Two jobs advertised in the same NHS trust but which to go for?

[Cazz246]

Anyone who can help with my decision will be very much appreciated! I’m in my late 50s so don’t want to be on my feet all day......but ....?

First job to be advertised, Band 3 HCSW with community nurses. This job is local, there’s already at least four people ( friends ) who I have worked with before so I don’t feel quite such “ a new girl” ! All training will be given. The against is weekend/ bank holiday working inc Christmas Day, we are a big Christmas family!

The second a Band 3 Rehbilitation Assistant, have worked in Stroke and Palliative rehab for years. This is ward based with some community, so I’m presuming I will be on my feet the majority of the day and getting home absolutely pasted! I don’t know anyone on this team, so new girl!
The plus is it’s Monday to Friday, no bank holidays.

I know no job is perfect, I really only want apply for one of the role as they are both within the same trust, but any help on which one ? My head, heart, family and friends not a lot of help!

Just to add, I fit the JD and PS of both the jobs.....

I don’t want to make another mistake as my work life last year has been a car crash thanks to Covid. I need my last before retirement job!

So over to you! All good suggestions very much appreciated!

Why wouldn’t you just apply for both?!

They won’t notice or care that you apply for both.

I would have thought you'd be on your feet more for the community post- or at the very least on the go as much in both posts. As PP say- could you apply for both?

Yes, what's the problem with applying for both?

Apply for both- if you go for only on someone else may get it and you won't have any job.

I probably will, if I can’t decide. But the applications will go to the same HR. If I was to be offered one, went to the next I may not get the second job as I have already been offered the first and the second maybe the one ! If you’re still with me ! 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m a community nurse and love it so my choice would be that!

It depends what you want from it really - there’s more variety in community over a specialised area, and the unsocial hours if you work weekends / holidays / twilights / ONS gives your pay a boost. Rehab is interesting but I found it really intense and was mentally knackered, and involves a lot of patient handling which makes for a heavy job.

Or apply for both and see where it takes you...

If you got offered the first job that cannot affect whether you're offered the second. NHS job interviews tend to be points based anyway.

Likely to be 2 different short listing and interview panels, Op. My NHS organisation has just had a huge recruitment drive, and some candidates have applied for and been interviewed for 3 posts. Others have been offered one job, accepted it and then been offered another role that they have also interviewed for. No one batted an eyelid, it was what we expected.

PS Good luck!

It doesn't work that way, both are treated separately. Apply for both, part of the decision will be helped by meeting the people, seeing the place and getting a feel. "On paper" only decisions are not wise unless you have no choice.

Go for both, definitely!

@BabbleBee Thanks for your reply, I’m so glad you have said that ! I have to agree, this is why I’m torn over heavy rehab work, especially ward based as the patients will possibly be at the very beginning of rehab.
I’m thinking it may be better to trade weekends for a slightly easier physical job role. I used to work in community stroke rehab, it was exhausting as most days we would drive between 60 and a 100 miles see patients for rehab, then complete patient notes..... but I did like it !

@Motnight Thankyou that’s interesting to know, I guess they would expect duplicate applications as there hasn’t been any band 3 jobs advertised in this trust since last October....

Will there be better pay with the community job because of weekend and unsociable hours? Is that important to you?

I know a lot of nursing staff who found it a shock dropping to a Monday to Friday job how much they lost in their pay, but for a lot the pay off of a routine and free weekends balanced against that.

@Vinto Yes, community would be better pay because of weekends
/ bank holiday, I believe it’s 1 weekend every 3. But the extra isn’t that important to me, just to be happy is my main goal ! 😊😊

Thanks everyone for your advice, I guess I will apply for both and go with the flow ! 🤗🤗

@Cazz246 I worked in neuro rehab, it was a tough job but rewarding. It was a killer though, mentally it was hard going and there were a lot of behaviours we had to tolerate because of the cognitive impairments that wouldn’t be acceptable elsewhere. Moving wheelchair and bed bound patients day in, day out is a killer on your back, regardless of how much equipment there is!

I’m p/t in community but I’m earning as much on 15hrs as I did 25hrs in my weekday job thanks to unsocial enhancements. I work a 4 week rolling rota, one Saturday and one full weekend in every 4 weeks which leaves plenty of time for family commitments. I love the autonomous practice. Many of our HCAs work independently with wound care and can give certain meds which many of them enjoy, then they double up with a RN for other stuff so get a nice balance and variety of patients.

I know which I’d choose! I’d rather work a couple of weekends and not be totally shattered / recovering on my weekends off and not feel like doing anything...

Good luck with whatever you choose

Would you get paid the same?

Are they permanent or fixed term?

If all things are equal, I would definitely go for job 1. You can’t beat happiness at work. Especially if you plan to retire soon

@BabbleBee, thanks again for some great advice, my back isn’t great, had two herniated discs in 2013, which happened... you guessed, working in rehab!
Deep down I think I am going towards the community job, it’s just getting my head round going back to weekends after 7 years of Monday, Friday!

@wingsnthat The pay is identical, except job one has weekend enhancements.
They are both permanent.

You’re right about the happiness aspect, I’ve learnt it’s a big thing over the last year,. Unfortunately, I won’t retire for 7 years! 😟😟

@Cazz246 it’s surprising how quickly you get used to working weekends and how the days become just another day of the week. I quite like having weekdays off, when the shops open they’re much quieter than weekends!

Sorry if it’s been said a million times but apply for both. They might not even be handled by the same HR team and all HR will so anyway is check you’re longlistable and pass your application onto the clinical teams. Just make sure you’ve personalised each application for the job spec.

Apply for both but tweak your application to show your passion fit for the position! HR won't shortlist so no one will know.

I have similar problem - have been offered an HCA job but have four other NHS applications in with varying closing dates. It's tricky, I certainly have no qualms about putting in multiple applications but it's hard to know when to accept one offer knowing one that you want more could give you another offer.