Manager's unrealistic expectations re part-time hours (NHS)

[Dina1989]

I work for the NHS in a part time admin position. 22 hours per week and band 4. The role is an admin lead kind of role for a whole team.
I've recently had an appraisal and feedback from my manager about my performance and she's said she wants me to start learning about X Y and Z aspects of the role. These are certain processes that I've not yet encountered as haven't worked there that long, but I've put a plan in place to arrange some shadowing with a colleague in a different team who does them, as this will help me.
My manager seems to forget that I'm only officially part time, given the volume of work involved. Always sending me on courses and meetings left right and centre, to the point it impacts on my work. MY hours in the office are all spent in meetings, training, shadowing and answering the phone. As well as dealing with deliveries, enquiries and fire safety stuff. I don't even get time to do the nuts and bolts of my admin work (letters to patients, emails, updating the system etc). I always end up having to catch up with all this stuff in my own time, normally on my days off. Can't even do it in the evenings after work as I look after my grandma who is very ill.
On the occasions my boss sees I've replied to an email whilst "off duty", she says "stop working on your days off" or "it can wait till next week", then explains about the work life balance. But if I don't catch up with stuff in my own time, it would simply pile up and never reduce. There are no more admin people on my team, they are all clinical staff so it's all down to me. A full time team of clinical staff, but only 1 part time admin person (me). Can't see how this is sustainable for the long term. WWYD? I'm applying for other jobs actively, have a few applications in the pipeline.

It sounds like you have a good manager who has put a development plan in place for you. If you don't want to do it just tell her. She's right not to limit your development because you are part time- lots of women work part time at some point in their career and this would be indirectly discriminatory.

Reading between the lines of your post you don't like being line managed? Is your manager younger than you?

I don't have a problem being managed, always have been managed in one form or another. Age wise she's around late 50s and I'm 32.

It’s hard to say. Is it a newly created role or have you taken it over from somebody else? If it’s a takeover role, it could be the other person managed everything in the part time hours as she was experienced. If it’s a new role it may be too much work for the hours given. I think a conversation with your manager needs to be had. Either to increase the hours or reduce the workload if it’s out of the scope of your working day

Your manager sounds super proactive but just overly optimistic in terms of timing. I think looking to move roles is very dramatic. I would suggest you approach your manager and have a chat about your concerns.

‘Just wanted to touch base with you about my current work load and time management. I appreciate the courses, training and development opportunities you are arranging for me but I’m now spending most of my work hours in training or meetings and it’s not allowing me adequate time to complete my basic work. I’m then having to do this in my personal time to stay on top of it. Would it be possible to reduce the amount of training/meetings I'm having?’

I think you are looking at this all wrong. You a really lucky you have such a good boss. Re the work life balance. And the pushing your development by learning new XYZ. This is rare.
I completely disagree with Pumper. Yes you need to point out that it doesn't allow enough time to do basics. But don't stop the development. Don't cut back on the learning of xyz or shadowing, because that's the best but, the development. Tyr bit you need help with is the basics. Can manager get you some help with that bit? Someone else to do part of it?

I unfortunately found some people just like the power.
I worked for a very unreasonable bitch who essentially made my life hell. I'm very resilient and took way much more of her behaviour than any person should.
Examples:
I brought hundreds of thousands of pounds of extra business which was acknowledged at a senior level at HQ, I asked if I could be considered for a pay rise to the next increment based on my performance and praise received - she said wasn't possible. When it was factually know she has raised the pay of her favourite male twice and given a bonus!
The day a vacancy was closing for a supervisor position she said she was surprised I wasn't going for it. I said really as everywhere I have ever worked I have been actively encouraged and supported to progress and you haven't mentioned anything to me. Her response was how sad it was I needed validation.
When the new supervision started after months of me doing both work loads anyway - it was a disaster she was so incapable and I couldn't take any more of the high responsibility on my shoulders of correcting her work and completing work she hadn't done - when I asked for help in tears and asked why she wasn't doing anything about it she said I was a grown up and she didn't have time running round checking in on me.

An incident happened which was the final straw, I held out as long as possible before going off sick, I needed a time out. Dr was really supportive. HR less so, they had zero interest in tackling her behaviour and offering reassurance to me that my well being and mental health was a priority on my return. They dragged it out for ages. She was causing many issues for other people too and when they tried to get me back to work before my sick pay became half pay I asked what they had done to address any of the concerns I had raised - the answer HR have, doesn't sound like you want to come back let's propose an exit plan for you.

Worst manager in the world, allowed to continue to be the worst person I have ever met and their answer was to silence me and pay me off to stop me ruffling more feathers......

I feel for you. I'm just here to reassure you that these people exist, you are not the problem and I would move internally or externally so you can continue to work happily until your retirement.

Sorry I ranted on your post - must have hit a nerve and woke up some trauma!

Did you get the chance to share how you’re feeling in the appraisal? It should be an opportunity for a two way conversation.
I’d suggest printing out your diary and having an honest conversation about when you could possibly do your admin work, particularly when she’s highlighted you shouldn’t be working on your days off.
It’s likely she’s seen your potential and wants to develop you but isn’t aware on just how much time it is all taking.

I replied to the wrong thread altogether it seems- sorry!

Doesn't sound like you have told your manager how much this impacting on the nuts and bolts parts of your job. As a pp said the appraisal should be a two way conversation. She sounds well intentioned and cares about work life balance so raise it and ask how she wants you to resolve this, whether it's going to fewer meetings, getting someone else to help with the admin or whatever.

Agree she sounds like a good boss who is obviously keen to develop you so you can progress. You say it's an admin lead role - can you delegate the basic tasks to others? If not I would definitely speak to your boss and say you'd like to put in place some protected time for the basic tasks at set hours each week.