clawed my way up to p/t senior managemt role & now about to resign to wait till ds2 at school, am I mad?

[RanToTheHills]

having changed careers a while ago, I've only got 4 yrs p/T experience in currrent type of role - senior mgmt NHS. Am about to resign as ds2 still baby and it's all too hectic. What has kept me here so far is the knowledge that I'm damned lucky to have such a role p/t and I have been loathe therefore to give it up. But something has got to give for sanity's sake. I think I can't manage this level of role with a pre-school child (leave alone another still young one just started at school). Any advice, words of caution?
I'm basically v worried I'll never work at this level again if I take 2 or 3 yrs off, only having 4 yrs in this area so far (tho before that 11 yrs of work exp post-uni). BTW, I do half-time and there wd not be any flexibility in this, it would not be possible to reduce my hrs/workload.

you sound like you're not 100% sure - have you given in your notice yet?? Could you take a career break - a lot of NHS organisations have these - it would be unpaid of course, but if you can get agreement, you would be returning after the agreed period of time to a position at the same level as you are now. Might be worth exploring and even if your organisation doesn't have a career break policy, you could suggest it?

could suggest it but with "current financial climate" (oh, I@m heairng that so much atm) it's unlikely, I'd just be another way for them to save money - recruitment freeze on.

oh and I'm not 100% sure, that's the problem. if i thought I cd return in a couple of years to this type of role, I woudl leave now but it took me so long to get here I know how hard these jobs are to find. I'm not honestly able to do it properly right now though (sick kids, late trains, too tired most of hte time to work to my abilities etc etc)- sure the cracks are now beginning to show. My boss seems rather off with me atm and think he might be relieved tbh

Do you have a flexi-time policy? I work full-time (lucky that dp is at home with ds2) but I've got an agreement that I can leave early if I want/need, as long as I make the hours up - I do bits when they've gone to bed. (I work in the NHS as a manager by the way!). Could you talk about working more flexibly to your boss?

The career break could be a win for both of you (you could argue) as it's unpaid - might give someone else a secondment opportunity for 1 year, say, and then you can return.

As you're not 100% sure, I'd have a meeting with your boss, saying you love your job, blah blah, but you're finding it a bit of a struggle and could you either (a) take a career break or (b) work slightly more flexibly.

Or is there any way you can alter your childcare arrangements so you're happier with them - sounds like you're not entirely happy with the situation as it is?

i'm lucky in that i already do work flexibly - afternoon from home most weeks, only 2 days in, slightly shortened day so can get train etc etc. He has been flexible to be fair, don't think he coudl do more. It's the nature of the job and the fact that i live far away have bug-ridden kids (oh, you know what i mean!) on occasion.
childcare is fine, as far as it goes - nanny wd be great but mean I'd net nothing at the end of the day so wd never go that route.

I would definitely try and negotiate some sort of career break in your current role - or is there a possibility you could be seconded into something less stressful and more flexible for a year or so to give you some breathing space?

I know how you feel - I have a v flexible job too and when you feel you can't manage that (when lots of concessions have been made) you feel you can't ask for any more. But I bet they won't want to lose you.

Personally I don't think you're mad .. because I clawed my way up to senior management and left when DS was 17 months (4 and a bit years ago) and still don't regret being at home with my children

but only YOU can answer this question for YOU

that's reassuring.
Like the idea of career break, dh thinks sounds like cop-out though (there's the male perspective for you!)

oh and

I actually think they might want to lose me!
It would save money, save boss having to work round p/timer - it does trouble him, I can tell.

Twiglett's right - only you can answer about whether working's important to you or not. Personally I'd go bonkers if I didn't work - I'm sooooo not cut out to be a SAHM!!! So I'd be exploring every avenue to keep working, but if you're wanting to be at home and have a break from working, then go for it! But I'd still be trying to keep a door open via negotiating a career break or something. Or just maybe have a long term plan in mind which says in x year's time I'll do a refresher course in whatever your area of management is - CIPD/Prince/whatever! - and get back into management.

i know i'd go bonkers so wd need to do course or sth. Doing prince course in future is a great idea! Might be a good way of levering myself back into a decent role (she says hopefully!)

don't the NHS run a career break scheme? I think my SIL took this - had 3 yrs off and has just gone back to the same job she left.

Is this a possibility for you? Have you discussed options with HR?

FWIW I always think that you can get other jobs but you only get one chance to spend time with your pre-school kids iykwim....no-one ever said on their deathbed "I regret not spending more time at work"

I know, too true but there's a long stretch of employment to fill after pre-school, isn't there?

kids need you in school as well .. I am always stunned at how working parents actually manage the whole school thing what with all the holidays, inset days, school trips etc

I don't plan to start looking for work until DD is through reception at least .. and that will only be within school hourse .. so I've got another few years yet

I know, but I'm spoilt and want it both ways- exciting career (well, not exactly exicitng, NHS after all!) and time with the kids but v v hard to get the right balance of compromises, isn't it?

career break?

i know, I'm sure i wnd't get one. I'm not in a hard to recruit type role nor do i have longevity of service or know anyone in my org who's done this. Not a goer, I'm sure but I will at least ask! Thanks for the suggestion!

I am in a v v similar position to you.

I feel lucky to have a p/t job, so would I be mad to give it up now, after years of slogging to get into a senior position? Plus, how would I ever get back into a senior role p/t or with flexible hours, once I leave the current job.

And there is part of me that worries that the reforms in the NHS will leave my skills behind, and I won't be able to find a job after a year or two.

Nonetheless, although I am not leaving yet, DH is contemplating a big geographical which may leave me without a job anyway. And I would love to spend these years with the children.

Let me know how you get on, I would appreciate the insight.

FWIW I am on mat leave at the moment and I do love being at home. At first I did find it a bit boring but now I find other things to entertain my mind. And the loss of stress is great.

well, it's got to be worth a go - as far as I know the NHS has organisation-wide HR policies or at least, trust-wide? My SIL bless her, wasn't in a difficult to recruit for job either, she isn't particularly qualified (accounts assistant) and she had one.

our trust is reconfiguring so all chaos at the moment!

Ooh, perhaps a good time to write your own policy, stick it in the file and pretend it's just come over from a trust-wide 'think-tank' on work-life balance

good luck...

There is a worry that there is currently a big contraction in NHS jobs, and it might be difficult to get in anywhere else for the next few years?

In a semi-similar position, although not senior management but on a relativelyg good grade under dear old AfC. Despite a hugely supportive boss I am really struggling to cope and have been seriously considering quitting despite being the sole earner.

We've got a recruitment freeze on as well, and I'm seriously concerned about the long-term prospects of returning. You should definitely look into a career break, perhaps your dh would look more favourably on it if it he saw it as an alternative to you potentially being unemployable in a year or so's time!

thanks tribpot, you know where I'm coming from on this, I think! I might well get out and stay out -I have liked being in hte NHS, it's been a fascinating time to have been involved, but I don't feel I'm "adding value" (to use that much over-used phrase, ) and I've had enough of not knowing what I'm meant to be doing/what direction my department is heading in and how much faith to have in the latest strategic direction. Maybe I'll get myself a lower-key more manageable, more clear cut role somewhere locally in a couple of yrs and just call it quits.