Hospital to community job - demotion but ?worth it

[loftyjen]

Hoping there's some nurses/HV's lurking out there!
am currently in a band 7 role working in a hospital (A&E) pt/t since having DD (2 yr next month) but have over the last few months been seriously thinking about applying to train as a HV but wasn't rushing in.
However, hubbie is v likely to be changing job soon, and with that will come a pay rise (woo-hoo) and the chance that him doing the 2 nursery pick-ups a week (i do 12 hour shifts) will reduce.
I've seen a job advertised for a community nurse role in the HV team which appears to be a p/t role & am going to apply for it but am worried I may seem over qualified/experienced and that it would count against me - the advert says the role can lead to a secondment to train as a HV, can I mention in my application that this would interest me or would that be seen as jumping too far ahead?! It looks like a really interesting position/introduction to community nursing.
Sorry I've rambled my way through - can't preview/edit as on iPhone!

Just add am Paeds trained but see adults & children in current role.

Not got specific advice but I'm a specialised 6 and I was looking at community jobs (DN support role with view to do DN course) and would mean dropping a grade. I don't think they will protect my pay so would be put at a top 5 with no increments.

Effectively this is a demotion but tis the joys of agenda for change

Really?
I've always Thought that if seconded your pay is protected despite of AfC (agreed on it's evilness - when I was doing all my degree work non-nursey friends couldn't believe I was doing it all when there wouldn't be any benefit to my pay!).

I'd do it, initially you will drop 2 bands but it is a totally different role. In time you could do HV or DN training and potentially get back up to band 7 again. Or you may prefer slumming it with us band 5

There was a similar job advertisement round my way but not the right time for me to change roles yet.... community is my ultimate goal.

I thought you wouldn't be seconded from A and E to the community, just seconded from community to do training. I would imagine you'd drop grades and therefore pay- however the job may be worth it especially as your DH has a promotion.

I left acute nursing a yr ago for community staff nurse job...best bloody thing I ever did!!

I def don't fancy health visiting though..just personal choice.
I think if you really fancy the HV role then it's the best way to get into it and I suspect most people applying for the job will be looking to eventually doing HV course won't they.
I expect they'll snap you up why would they hold it against you? Our team of nurses in community ..loads were band 6 in hospital before joining team at band 5.

I think as long as you tailor the additional info part to show how keen you are, why you are looking at this change etc then they shouldn't think you are over qualified. And obviously as with all application forms show how your current experience can translate across to the new job/community working.

The secondment thing though with HV/DN/school nurse training is that you are more so getting the time to go and do the training. There is the expectation that you will work within your trust post qualifying and in return they will have paid you whilst you attended the course. It used to be mid range band 5 as pay but that may have changed.

So you're applying for a band 5 post? The HV training (should you get on it as its usually open to anyone and then it's only few successful from each lot of applications - and there's one batch a year generally) is usually at band 5. HV starts at band 6. With specialist HV at band 7 (involving more training I would imagine). So it would take a while to get back up to where you are now realistically.

But it would be worth it if you can afford the drop in pay and you're really interested in community work.

I made the jump 6 years ago to community nursing and I love it.

thanks for all the replies!

Butterflybuns - wasn't thinking I'd be seconded from A&E job, more so if going on from HV staff nurse onto HV training.

So glad to hear positive stories about those who've made the jump - am feeling v excited about the potential. Think the paycut and extra day working (guessing I'd be needing to do 3 days rather than the 2 x 12hr days I do at the mo) are going to be worth the free evenings/weekends and public holidays!

ggirl - no offence taken, if all nurses wanted to do exactly the same roles it would drive us all mad :)

Have you considered looking for positions advertised to do HV training straight off? I know a few people who were 'employed' initially on a year contract as student health visitors by the local community trust (in fact I think mine is still advertising for september). It's paid at band 5 level, but part university, part placement and you're qualified in a year. And there is a big drive to increase HV numbers, so now is a good time to take the plunge.

Iliketea - have but made mind up just after deadline for Jan '13 intake. DH's job changing has made me want to move to the community a bit quicker, plus this could fit in better with our plans to try & have a 2nd DC at somepoint

I was seconded to the community to undertake District Nurse training in the early nineties. After completing the year long course I accepted a band 6 post covering for a district nurse manager who was a grade 7. A few months later I was promoted to the band 7 relief sisters’s post and several months after this I was appointed to a DN sister’s post. Thereafter I worked harder than I had ever worked before, rarely finished on time, and I calculated that I worked a week for free every month. Even when I changed job roles through promotions I continued to undertake this very punishing schedule. As a band 8b manager I was at the beck and call of senior managers. I dreaded taking annual leave because to do so meant working like a navvy to complete work and facing it all again when I returned from my break. I lost count of the times I was tasked to produce a report a day or so before my leave. Admin support was for very senior staff and so I would return to work to deal with some 350 plus emails. I am a conscientious and highly organised individual but the system ground me down in the end. Please don’t think that by moving to the community you will have a better work life balance. If you are a band 5 or 6 and work part time, your seniors will allocate an extra hours work, safe in the knowledge that you will complete this before finishing your shift. If you are a band 7 and higher then on top of your extended day you will take work home to complete and just in case you have switched into ‘home mode’ your phone will be receiving emails with instructions for you for the day ahead.