Please could any school staff give advice on DM's work situation?

[Diorissimo1985]

Hope I'm posting in the right place...

DM (64) has been a SEN TA for nearly 25 years, she currently works full time, plus stays late 2 afternoons a week to run an after school club and attend a staff meeting.

DM had treatment for cancer last year - 2 operations on her leg and a long recovery process as she couldn't stand for long periods. She was signed off work for approx. 4 months and then returned to work after Easter doing just mornings until then end of summer term (on doctor's advice). She would spend afternoons at home with leg elevated which eased the swelling and pain - this will be with her for life apparently.

She spoke to her Head about returning to work full time in September '18 - the Head said if you want to continue part time then I can only offer 1-2-1 with a particular pupil. DM knows the pupil in question and didn't want this job as he is quite violent. Head said if DM didn't want that job then should would just have to return to her full time contracted hours.

DM didn't question this and has been back at work since beginning of school year - I think to the detriment of her health. She is exhausted in the evenings and at weekends, her leg aches, she is always run down, and she suffers from occasional swelling and pain.

I've said she needs to speak to someone at school about making some adjustments but I have no idea who and DM is petrified of losing her job as she is worried she won't find another as she's only working for another 2.5 years before retiring.

Ideally she would just do mornings but she said the Head is very anti flexible working - but I feel even if that weren't possible surely some other adjustments could be made like DM not having to do break time supervision (standing for 30 mins) or after school club?

I get the impression DM is intimidated by the Head and won't question things but I'm so worried it's making her unwell. Would really appreciate some advice about who she should speak to, and what she should say.

TIA and sorry for long post!

Could she not try for early retirement on health grounds? That might be better than dropping to part-time - depends how her pension is calculated. She really needs some professional help on both the health situation and the impact on any of this to pension. If it is a local authority school there must be someone at the county that she could talk to. Perhaps try to see Citizens Advice and the GP first.

Notonaschoolnight - what an awful post.

I was bullied in school by colleagues when I became ill and had to use a wheelchair because they didn't want to take on extra duties. They were absolutely vile - I'm guessing you'd be one of them then?

No one asks for cancer or to become ill. There are laws in place for those specific reasons. We shouldn't just be expected to give up our careers if we don't want to.

If I’ve read this correctly:

*Your mum was off for 4 months and then had a long phased return back to her job.
*She had a meeting with the head about part time work which the head agreed too, but said that the school could only accommodate it with a slight change in role (ie from a general TA to a 1-2-1 TA)
*your mum turned that down and thus returned to her job full time
*she now is finding that she can no longer physically do the job full time.

She needs to put in another flexible working request, but she won’t get to pick and choose the pupils she works with. She was offered part time; if she wants it she can’t turn it down.

Also, regardless of anything else, she shouldn’t be in a classroom without being a member of a union so she needs to join one ASAP.