Should I quit my job now

[Unicornspirit]

So, briefly, I work for a national charity. I love my job but there are issues. I was taken on in lockdown and have trained and worked from home the entire time since Nov 2020. The training has been sketchy due to the whole doing it from home. I've never had a review. I'm an "assistant" to main caseworkers so I don't do half of what they do due to it being complex etc and that's not my job. Have added more work to me but not really trained me. Now had a pretty poorly worded email of all the things I've not done or should have done etc but they've never told me. They seem to forget that I'm not a caseworker and I don't actually know the complexities or all the questions I need to ask. That's why they are caseworkers and I'm an assistant to them.
I feel like they should have told me at the time instead of suddenly springing it all on me and basically implying that I'm doing so much wrong. They didn't talk directly to me either. They emailed the manager and she saved it for a few months and let me carry on blissfully unaware that there were issues. Instead they have doubled my workload and not said anything.
It all feels underhanded and yet if I'd been told or trained properly I could have made the changes I needed to.
I've had an interview last week for another job. Got a second interview coming up and a good feeling I will get the job. Hopefully.
I just feel stressed because I really do my best and was passionate about my current job. It's nothing major that would affect my clients but simple things like wording things in a certain way, putting certain phrases etc. Like I say I didn't know as have never been told. I know it sounds daft but I feel ganged up on and unsupported. I don't know whether to just hand my notice in today. I've just been put on anti depressants. I'm feeling positive about the new job and I hope I get it but I can't continue like this. If I went sick it would look bad if I got the new job and they asked for a reference wouldn't it?
Sorry, I hope this makes sense. I feel a bit stressed out this morning.

Well firstly I think you need to formally respond to the manager, making these points. Have you done that, in writing? Have you had a chance to discuss it with the manager at all?

Secondly, yes I would definitely seek a new job elsewhere - it doesn’t sound as though they’re great at supporting their staff so in the longer term it’s probably best to move on. However - I wouldn’t do anything precipitate. Pursue your response to your manager while also looking for new opportunities but don’t just quit straight away. Get something else first.

Don’t quit, wait until you have a new job to go to.

What they have done is appallingly bad management practice. Feedback should be timely and constructive.

Email your manager, use the poorly worded feedback to structure your response e.g.

1. On xxxxxx (date) you were advised I had not used the approved wording in my response on x case. You advised me of this on xxxxxx (date). On reflection, I realise I have not had xxxxx charity’s training on its corporate communication style and language framework: As written communication is a regular part of my role I would appreciate it if this training could be arranged asap. In the interim I will send you my draft responses to review to ensure my responses are appropriate.

This approach means it is documented when they received the feedback and when they gave it to you. You are accepting the feedback but politely pointing out you have not received the training and giving the problem back to them I.e. they have to review drafts until they give you the training.

HTH