Probation period

[klingon85]

Hi
I'm in third month of a probation period working as a care co ordinator. Last week had a formal meeting and they stated they were very happy with me and my work no concerns...great I thought. I have given my all to it.

Did a course this week related to my work that was something I'd occasionally have to do. I was passed as competent but not competent enough to work occasionally in the area. So technically I passed but I didn't. It was a very physical five day course-it killed me physically I did my best. I got a certificate but not passed to work in a certain area.

I didn't realise the course was a dealbreaker for my job. Yesterday I was told they were considering letting me go due to my performance in this course. Overheard one of my colleagues saying she can't manage this area if she can't help when needed. I understand this but I'm performing well in my role I love it and I see my future progressing within a company that is rapidly growing

I'm devastated to be honest, financially we are buggered I left a job I had for five years for this. I don't think I'm going to keep my job :( any advice welcome x

How close were you to passing? Can you resit? Can you ask for an urgent meeting to discuss the issue?

Do you think you could pass the course if you did the exam parts again?

If so; you could offer to resit, and perhaps to pay for the cost if that sweetens the deal for them.

Otherwise, you'd need to find out whether it's an essential part of your job and whether they want to keep you if you don't have it. If your manager is nice, I'd ask for a meeting to discuss next steps.

Can you resit it? Possibly even at your own expense and time?

If this is a requirement of the job, then it's a requirement of the job. As you're on probabtion there is little come back you have here against them.

Alternatively you may need to look for another role that doesn't ha e this requirement.

I'm cross also because I never got told this was a requirement until after the course so I passed it just not up to their standards. I can't afford to pay for it and there is no option to retake. I have worked in healthcare for years this was my opportunity to progress to management

Are you sure there is no option to retake?

Do you think you'd pass; if you could?

To be honest, I don't think you'll get far arguing that you weren't told it was essential. I suspect that will make it look like you would have tried harder and might have passed if you'd known; even if that's not the case. You'd probably also find it difficult to convince them that there isn't a standard expectation that you need to pass courses that work fund for you...

I think I'd probably just arrange a meeting with your boss and see what they expect now and whether they have a job that you could do that doesn't involve this qualification. Could you do it by yourself; for future jobs?

Op, you knew though it was a requirement of the job, you state it was something you'd occasionally have to do. You understand the difficulties in you not being able to do it. You understand you're not able to work in this area. Yes you can argue they could have spelled it out to you, but if you think about it, it was intuitive. You were not put on thr course as a nice to do. You were not told it was optional and if you don't reach the required level that was going to be ok, they'd just not get you to do it.

All you can do is talk to them to see if there is another solution.. But if you're on probation there is little you can do here if this is a requirement of the job.

Was the accreditation

(a) an ongoing skills assessment during the 5 days of the course or

(b) 5 days of coursework with a sit down written exam on the final day of the course?

If (a) then that clearly implies a lot of additional cost, which you've said you aren't able to cover;

If (b) then I can't believe they are so draconian as to not give a new candidate the opportunity to resit the final day exam, as you have already covered the coursework, and with your existing years of experience.

Also is there is any way of finding out from the examining board which aspects you didn't demonstrate the required competency, to give you clues as to the knowledge areas you need to strengthen?

but if you think about it, it was intuitive

Nothing about probation should be left to intuition. Not if you want well-motivated staff who are clear on what is expected of them.

You'd want them going into that course clear on why the course was important, and that the skills are a key aspect of delivering in their role both now and in the future (either there are compliance requirements of evidencing competency or there are aspects that enable the person to operate at a higher competency level).

Not least of all if it enables the candidate to pass their probation, then you wouldn't want to leave them guessing.

I'm in the same industry OP as a senior manager and that statement would suggest they are considering asking you to run another areas calls ,they are being oddly specific though , generally I would say to a Care Co that provided the calls were all covered I didn't mind (for example I once had two care co's agree they would cover each other's area calls if there were gaps)

If you've been in healthcare that long then you will know the Care Co one way or another must cover the calls ....if they can't Rota someone on then they go out themselves but I have never known a manager have a problem provided those calls are covered that a Care Co wasn't going out

If it's a clinical based course for specialist delivery then that's one thing and I stand as above but if it is a basic level course then yes it would cause some concern that you hadn't passed as it would suggest you didn't understand the course and therefore the calls in the area

There are almost always ways round it that you will find for a good Care Co so talk to them and discuss the options

Not least of all if it enables the candidate to pass their probation, then you wouldn't want to leave them guessing

But someone moving into management should be able to draw their own conclusions, as well as ask the question, particularly in a context as obvious as this ie this is a requirement of the job and you need a certain level of competency to be able to do it.

Sadly the op said it physically killed her and she tried her best, so knowing is irrelevant, it wouldn't have changed the outcome of the course.

Hopefully she can talk to them and find a way round this. But I don't see other than taking the discussion what else is available.

I love my job I do cover a lot of calls that need doing I take my fair share and above of being on call, I'm absolutely devastated I didn't pass. You are right this area is I don't look after but would have to cover if needed and the fact I can't now do that is very disappointing to me and my employers. I'm passionate about what I do- it means a great deal to me and to lose it would be awful

I hope you can take on board some of the suggestions above and form a plan of how best to tackle it with your new employer.

You are clearly dedicated to your role, but you need to get beyond the disappointment towards an actual plan of action to get the matter addressed. Hope you can find a way through.

”Yesterday I was told they were considering letting me go due to my performance in this course”

If they haven’t decided yet, they’ve given you a great opportunity by giving you the heads up. You now have a chance to proactively approach your manager and (ideally) propose a couple of solutions to their problem, or (at least) say you are very keen to stay and would like to understand what you can do to reassure them/address their concerns.

Agee, op, you need to have a plan and get past the disappointment and worry. Book a meeting with your manager to ask the options available to resolve this.

It needs to be dealt with quite urgently if they have already told you they are considering terminating your employment.

Do you have a HR dept? I think I would discuss the situation with them. Is it really sensible to get rid of you when you are doing well in every other respect? It’s cistlg to recruit staff and they will start all over again. That costs time and money and it’s cheaper to help you resit and provide training to help you pass. Just getting rid of you seems counter productive and perhaps people in HR would have a better grip on reality. Do workers in your field grow on trees? Are you easy to replace? If not, state your worth to them! It’s better to keep you rather than venture into the unknown and find another employee that doesn’t pass!!!

I totally agree, Bubbles do they think their staff are robots or something!? It makes you wonder who the decision- makers are, HR or the managers. I bet the managers don't enjoy the prospect of losing key staff with all that experience, even those recently recruited externally, just for the sake of an exam.