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Original poster

Really need to leave my NHS job, just don't know if I can

17 replies

minipin · 13/10/2015 23:36

Hi, have been a band 7 healthcare professional for past 11 years, 28 hours a week, and don't think I can do it any more. The job has totally changed and I now feel that the cons outweigh the pros. Had a period off sick with work stress 2 years ago and headed that way again .
In an ideal world I would eventually be an HLTA in a local school, as I know I would love it and would be able to really help a teacher, but don't know how to start. Will be volunteering in a local school, but how to move forward from there? Also a part time nannying opportunity has arisen, but this would be a huge paycut.
Has anyone else made this drastic a career change? Would especially love to know if there is life after the NHS!

OP posts:
CountryLovingGirl · 18/10/2015 20:03

Hi,

I am NHS too. I have also considered a career change lately but to reduce commuting time (my role was moved to the other hospital within the trust last year). I volunteered in schools for a while and was offered a place on a primary PGCE. I backed out and then applied for secondary (again, offered a place). I backed out again after realising that I just could not take a pay cut like that, and pay the £9k fee, and start again (we, not until the mortgage has been paid off) AND that I still had strong feelings for my current career.
It is so difficult as I think most roles in the NHS have changed and morale is low (thanks to pay cuts etc.). You can apply for a teaching assistant course (for September) if you like the voluntary work. I take it you have children of your own? School holidays would be fab and NO more working over Christmas!
I feel really fed up lately (NHS) due to the amount of out of hours work plus commuting I do. I am part time so I don't feel like it is worth it. You are not alone. PM me if you want.

CountryLovingGirl · 18/10/2015 20:05

TA pay is rubbish compared to a band 7 btw. I don't think they get paid in the school hols either.

Do you no fancy university teaching? I am looking into that.

CharleyDavidson · 18/10/2015 20:14

A HLTA can spend a lot of their week being in front of a class on their own, while the teacher has their non contact ppa (planning, prep and assessment time). Our HLTA teaches for 4 half days a week, then supports children in their class and runs intervention programmes the rest of the time. There's less planning than a teacher and less stress as there's no pastoral care, parents' evenings etc. But... it has a low rate of pay compared to a teacher, but is still a lot of work.

Volunteering is def a great way to start, if you want to go into school though.

Original poster
minipin · 19/10/2015 20:45

Thank you for your responses! They are much appreciated. Am still considering, having an interview as a housekeeper/nanny part time tomorrow, may also try a day a week for nhs and a day volunteering in school. Just don't think I am psychologically tough enough to continue as a band 7 in today's Nhs, sadly.

OP posts:
Hedgehogparty · 23/10/2015 23:24

Know what you mean. The NHS now is very tough to work in. I'm hoping to leave before Christmas

yorkshapudding · 24/10/2015 11:25

OP, I know how you feel. I'm only band 6 but the level of risk and responsibility I'm carrying is (by my Line managers own admission) ridiculous for my grade. I feel as though the job is breaking me. My health is suffering. But with a mortgage and bills to pay I can't just walk away from it and I haven't found any non NHS jobs I'm qualified for that wouldn't mean taking a big pay cut. I wish I could just say "sod the money" but I don't think our house being repossessed would help my stress levels.

Watching this thread with interest as I haven't found any realistic options and feel like I'm trapped in my current job until retirement.

yorkshapudding · 24/10/2015 11:26

Hedgehog, if you don't mind my asking, have you another job lined up? If so what are you planning to do?

annandale · 24/10/2015 11:28

i'll be honest, I found being a TA (not even a HLTA) much more stressful than working for the NHS. Hope it's the opposite for you.

Could you not get a band 6 job instead, perhaps in a different setting? It would be substantially less of a pay cut and might mean you could carry on better than you feel now?

annandale · 24/10/2015 11:29

Or could you consider some form of private or locum work for a while?

Wishful80smontage · 24/10/2015 11:36

I was band 6 nhs and hated it- redundancy came at exactly the right time for me to be able to have a break- now at home with dc and retrain in different field next couple of years. If you can afford to move into a different field now I would go for it- maybe you could volunteer to help out a few hours here and there to make sure its what you're hoping it will be?

annandale · 24/10/2015 11:42

I'd think about a million times before even applying for a band 7 job these days, I have to say Sad I think our manager just gets a dustbin of shit dumped over her on a regular basis.

Faye12345 · 24/10/2015 16:43

Feel your pain im a band 7 and have been signed off as the stress and abuse is awful. On the upside i have a new role at a lower band and feel optimistic. I hate letting people down and feel ive done that but i need to put myself first and be well for my new job Confused

Nonnainglese · 24/10/2015 16:49

Sadly, having been there, I quit several years ago.
I now work in the voluntary sector in salaried post, and I love it! Yes, it's less pay but far higher job satisfaction, no working over Bank Holidays and great people to work with.

Might be worth considering, Third Sector Jobs is a starting point.

Hedgehogparty · 24/10/2015 18:28

Don't want to out myself with too much info, but basically did a RTP course a few years back, returned to NHS P/T as kept my other job P/T in voluntary sector. Have done 3 years back in NHS.

Every shift agency staff- some are great but no stability. Not much support- our Band 7 manager never on ward, staff stressed and lot of sickness.Ive decided its just too much, don't want to make myself ill.

Agree with other poster, look at voluntary sector jobs.

yorkshapudding · 26/10/2015 16:01

I am seriously considering taking a band 4 (non clinical) role purely to save my sanity. It will mean increasing my hours (from 22.5 to 30 per week) and a longer commute but it will mean less stress and I simply can't carry on as I am.

Original poster
minipin · 29/10/2015 19:24

Looks like I will be a part time housekeeper and nanny! Will be asking to keep one day a week in nhs but also enquiring re private work too. Keep reminding myself there is more to life than money, just need a simpler, calmer life with a renewed sense of job satisfaction. Sorry to hear other people are struggling in nhs too, it just isn't what it used to be, is it?

OP posts:
Hedgehogparty · 30/10/2015 20:32

Agree that things have really changed..
A lot more pressure now and much higher turnover of staff. People who can leave seem to be doing so.
I'm working with someone only just qualified, she already wants out.

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