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Should I leave NHS for £££ private sector job

12 replies

wwydjob · 19/04/2021 09:45

Hi- I'm currently employed at a band 6 position with the NHS but am in a temporary acting up role at band 7. Further than this there is no clear career progression path for me within the NHS due to the nature of my role. This acting up position is not secure and is reviewed each financial year- meaning at any point I could go back to being a band 6. I really love this job and my colleagues. It's exciting and may just turn into something bigger and long term- but that's not guaranteed.

I've been keeping my eyes open for permanent jobs and a fantastic one has come up within the private sector. It's more responsibility but in terms of volume rather than case complexity. The company has a really good values base and appears to be supportive and forward thinking. The pay scale is significantly higher than I receive currently and would mean a higher standard of living for my family.

My dilemma is should I be considering leaving the NHS? I've worked for them for about 8-9 years. They have been fantastically supportive over COVID and flexible re:childcare commitments and well being. The pension etc may "make up" for what I may get in the private job.

What other factors should I be considering? Should I just go for it should I be offered it? Or is it a false economy?

OP posts:
maxelly · 19/04/2021 11:03

I assume you are at the point of choosing whether to apply? If so I think you should go ahead, the interview process and actually meeting the people who'll be working with will tell you a lot more and you can then make a final informed decision as and when you are actually offered the role. If the role is all you say it is then it sounds a great opportunity - clinical NHS people often feel a real reluctance about 'leaving' for the private sector but personally as a long-time NHSer I think there's a place in the system for private healthcare staffed by good skilled people as a support/adjunct to 'main' NHS services (controversial I know!), and also it is good for the NHS for people to be able to take some time out the in the private sector, gain skills and new experience etc. and potentially come back in at a later date. So the below is more questions you should think through out of an abundance of caution and things you might want to ask about at interview, more than reasons to not take it, if you see what I mean?

-When you say the role is more about volume than complexity of cases, is there a risk of becoming deskilled or you losing your confidence with the more complex cases? This could end up being limiting to your career in the longer term if so. If the role is clinical what are the arrangements for clinical supervision and for professional development, will you be able to have/ask for stretching and challenging work as well as churning through lots of day to day stuff or is the company really more looking for a really safe pair of hands they aren't interested in developing further?

-How easy would it be to come back into the NHS after a few years in private, should you want to? Obviously it would be treated as a break in service whatever, so I'm more thinking about how common jobs are in your service area, are there loads of Band 6/7 jobs in your local area or are they few and far between meaning you might have to wait or commute further should you want to come back?

-Do ask about the full 'package' in the private sector jobs, like you say usually the headline salary figure is higher in private, but sometimes things like unsocial hours enhancements, pension, sick and maternity pay are much worse. Also you'll likely lose annual leave, very few private sector companies offer the 33 days plus BHs that NHS 10 year + people get. So do make sure you compare like with like, if the entire salary increase will be swallowed by extra childcare costs because they don't offer flexible working and you'll need childcare for more of school holidays because of reduced leave, it becomes less attractive (although unlike in NHS pay in private sector is usually more negotiable so you could always lay this point out to them and you may find they make an increased offer)...

-This is a worst case scenario, but do be aware by leaving NHS for a new employer you lose most of your employment rights, so in theory if the company felt like it, they could let you go anytime within the first 2 years for pretty much any reason with no compensation due (except notice pay which may well be just 2 weeks or similar). This is true of changing trusts within the NHS as well incidentally, but whereas in the NHS it would be highly unusual for someone to fail their probation (except in clear incompetence cases) or for clinical people to be made redundant, I suspect in the private sector things can be more ruthless and if for instance you were to fall seriously ill and be unable to work, or the company loses business/key contracts they'd be looking at simply dismissing you rather than having the ability to support you long-term or redeploy you elsewhere as the NHS would at least try to do. That isn't a reason to not take the job (otherwise no-one would ever change jobs within the private sector!) but I'd be ensuring you have good critical illness cover for instance, esp if jobs in your specialism are scarce …

user1497207191 · 19/04/2021 11:09

Have you compared the non-wage aspects of the package? I.e.

Sickness pay over and above SSP - how much, how long for?

Pension plan - employers' contribution? Final salary or defined contribution? Retirement age?

Death in service pension?

As you get more mature, these kinds of thing matter more than headline salary.

Mummyme87 · 19/04/2021 11:10

I guess depends what you actually do?

I am a midwife and looked at moving to Portland for a bit of a break. I had had one child and plans for more. I looked at maternity pay and that was enough to stay in NHS

tiredmum2468 · 19/04/2021 11:21

I was a medical secretary and then moved into a service support managerial position

I was offered a job by my consultants wife when I was a medical secretary as they both practice privately

It was a bit better money
NHS £22k private £24k
Holidays I get 30 days now would be down to 20 ☹️
Pension offering was awful as were other benefits

I'm really pleased I stayed with the NHS to be honest it's a much better option for me

wwydjob · 19/04/2021 17:14

No I haven't applied as of yet. These are all really good points. Thank you!

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 19/04/2021 18:08

I don’t work for the NHS, but I do work for a different, large nationwide, public body. They have been absolutely brilliant with flexible hours, childcare issues etc since the first lockdown. I’m not convinced we’re out of the woods yet and (although I’m not looking for a new job), I wouldn’t want to lose that support at the moment (it was always pretty good as it was). I’d also be wary of “last in first out” if changing jobs in economically difficult times.

SnarkyBag · 19/04/2021 18:12

What’s the role?

Thecazelets · 19/04/2021 18:14

Agree with others that private healthcare pay is often superficially attractive but often doesn't stack up against NHS benefits such as pension, holiday, flexible working and sick pay.

Asdf12345 · 19/04/2021 18:22

Sit back and look at the whole package. I have known people move for very good deals in industry, but in private provision of clinical services the difference is generally not so large and worth careful consideration.

As seen up thread the more common moves for agenda for change type roles don’t generally stack up that well. I have known two junior doctors leave for product development roles onto >£200k however unless you work in a very niche area with niche skills this is unlikely.

wwydjob · 20/04/2021 09:44

Thanks, this has given me some structured for/against arguments and also ideas for questions at interview- should I get there!
In answer to some pp questions- my role is niche and technical. I'm trained to a very high degree and have experience at a high level.
The increase in £ would be to a band 8 level from my acting up band 7/ contracted band 6. So a substantial leap.

OP posts:
Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 24/04/2021 10:52

Get the job first, then worry about whether you want it or not 😁.

But yeah, NHS benefits package is really good, you may not realise how good until you look at private sector where most organisations only offer statutory. It would take a big pay rise to end up with an equal total package. And consider whether you would be disciplined enough to put your own money into equivalent private benefits such as additional pension contributions, income protection etc.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 25/04/2021 12:08

Benefits aside I worked for Bupa, now Spire for three years and really loved it. It was a lot less exhausting than the NHS and at that time we got private healthcare too.
We got massive tips off the millionaires.

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