Department restructure - NHS (worried sick)

[NorthernWanderer]

Hi,

I have worked in my current role (band 7) for three years. It isn’t my profession, by training/background, but similar. I was a band 7 in my previous role but was living quite a distance from my workplace and, due to complications of the pandemic (train cancelled was a major issue) I had to look for employment closer to home. I’d only been a band 7 in my previous role for 6 months but had been top of band 6 for years. I’m a HCPC Biomedical Scientist by training - I have kept my registration going but I don’t need it for the role I’m doing now.

Anyway, it became very apparent that the place I’m at was in dire straights and very old fashioned in terms of IT. The place is a mess tbh and hasn’t been run properly. It became very clear that I was taking on a massive workload (which I had never experienced before in the NHS). There doesn’t seem to be any interest in moving the place forward in terms of technology so they’re going round in circles with staff spending way too much time on things and lots of errors due to paper based systems. It’s shocking tbh! The place is quite toxic too.

We are under the watch of the regulator. It’s worrying me as I am new to this area and never came across this level of despair in my previous career (that I miss desperately)!

New big boss started a year ago (who looks after 2 departments). Both departments have been put under a transformation after constant staff complaints and a damning audit from the regulator. Basically, there will be new jobs created (they don’t have enough staff to do what’s needed) and all staff can apply for jobs that arise. My job is now at risk. I’m highly qualified in my field (biomedical) and experienced (25 years plus). I have been told all sorts. I could be downgraded to a band 5, I may have to re-apply for my own post or end up without a job. Or, I may remain as I am. I have been told there will probably be a deputy post created (as my workload is huge). I am working constantly. Always under stress at the demands from everywhere. Two band 7’s used to do my role but they didn’t replace one, after she left, to save money. I am working harder in this role than I ever had to in my previous career. There is a very high sickness rate with two band 7’s on long term sick. It is the band 5-8 that they are dealing with first as part of the re-structure. There are a couple of band 5’s (both with a lot less experience than I have) who are applying for my role if it is advertised. I’m absolutely appalled tbh! I have done nothing wrong. I am trying my hardest to put the place right as I realised, pretty quickly, what a mess they were in just after I started.

I could try and get back into my field. I would prefer this now as I am so traumatised by this that I don’t want to re-apply for my own job! It’s humiliating and I will just want to die if I was unsuccessful. It’s a kick in the teeth to someone who has worked over and above for them.

Im also going through a divorce, which is also worrying me as I have come off a lot worse (accepting 30% of assets) as my emotional health is suffering (because of the re-structure too). I had to call it a day. Stbx can’t afford to pay my any child support either. If I end up as a band 5, I will really struggle.

My eldest is at university but the youngest is in her final GCSE year and wants to stay at the same school for 6th form. She also needs to see her father. She lives with me mostly.

I feel trapped in an awful situation whereby I could get back into my field (probably as a 7 or even an 8 due to my background and qualifications) but I can’t leave the area due to my daughter! There are no jobs locally and I have looked for the last 2 years when I realised how bad this job was going to be.

I am totally not sure what to do and am not coping well at all. Not sleeping. Having physical symptoms. I feel like my career is over (and my life tbh). I have worked /studies do hard over the years. They mentioned about re-deployment but that could also be a band 5 (they can only downgrade you 2 bands, so I have been told) in an area of no interest to me. Pay, at band 7, would be protected for two years.

Has anyone been through this in the NHS or can offer some wise words of advice? I feel distraught and extremely distressed tbh. We band 7’s have been given no support through this and have to stand in staff meetings with higher up telling everyone they can apply for our roles!!

I wouldn't be surprised from that description and the geography if you don't work at the same trust I'm currently at and desperately trying to leave. I've also never experienced toxicity like it in the NHS in four Trusts.

The patch is currently under investigation by PWC, who seem to be dragging their heels somewhat to say the least. Compared to the previous part of the country where I worked for 15 mostly happy years, the financial opacity across the whole patch is spectacular, I genuinely don't know what most of the Trusts here do with their funding as it definitely doesn't go on staffing the departments. Plenty of VERY senior managers though, many of whom are VERY closely knit.

When you're looking at remote jobs, what about something like lab safety or training or medical writing? Or lecturing? Several new medical schools are due to come on line in the north west in the next few years if you can grit your teeth for two years if you do end up being downgraded temporarily but at least being protected pay wise. I really feel for you, I have actually lost a lot of faith in the NHS after working at my current Trust. Here's hoping we both find new jobs soon.

I dunno how to break it to you, but high sickness rates & constant restructuring in NHS is 'normal'. You have to learn to be agile & try to constantly be vigilant for opportunities. Reframe this situation as an opportunity to reappraise & make sure you get the best possible outcome for you. Good luck.

You’ve had some good advice but a couple of things have jumped out at me.

The band 7 posts will be ringfenced for the existing band 7s to apply for. The band 5s won’t be allowed to apply for those.
The 2 band 7s on long term sick will be the ones to be let go, I’d put money on it. Sounds like you hold the dept together so they’d be crazy to lose you.
The union reps should be all over this terrible communication.
I think you need to focus on a medium term plan. If the worst thing happens and you’re downbanded you’ll have a 2 year window on protected pay to find an alternative. You’ll also be in a less stressful job, divorce over and with some headspace. By then your child will almost be finished with A levels and you can move to where the jobs are. Sounds as though you’ll be wise to get out of there in the long term regardless of the outcome of this process.

I definitely want out, regardless of the outcome. The be been in the NHS since the late 1990’s and never experienced this before (or the toxic culture that triggered the re-structure in the first place). There are a lot of lower bands (2-3) - and I’m not being snobby when I say this - that seem hell bent on causing trouble (that doesn’t exist) for the 8 and some of the 7’s. This is what triggered it plus the under investment in the department over the years. There are some very hard working staff in the department and higher levels are specialised in what they do (with the education to back it up) - they aren’t respected a lot. The issue is under investment and people having huge workloads. As an outsider, coming from another profession, I started to notice this very early on.

Im still getting out ASAP.

I am going through this experience as well. The process of staff selection to the posts have not clearly followed. Management and HR used a different method of selection which is completely different to what they recorded in initial plan. One of the selection criteria used is staff sickness period. In my case I have had a few procedures and operations as well as an accident, so, had a low score which resulted in downgrading me.
My union has questioned it, but the management would not care.

The new post I have downgraded to is full time band 6. My current post is ban 7 part-time. I have been told that there are pay protection for 3 yrs. I am not sure pay protection would be for full time hours or part-time. The way this management has handled the restructuring plan with an engineered staff selection process, I would not be surprised if they put me on full time hours (band 6), but pay me part time (band 7).