Just started work & I'm completely deflated.

[ShermanPea]

I've just gone back to work after staying home with my youngest. I always worked in care, in care homes, before, I was never Keen on home care as I don't drive & just thought it would be a lot of messing about with unreliable buses etc.

However, I applied for a home care job (as well as anything else I could find) & they sold it to me as 'Nobody in your area drives, it's absolutely not a problem'.
I've done 2 weeks &, while I love the work itself, I hate the travelling part. I have to carry all my PPE with me then stand outside in the rain taking my coat off, putting it on, then I have to stand in the rain when I'm finished & take it off & either stash it in my bag or find a bin, & put my coat on.
I's 30 mins walk to this one job, & I've just accepted another one which will make the 2nd one a 40 min walk after that.

They've got me down for job one 9-9.30
Job 2 10.30-11.30.
It's going to be very tight to fit into those times & I'm a fast walker.

I'm just sick of the wandering around from job to job already, & having to faff about getting dressed when I get there.
I'm not going to quit or anything I'll stick it out but I'm not turning into super woman to get between those 2 jobs. There isn't a bus I can catch either.

It occured to me that the other workers in the area (who all Do drive) are all getting paid travel as well, while I'm just wandering around.

Sorry that's so waffly!

My question is, does anybody have any ideas of what sort of job I can do where I'm still caring for people maybe?
I really do love the work &, once I'm there, feel like I've never been away.
Obvious choice is care home but there is just nothing around here where you don't have to start early & finish late. I'm looking for school hours ish...

I'm happy to use school club either morning or evening. I can't find any kind of office job as they are all evenings & weekends too or you have to be good with IT.....

Or should I just stick to what I have?
Feel free to tell me to shut up, stop moaning & be happy that I even have a job!

And yes I'm kicking myself that I'm trained in nothing. Skilled at nothing. Can't work a computer. Can't do anything really

Is it just new job blues? Will it pass?

Could you borrow a bike off someone and see if that makes the job any easier?
It’s not going to change the fact you have to put PPE on in the rain though, that isn’t going to be fun in the middle of winter!

Have you checked local FB posts to see if there are families looking for private carers? Cleaning is another option, usually fits in with school hours.

Sounds like you need a bike, with some panniers or a rucksack, to deal with PPE.

How about a role as a healthcare assistant in a GP surgery? Might be too clinical for what you want but does include lots of helping people and is based in one place plus no specific qualifications required.

Definitely look for someone wanting private care. Possibly elderly or disabled people needing 1-1 assistance for several hours a day.

You need to improve your IT skills. If you’ve had a child in the past few years it means you’re young, and will need computer skills for years to come. I’d focus on that to widen your job pool. Your current job sounds so wasteful of time, more on the road then in the care home :(

I did two 12 hour shifts a week in a care home a while back. It was night shift and at weekends. Would that suit if you have a partner that would sort childcare?

Nowadays if you can work a phone you can work a computer. Most jobs train you on the job anyway.

Good shot from PP on a bicycle.

Good luck

Check gumtree and Facebook job sites for people who need a private Carer. That's what I do. I work 1-1 for a man in his house.

What do you mean workers who drive get ‘paid travel’? Assume they just get mileage, ie petrol expenses, and perhaps can fit in more jobs? But they also have the expense of a car.

Biking could help.

There is likely to be cheap education available to improve your digital skills, to widen options.

Unless you’re single, could go back to shifts in care homes and your partner do the childcare. Few jobs, even on wages, in school hours only.

I think you probably need to look for another job possibly?

If not than then get a bike.

I get the impression you enjoy care work so much as you subconsciously believe you aren’t smart/ skilled enough to do more. And you can. Check out some online home based courses you can do to brush up on more skills you can add to your CV then at least you have more options.

Good luck xx

You should get paid travel time between jobs that is the law, but every year the make an example of one or two companies and that is it. Realistically taking 30-40min for each 30m paid slot at a low wage is just demoralising.

10 jobs =5 hours pay
Travel time =5 hours
Out house =10!

If you are experienced defo look into private carers, I’ve employed my own usually around 10-15h a week over 5/6 days. So you will need more then one employee but in the long term much easier for you.

Thank you everybody

I'm 40. Single. No family help.

A bike is a great idea but I've not ridden one for years & it's a really bad area for one, 2 major busy roads, roundabout, it worries me just thinking about it!

I love walking & really thought it would be fine when I took the job, it's the standing around getting dressed that I hadn't thought of, & it's only going to get colder as PP said.
(Also my first shadow shift the woman was 40 mins late, 2nd one was half an hour late, then I had a meeting with my boss & she was 45 mins late. I just feel like I'm spending all my time either standing around in the cold or walking aimlessly)

Demoralizing. That's exactly how I feel, great word for it!

I know that car drivers have the expense of a car & that's why I don't drive myself (although I wish I could afford it)
But yes, they are whizzing between jobs & can get much more done than I can.

I've looked at several private care jobs & spent a while trying to work out hours with childcare etc for a certain one but I can never make it work. I will keep looking though, it's nice to hear from some people who ARE making it work.

This is the only job I've even got an interview for. 99% of them I don't hear back.

Health care assistant is a good idea. I'm just looking for part time, anything at all but generally they say either must be a driver or must have computer skills.

Thank you ctrlU that's a really nice post
I do love care work & also have no confidence at all in myself for anything else.

I know I'm sounding really negative by the way, I do appreciate the messages!

Care workers are in such demand you really should have better conditions. Some things like standing in rain to do PPE? Why? Fair enough leave mask on until outside but how is removing glove and apron and putting on coat by someone front door dangerous? The apron protects you not them. (Well be fair aprons do bugger all really handy when washing up but apart from that!) The only germs on it would be theirs presuming you have a mask on at all times.

Good carers are hard come by if you really enjoy your job don’t put yourself down. Agencies are handy but many many people want carers that are same faces and offer better level of care.

Thanks Akire yeah I HATE the aprons! Faffy, noisy things that do nothing apart from get in the way

Honestly, I think the management just don't realize. They have no concept of time for somebody walking, they told me that they thought my first client was only 10 mins from my home. And they chuck off their PPE & jump in their cars without a 2nd thought for the rain or whatever.

I would love to stay at this job, I'm already attached to this one client, my heart just isn't in it with the travelling. I'm sooo fed up. Like PP said, I'm out of my house for an hour & a half, & only getting paid for half an hour.

Next week it's going to be
Out of house at 9.20
First client 9.30
Finish at 10.
10.40 2nd client.
11.10 finish.
11.40 get home.

So out of the house for 2 hours 20 mins & only being paid for an hour

I'm just using this post to vent really.

So, on Tuesday I'm supposed to be finished with my 2 jobs at 11.

I've just had a look on the system & there has been a new client added in between the 2. I have 0 minutes to get between the 2.
I googled the address & it says 20 minute walk so I'll be able to do that in 15, but I'm now finishing my day at 11.45 instead of 11.

Sounds like a small thing but I'm having to arrange childcare for an extra 45 mins now when they've not even spoken to me about this new client or asked if I am available for the extra 45 mins or anything! (I did have plans with the kids after picking them up which will now have to be changed)

Really, really fed up

Is there a hospital near you, OP? Some of the most important and caring people I’ve encountered as a patient have been the catering staff. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time in hospital lately and there’s been countless times when the catering people have been so generous and good-humoured to me that it’s really made a difference. Just small things like remembering which biscuit I take with my tea, or offering to bring me some toast when they know I haven’t been able to eat my lunch due to nausea from treatment etc. They’ve been so lovely.

So, while it’s not a caring role, there’s a caring element.

And hospitals often have good transport links.

Thank you for answering me SweenyToddler & I hope you can spend less time in hospital soon
They do sound lovely so they deserve sometoo!

There is a hospital a bus ride away, I keep checking there but there never is anything, I will google catering jobs specifically thought, thank you for the idea.

I've been googling jobs all weekend & come up with nothing. I would like a caring type job but I will take anything.

I can't even quit or my benefits will be stopped i never had any intention of quitting but if they are going to just add who they like/when they like then I just can't do it

It sounds like a really tough situation for you and I hope things improve soon.

You sound like a lovely and caring person, I hope your luck changes

Could you try another company? We had carers at my last job who didn't drive and they would do double calls with a driver and then possibly the odd single call at either end of the shift

NotMyCat Thank you for the idea but, honestly, I just want to get out of the home care thing after this. I did think I might be doing double calls when I joined up but it doesn't matter now, I just need to find something else.

SweeneyToddler Thank you, that's really kind

So this last week I've been cut down to one person. Either an hour or half an hour of work a day. An hour walking.
Yesterday they changed to a new app & that didn't go smoothly. Left me standing in the rain for 10 mins trying to shelter my phone & get my notes written (while my phone was shouting at me that I was out of area and or had no internet)
Oh, it's so much fun

I'm applying for anything & everything else so fingers crossed for me, next time I post I will be happy in my new, new job