attend uni? Is it the travelling to work or being in an office that you would struggle with?

I like computers. I'm creative (I make my own cards). I'm good with words. I love anything technical, detailed.

I've done a variety of admin and sales volunteer work. When I was physically able to get around more.

Yes, I physically went to university, but I ended up part time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 04:42

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 05/10/2023 04:22

What can you do?
Did you physically attend uni? Is it the travelling to work or being in an office that you would struggle with?

To add because I forgot, it's a bit of both.

Neither of us drive, and I'd find it difficult to be out all day, due to some of the medical equipment I need. (Example a hoist.)

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 04:43

ThreeLeggedPug · 05/10/2023 04:29

I wondered about information or help lines? To start with. If you’ve a law degree I imagine you’re articulate

I like to think I'm articulate. Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 04:46

lljkk · 05/10/2023 04:35

Why do you need to WFH?
What can you physically do, OP? Are you a wheelchair user? How good is your vision or hearing? Do you have good manual dexterity?

Can you travel independently?

Why could you not do an admin job in an office?

Can you use a keyboard & mouse?

Neither DH or I drive.

Yes I'm a wheelchair user, unable to stand.

Manual dexterity isn't brilliant. I do some creative stuff, but it looks like something my young nephew would draw!

Good computer skills.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 04:50

Independent travel is out and my council are bankrupt, so I don't qualify for any care beyond necessary personal care.

My husband, with his health issues, is currently my only caregiver. If he needs a break my 76 year old mum comes to visit during the day. But that's rare because she's not local

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 05/10/2023 04:57

I’d encourage you to apply to the civil service. Very flexible and would be more than accommodating to any adjustments needed for your disability. Flexible on hours worked per week, we had someone who had a month off per year to just relax as she suffered with health issues. Her pay was averaged over the year due to that. I suffer with chronic pancreatitis and work have been very flexible and accommodating to any adjustments that help. We also do 40% Office, 60% home in most roles, some people do have a permanent home worker contract. Keep an eye out on civil service jobs. Start looking at AO / EO roles. Lots of opportunity for development

StrawberryPavlova · 05/10/2023 05:00

If you're on facebook, follow The Work From Home Hub. The lady who runs it posts wfh or hybrid jobs, and she also has a blog you can subscribe too with loads of helpful info about getting a wfh job.

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 05:02

Zanatdy · 05/10/2023 04:57

I’d encourage you to apply to the civil service. Very flexible and would be more than accommodating to any adjustments needed for your disability. Flexible on hours worked per week, we had someone who had a month off per year to just relax as she suffered with health issues. Her pay was averaged over the year due to that. I suffer with chronic pancreatitis and work have been very flexible and accommodating to any adjustments that help. We also do 40% Office, 60% home in most roles, some people do have a permanent home worker contract. Keep an eye out on civil service jobs. Start looking at AO / EO roles. Lots of opportunity for development

Thank you so much. What is ao and eo?

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 05:03

StrawberryPavlova · 05/10/2023 05:00

If you're on facebook, follow The Work From Home Hub. The lady who runs it posts wfh or hybrid jobs, and she also has a blog you can subscribe too with loads of helpful info about getting a wfh job.

Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 05:04

ThreeLeggedPug · 05/10/2023 04:32

Google Scope

Thank you! I found a phone number specifically for employment support. I'm not sure I'm eligible but I'm going to phone anyway

OP posts:
JennyForeigner · 05/10/2023 05:08

How about ombudsman work? It's flexible, home-based, sort of civil-service adjacent and would play to your skills.

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 05:09

JennyForeigner · 05/10/2023 05:08

How about ombudsman work? It's flexible, home-based, sort of civil-service adjacent and would play to your skills.

Ooh thank you!

I'm assuming I just google ombudsman and go from there

OP posts:
BluebellsForest · 05/10/2023 05:14

Aprilx · 05/10/2023 04:15

You say you don’t want much “just something part time and WFH”. This is wanting a lot and I think as a starting point you need to rethink that, as you otherwise are going to be seriously limiting your options.

This is nonsense, @Spencer0220. Don't let it discourage you.

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 05:16

Thank you @BluebellsForest I was thinking people here would think I was crazy

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 05/10/2023 05:34

Gosh sorry, we are terrible for the acronyms. So AO is Administrative Officer and EO is Executive officer. These are the grades where we have most staff, so processing the work. For example in my area and AO could be doing some admin in logging cases on databases etc and an EO could he investigating the issue and responding to the customer. I’m in immigration so we have a lot of casework - staff processing visa application etc, but the civil service is a big place and so many different roles. Adjustments can be made at interviews too.

Civil service Jobs - if you typed in administrative officer and Croydon for example quite a few roles come up. So I’d put AO and EO in keyword box and your location. You can set alerts too for jobs to be emailed to you when advertised https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

edited to add there’s a more advanced filter so search via for job grade and location - most roles will accept part time unless stated stated

Civil Service job search - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

Search and apply for jobs in the UK Civil Service

https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

TheCaddieisaBaddie · 05/10/2023 06:31

Once you are offered a job, don't forget about Access to Work. They can fund things for you or support the employer to make adjustments like putting in a lift, funding transport, desk, equipment you might need at home. Google them for more information.

Sign on with an Agency as well, lots of LAs use agency, it can build up your CV as well. You might only start with short term stuff whilst you are looking for something more permanent but it will give you an idea of what's out there and what you can cope with.

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 06:52

Zanatdy · 05/10/2023 05:34

Gosh sorry, we are terrible for the acronyms. So AO is Administrative Officer and EO is Executive officer. These are the grades where we have most staff, so processing the work. For example in my area and AO could be doing some admin in logging cases on databases etc and an EO could he investigating the issue and responding to the customer. I’m in immigration so we have a lot of casework - staff processing visa application etc, but the civil service is a big place and so many different roles. Adjustments can be made at interviews too.

Civil service Jobs - if you typed in administrative officer and Croydon for example quite a few roles come up. So I’d put AO and EO in keyword box and your location. You can set alerts too for jobs to be emailed to you when advertised https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

edited to add there’s a more advanced filter so search via for job grade and location - most roles will accept part time unless stated stated

Edited

Thank you so much! I'm assuming I can apply for office roles that look right and ask for wfh adjustment? Not just for civil service but other roles?

Acronyms throw me such a lot! I'm seeing CF on a lot of other threads. I can't work out what a cf parent is.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 05/10/2023 06:53

TheCaddieisaBaddie · 05/10/2023 06:31

Once you are offered a job, don't forget about Access to Work. They can fund things for you or support the employer to make adjustments like putting in a lift, funding transport, desk, equipment you might need at home. Google them for more information.

Sign on with an Agency as well, lots of LAs use agency, it can build up your CV as well. You might only start with short term stuff whilst you are looking for something more permanent but it will give you an idea of what's out there and what you can cope with.

Thank you

OP posts: