Another band 7 struggling! NHS

[TakeMeToLondonTown]

Hi,

I'll try to be brief!

Working as a band 7 (which is more like an 8a) with a huge workload and not my profession. Ended up in it during the pandemic as it suited my circumstances at the time. I regret it though!A lot more line management involved and many other aspects to my job. Told the role was done by two people, previously. Workplace is toxic (with lower bands the constant stirrers of trouble). Also, I'm not enjoying it as there is no passion there for me and I'm not using my specialist qualifications at all. It's not what I want to do with my life.

It is making me ill. I'm on annual leave for 2 weeks and have spent every day anxious. I'm
dreading going back. I was a band 7 in my own profession and never, ever felt like this. Main issues are lack of investment into the department over the years which has led to an old fashioned way of working which is time consuming and producing higher levels of errors (thus creating more work for me). Everything is negative! There is also a sense of entitlement among lower grade staff (some without any qualifications at all) who think they can be too boss. I never noticed this in my own profession as everyone had to achieve certain qualifications and experience to move up the grades. One is happily gloating they've 'got rid of' the band 8.

Band 8 has been forced out (tragic, as very experienced with years of background in the area but had 'difficult' staff to manage). Two band 7's on long term sick (stress/anxiety). The atmosphere is awful. Never seen this in the NHS before. We are also going through a restructure so no guarantee my job will be there anyway (and I've worked on the NHS since 96 so distraught over this treatment). I'm working over and above (even unpaid, from home on my annual leave)!!

Issue:

I've been offered another job in my own field, in the specialist area I have always headed for. It's the role I have always wanted. They have said I can work on a hybrid basis.

I have a daughter due to sit GCSE's and I am also on my own (divorce ongoing). I have no other family (son at uni) around. I don't want to leave the area permanently as it would mess up
my daughter's plans and I don't want to take her far away from her father/brother (he comes
home weekends). Not sure I can afford a commute across the country and potentially having to pay for two lots of accommodation.

I know if I turn this job down I will either end up without a job (restructure) or downgraded (into an even worse job), will be forever not listening to my heart or end up cracking up and walking out!! Also, I can't keep renewing my HCPC registration if I'm not practising anymore. I'll lose it which breaks my heart.

There are no jobs locally. Had job offers before but all involve a move!!

Ideally, a remote working role would suit but at a band 7 pay. If anyone can suggest anything, please do.
What would you do?

Take the new job.

Take the new role

Take the new job.

The way you talk about people without qualifications as if they're less entitled is unpleasant.

Take the job. How far is the commute? How often would you have to go?

It's a no brainer, take the new job. Before I got to the bit about the new job, my thought was get signed off with stress and resign.

I'm not being unpleasant. I'm all for 'Fred' being a doctor (or, whatever) but I'd like him to have the medical degree etc.

It's just under 2 hours each way so it's going to involve overnight stays.

Not sure how often, as yet. To be discussed!

Take the new role. 2 hour commute is doable a couple of times a week. Gives you chance to see if you like it whilst your DD does her GCSEs then if you do you can consider a permanent move

Even if it involves overnight stays your dd won’t be 16yo for ever. I took a job with a slightly shorter commute when dd was a similar age. 4 days a week. I didn’t stay over but left at 6am so dd had to sort herself out.

would you move house?

Take the new job OP. I've just had a thread about my resignation as I was in a similar position. I've been offered my old role back (one band lower) and I am so relieved I could cry. I'm just working my notice now. These toxic environments are just awful and in my experience they don't change. It's not worth the detriment to your mental health.

I think take the new job. You might be able to negotiate some working from home days. Your DD only has 6 months left at school and then could go to college any where. You could then relocate or not.

Take the new job. Once your dd leaves home you can decide whether to move nearer based on how you feel about the new role. It is short term pain for long term gain.

Also remember that the new job can lead to other jobs nearer home in the future. That’s what happened with me. Did the awful commmute for nearly a year and an identical job came up down the road. Without the experience I might not have got it.

In 3 years, possibly. Once my children are both over 18 and off to university - yes. It's very complicated!

I am thinking along these lines. Experience in this area, plus my MSc (in the specialised area and due time finish next year) would enable me to go for a band 8 role. However, never had plans to go higher than a 7 (even though my current 7 is more like an 8a - I do more than a friend who is an 8b)!!

I'd take the new job.
You run the very real risk of ending up with no job either through the restructure or because your mental health has been so affected you can't go back there. If that happens you'll be left just having to take anything.

At the moment you have choices. If they're offering hybrid then you may only have to commute 3 days a week, maybe you can stay in a premier inn one night? And as PPs have said look on this as a short term stepping stone to something nearer home. Think about where you want to be in 3 years time?

Go for the new job. Think of the relief you'll feel when you hand in your notice and start planning your future.

Your attitude towards the lower bands sounds awful.

Okay just read again and you mean clinical. Fair enough. Thought it was another shit on the admin clerical staff manager.

I work in the NHS.

our admin staff seem to think they are in charge and can be DEEPLY unpleasant towards clinical staff.

the band 4 admin staff bully the band 3

I think this might be the sort of thing you are dealing with. I think your professional background is like mine.

I'm thinking you're in intermediate care. I left as a band 7 for very similar reasons.

Anyway the notice period is 3 months so this will take you well into the spring.

Take the new job!

I'm an 8a and have never been happier

Take the job, You’ll kick yourself if
you don’t. 2 hour commute isn’t ideal but it is do-able. I did it for 1.5 years. If it’s hybrid even better as it hopefully wouldn’t be full time commuting!

Also, for what it’s worth, ignore the comments about having a bad attitude to lower bands. Im a band 6 now but started as a band 2, and honestly the grief and drama some of the assistant/admin staff bring is utterly appalling, registered professionals would never get away with some of their behaviours.

You can do it 👏🏼