Anyone else just feel "stuck"

[helpamummaout]

So this is going to sound a bit woe is me but just wanting to see if anyone else feels the same, or even has advice if they came out the other side.
I've been in my current job for almost 7 years, band 3 in the NHS, always want to do more, learn more. There's been carrots dangled every now and again about career progression but nothing ever comes of it due to funding or other reasons. I feel brain dead. I'm 31 and I just don't want to carry on there anymore, but at the same time I have almost 4 year old twins, can't afford to just quit and go back to education. I've been looking at jobs everyday but can't seem to find anything or if I do the shifts wouldn't suit due to childcare costs.
Thanks for reading this far, hopefully someone insightful will come along and give me some advice to get me out of this rut.

I like a lot about my job, but I just want to progress, learn & earn more. I just feel a bit wasted. I like helping patients and would like to stay in the NHS.
I hadn't heard of future learn so I will look into that thank you for your advice

Now … you see - it hadn’t occurred to me that anyone wasn’t aware of FutureLearn - no judgement on you, OP, it just shows I’m in my own little bubble.

I have no clue at all about NHS roles - (and don’t really understand why your employers seem so unhelpful) but here’s a list of online learning platforms:

www.mooc-list.com/

Obviously most will be of no interest to you, but there’s sure to be something you want to pursue, even if just for fun, and that might give you the confidence to strike out in a new direction.

Hi OP. Would you consider an undergraduate degree? When I did mine, I got the full student loan available, plus the childcare grant. I also applied for the uni's hardship fund every year (about £1500) and also got housing benefit too (would be universal credit now). Plus NHS courses you don't have to pay fees, as you get a bursary for them.

I’m currently studying my midwifery degree and I got enough in loans, bursaries and childcare grants to continue to live a decent life as a single parent. I also claim a small amount of UC so it is doable

I'd love to do it, I just always assumed it wouldn't be do able as we wouldn't be able to afford without me bringing a wage in. Very interesting to hear from you both though and seems it may be worth me looking into about funding. Appreciate the replies thank you

It's definitely tight, but not unmanageable if you're currently band 3. We were so skint throughout but it was so worth it. Good luck, going to university changed my life for the better and I've no regrets :)

I have been stuck as a band 4 in the nhs for years OP and similarly to you felt stuck and frustrated. Have finally taken the plunge this year to go full time on an AHP course. No fees plus about 8k a year in loans / grants etc. I'm also working on the bank. Yes it will be tough financially but once graduated I am hoping to quickly go up the bandings. I've finally accepted that getting my registration is the only way to go. I'm also loving the course (so far). Don't rule it out as an option for you.

A different career but I feel stuck too. I earn a decent salary but am the sole earner in our household so would struggle to study unpaid for a year and then take a lower paid job. I was thinking of going into teaching but just can’t justify it. I have the degree so it would just be the year of teacher training and I have experience of tutoring and people who know my work and helping with learning say I would be good as a teacher. I would have 20 years to give to the new career if I started now.

You’ve probably looked at this page:

getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-your-training

• already, but leaving it here in case helpful.

Yes thank you. I could find some of the fees from money I’ve put in a pot for DD for university but find the combination of denying her a start in life, or getting into debt and taking a 50% pay cut a combo I can’t justify. I think if I really really wanted the new career (maybe my outlet of tutoring fills a hole) or hated my current job that much I could do the switch but the scales haven’t tipped. I keep trying to count my blessings.

@Hairyfairy01 AHP course? Which is this? I don't think I've heard of it. Good on you for taking the plunge! I feel I need to start looking around what I want to do then see if it's financially possible for me to do it.

Thanks for all the replies everyone and sorry to anyone who's going through the same, it really is a rubbish place to be in. I try to be grateful that I have a job but after the last 2 years it's just not really enjoyable anymore

Allied health professional course. So physio, OT, speech and language, radiology, podiatry etc. Lots of different options depending on what interests you.

Oh that's interesting I'll have a look into that thank you x

Bumping for any new advice.

Thank you @EdmontinaTiresofNameFlipping , still no progress here so far .

Hi OP,

I'm not sure on where some of the PP are training but I have just graduated and qualified as an AHP in England, now working in NHS. I didn't get my fees paid for, but did get student loans for them, plus in my final year (because they only brought it in then) got a 5K non repayable bursary, with an additional 2K for having a dependent child, so 7K on top of student loans. You can also get maintenance loans through student finance too to help with living costs and these are based on your income. I had friends who managed to do a full time undergrad AHP degree with these funds, some also worked bank shifts as HCAs to help too.

I am in my 40s so a very much mature student and I don't regret doing this for a second. I do think the only way to progress beyond a band 3/4 role in the NHS is to get a degree unfortunately, but only you know if you could manage financially.

Hope you work things out.

Thank you @bluefineliner , i've recently found out about funding which is available for certain NHS degree's , it can be up to 9k a year in some cases. For most I would have to do an access course which mean I would be studying for 4 years potentially. We are due to remortgage in 1.5 years and I'm trying to find out how me being a student could effect this before I take the plunge. It's nice to hear about your experience and that you don't regret it x

OP - read your own posts here in sequence …

I completely recognise and empathise with where you feel yourself to be right now but - in order for you to make the progress you say you want to make - some element of your current life would have to change.

I was a band 2 and felt stuck too. I took the plunge and went to study BSc OT part time (I already have a BSc but lots on my course came in via the access course) so I can also work at the same time. I have 2 children under 6. I absolutely love it! It’s exceeded all my expectations-hard work though.

The new LSF funding was the main reason I finally applied as I simply could not afford it otherwise. I pay £3500 a year in fees (half price) and I get £1500 a year towards childcare which is a drop in the ocean but it all counts. Going part time is worth a thought.

I worked in radiology in the nhs, there's always been plenty of band 4 assistant practitioners there. Particularly main x-ray and mammography.

I would definitely recommend if possible aiming for the degree and band 5 if you logistically can, the world's your oyster then, lots of scope for progression especially in radiography.

@AlanisMorningShed (love your name!) I am a Radiographer and agree with you on the career progression options. I too worked as a band 4 in x-ray whilst studying to increase income.

OP I did an access to HE course prior to the BSc and whilst you have to get a loan to do this, it is refunded if you finish your degree, I've just had mine credited back.

There are ways to finance FT HE, but it is a complete change of lifestyle and priorities, and putting yourself out of your comfort zone. You need to decide if this is what you want right now, and if you do, just go for it!