Jobs as NHS admin

[BG2015]

I'm currently a primary school teacher. I've been teaching for 28 years and looking to retire soon.

I'd like to carry on working for a couple of years until I'm 60-61. I don't want to work in education though so I've been looking at part time admin jobs in the NHS.

I think I have transferable skills, I'm very good with people, Im computer literate and confident using the phone.

Is this a job I could do? Part time work seems to start at about £22k a year.

Are you thinking of receptionist type jobs? I think that will be £22k pro rata.

Working in a surgery can be rewarding, but can also be stressful. It’s not a cushey part-time job. The phone always ring, patients are always demanding etc. It does give you a buzz, and you either thrive on it, or it gets to you. Not trying to put you off, but be realistic.

Sorry, didn’t answer your question. Yes, you can do it.

Yes definitely transferable skills.
Something like outpatient clinic receptionist or ward clerk may suit you.

Does it have to be admin? Would you consider a support worker role for eg. Speech therapy?

If a job is advertised as full time don't be afraid of contacting them and asking if part time or job share would be considered. Answer is often yes

Yes, I'll do any job as long as it's part time.

I'd also rather work 2-3 longer days than 5 days a week, shorter days.

You definitely have transferable skills but I second what the previous poster said, you'll either love it or hate it. Certainly in the team I work in you either sink or swim when you first start. I very nearly sank and I'd been an experienced PA/secretary for years before joining the NHS. Very busy, very demanding, multi tasking all day long dealing with conflicting demands. I love it though...although thought what the hell have I done at first!

You can easily do the job. I’ve been working on the NHS admin ‘bank’, part time, for about a year and have done different jobs in lots of different departments. Ward clerking, waiting list admin, transcription - you name it! I find it all pretty stress free, I just want to earn a little bit of money and have some structure to my week until I retire ‘properly’ in a year or so. It can be hierarchical though - I had run out of work last week and asked my manager if I could assist the specialty coordinator who was struggling to get through her workload and was told no, as this was Band 4 work and I was Band 3! (I didn’t expect extra money, just wanted to keep busy and help a colleague).

Our trust also has a group of bank admins, picking up short or longer term work but not permanent, could be worth seeing if that is an option