Need some careers advice!

[LauraC1984]

Hi, I'm currently a police officer (detective role) which I've done for over a decade, however I have a young DC with autism and potentially other issues and she is likely to need a lot of support over the coming years.

My shifts at work just aren't working at the minute and I think I'm going to have to leave my job in the very near future to provide more support for my DC. She is not in nursery yet and likely won't be for some time because of ongoing issues.

I need to start looking for a new job but I just don't even know where to start! Obviously I'm going to need a part time, fairly flexible role which I know isn't going to be easy to find. Before joining the police, I used to work in various admin/PA type roles but I just don't feel like I'm particularly qualified in any one area to know where to focus my search!

Can any one offer any advice please as I'm really struggling and it's causing me a lot of stress!

Many thanks x

Civil service: flexible hours with many being hybrid/WFH.

Where in the country are you based?

Lots of people will want you for your skills.

I work for a defence company and they are very supportive as they need more woman.

I'm based in the north east in Northumberland

Any civilian roles within your force? Or do you want a clean break? You may be able to negotiate your salary to the highest pay point on a civ scale and retain the enhanced leave / benefits. Just a change of contract.

I worked in a school where a few ex-Police officers worked as part of the Student Welfare team, where they had to be comfortable doing high level safeguarding stuff etc

The idea of civilian roles within the force might be a good plan, will definitely be something to think about and thank you to everyone for your comments, I will be looking in to all your suggestions to see if I can make any of them work x

The Emvironment Agency - big office in Newcastle - have quite a number of ex-police officers on the staff, largely in environmental enforcement/environmental crime and project management roles. Lots of flexibility, p/t, term time only types of contracts.

Try the railway. We have lost of ex police joining. Doesn't have to be shift work.