Can't hold down a job. Very low.

[Effed]

Please be gentle with me, I am very tender and am seriously considering how black/bleak my future looks.

I had a head injury inc brain bleed 18 months ago.

I've been a teacher for years.

I had to leave my job because I couldn't be off sick forever & when I tried to go back, my employer put me on capability. My union argued it, to no avail.

I was devastated.

I have been working at temporary jobs since, but nothing sticks.
Today I have a letter from my latest temporary job, saying that they are reviewing my probation. It's not looking good for me.

I'm feeling very low, thinking is difficult since my head injury. I feel really frustrated with myself, but I can't make myself well, or make my mind think properly.

What the heck do I do for a job now?
I'm clearly not up to Teaching any more.

To reiterate, I am devastated.

@Effed in Cornwall. A friend has said her company had been looking for functional skills tutoring. Not totally sure where the add is, she said about it last week

Teaching ESOL on line?

Do you have a partner op? Children?

I had to leave teaching because of illness/disability (although no where near as traumatic as a fractured skull, I’m sorry OP) so you have my sympathy. It tough.

If it helps, I decided that if I couldn’t teach then I didn’t want to do tutoring etc, but something completely different. So what I’m saying is don’t feel like you have to narrow down your job search to tutoring only - this is your new chance at another life, and with all the skills you’ve gained through teaching you can do so much.

By all means try remote tutoring and see how it is. But if it doesn’t suit you then don’t feel like you can’t try your hand at something completely different. Keep your options open.

I’m surprised you were turned down for PIP. Anyone who blacks out holding a pan of boiling water and needs hospital treatment for burns needs support. Did this happen after your first PIP application?

If you sustained a brain injury , then there are organisations which help people with acquired brain injuries to find work or retrain. My father suffered one and such an organisation helped him find work in a library because he couldn't return to his previous role in hospitality.

PIP are a nightmare. I would apply again and appeal if needs be.

Also look into applying for cont based ESA this may be easier as has a form they send to the GP.

You need to take it easy and not get stressed for your own health.

Teaching /work doesn't need to define you.

Although not the same but I also have a hidden disability. I'm retraining but I was previously a fraud advisor for Lloyds Banking group. I would recommend checking Lloyds Banking group for remote jobs. I worked 100% from home & their OH/adaptions process/ disability employer processes were great from the start. In my opinion they will see past 'teacher'.

I understand the loss of life/career & frustrations of being a different person than before. It really does make everything in life that bit harder at times but I'm sure you will find a good fit 😊

Get someone to help with the forms if needs be e.g. husband

You have been through a lot and by the sounds of it there are a lot of things going on, I'd recommend breaking it down into parts:

• appeal against the PIP decision, a lot of people sadly have to do this and many are successful at overturning the initial decision. There is guidance online about the process, remember its really important to talk about your worst days.

• it's tricky where it's a temp position, but this kind of thing is exactly where occ health are worth their weight in salt- were you referred before being let go from your previous role? Ultimately they produce a report for the employers consideration so they can still reject it if the recommendations aren't reasonable; but they can also advise whether they think you fall under the disability act which can help support you in the future.

• it does sound like some timeout would help whilst you explore options, but understand this is scary financially. Might be worth contacting CAB and seeing what you might be able to claim?

• transferable skills really need to be spelled out on job apps, I've had CVs in the past from teachers and whilst I know roughly what some stuff means, they haven't pulled out the skills this relates to and how they'd be relevant to the role. For example, avoid teaching specific terms and go back to basics. Break it down, explain what this means.

• it sounds like you're doing amazingly well following such a traumatic injury and the mental and physical health effects are not your fault. Be kind to yourself, recognise what you need in the here and now- remember for example that leaving teaching for now doesn't mean it has to be forever. In a few years you might feel ready to go back.

Form here, ESA

www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-esa

Sorry op, this sounds very tough.

I agree with others who have suggested tutoring. The other thing you might want to consider is the expansion of the online schooling sector. They are mushrooming. Some are entirely online and others are hybrid. Might be worth looking into?

Be gentle on yourself op. You've had a head injury. It may be a blessing getting out of teaching. Can you get disabilities benefit and just rest for the time being and then look for something else? Working in childcare for example?

When you say the kicker is you don’t know how the accident happened… what do you mean? You don’t remember? Were you found by someone?

I'm sorry to read this OP.
Are you a member of the teachers pension scheme?
Have you made an application for early retirement on ill health grounds? I would be surprised if your union has not advised this.

I would look at Apprenticeship Tutor roles. You have a wealth of transferable skills that Independent Training Providers would love. Most roles are hybrid or WFH too.
Look at Skills Coach
Assessor
Tutor
On Indeed.
Oh and report the establishments who have not made reasonable adjustments to Ofsted. And Matrix. And IIP.
Disgusting behaviours on their part.

Could you do supply a couple of days a week and build up some online tutoring. There are always adverts on Indeed for online tutors

@Effed are you on linkedin? Loads of people on there looking for tutors. Also contact your local authority - everyone I know is desperate for tutors for kids who are out of school!

Good luck x

Maybe you should take a break from teaching, take a year out and look as something that is just more of a job to pay the bills. I think all the stress isn't going to be helping your rehabilitation.

Have you sought help from CAB or a welfare benefits charity for help with the mandatory reconsideration?

Im so sorry for how you were treated after what must have been a very traumatic time.

I home educate 1 of my DC and all there is barely a day goes by where I don't see requests for tutors on the FB groups I'm in.

Also in a lot of SEN groups and there's a real demand for tutors for EOTAS packages particularly for young people who have had traumatic school experiences.

Both the above would be within school hours rather than after school. It might be worth looking into potentially partnering with established HE activities in your area, and just joining groups to get the lay of the land.

I hope you find something suitable soon.

I find it difficult to concentrate on computer screens, especially for extended periods.

That is likely to be a fairly big issue for any remote work, sadly; it's almost all going to be computer-based.

Would this rule out online teaching, too? Or ESOL online? I know someone who teaches English to predominantly Chinese children online through an agency; she works three hours in the morning and three in the afternoon; and then has optional evening work whenever she wants it. She is well-paid, and the breaks work well for her in balancing her life.

Also - I am so sorry. About the injury, which sounds horrendous; and also that the school haven't treated you well, and now your temporary job seems to be under review. I hope it's not what you think, but if it is, asking them face-to-face for some feedback could be enlightening. Do they know about your injury? You'd have thought they'd be careful not to discriminate.

Please contact headway and your GP about further support . You have had a brain injury these can take a long time to heal from things like short term memory and executive functioning can be effected. It is not your fault and also when you apply for jobs tell employers about your head injury and any reasonable adjustments you need.

@firstbabyworries if you find out, please let me know.

@FiveGoMadInDorset I could do that, yes. I have my TEFL, not CELTA.
If you know of a company who are looking, please let me know.

@Vegrocks DH, very supportive. DCs are young adults, they are all at or have finished Uni. All great, they are living their lives. We have paid for their tuition + some financial support. Those who aren't working full time are working part time to help themselves through Uni. I'm being deliberately vague about our DCs.

Thank you @AvoNw. How long did you teach for? And how did you decide what to do next? Apologies for the nosiness, I'm asking as I'm not sure where to begin:

Yes @daisypond, this morning I spoke to a charity, they said that most people are turned down for PIP, they told me to apply again and then appeal. Aside from the dent in my head (which is obvious to me, but not to others) I present as someone together and capable, I understood why they would turn me down.

@romdowa I definitely sustained a brain injury, it took me 8 months to speak properly again. Do you know which charities might help, please? There are a lot of charities. I contacted one a few months ago, though they were mainly based in another part of the UK and couldn't offer much other than counselling. I don't feel that I need to talk about it, I need to know how to live around it.

Thank you @Orangesandlemons77, that is good advice. You are right of course, teaching doesn't, or shouldn't define me. Thing is that I have been doing it for so long I'm unsure what else I could do.