Advice - it's my problem isn't it? SEN child

[Cloudyb]

I'm looking to go back to my former career after a break. I've been worked at a school as the hours work for the family but to be honest the money is rubbish.

I'll happily do an admin role or similar to what I did previously. My child is autistic and copes a lot better when they can come home and relax after school. I'd need to work at home at least 3 days a week, ideally 4. I've seen lots of jobs that offer 2 days homeworking on my previous field. Is it worth applying anyway and then explaining if I am offered the job? Or do I just not apply at all? I hate the idea of being sneaky and asking at the point of offer but I also know I'm really good at what I do and feel like I'm excluding myself from opportunities.

Any advice?

Usually at application stage. If you’re good and they want to, they’ll be flexible if they can.

Of they say no, it’s not right for you as either then job genuinely needs more time in the office, or they’re culturally inflexible which won’t work for you.

Don’t wait until you have a job. If they say no at that point you’re fucked. Even if they say yes, they will probably feel a bit conned by you and you won’t start on a great foot.

Thanks @OtterOnAPlane

So apply and mention it? Do I mention it in the cover letter? Or in the body of the email while applying?

Something like:
Would this position be available for full time home working? I have caring commitments which I am happy to discuss in further detail.

I think if you phrase it like that you're probably going to get rejected off the bat because you're making it sound like you would be looking after your child at the same time as working which is seriously unlikely to be accepted. What would your home childcare plan be? Maybe you could state that but tbh I wouldn't say much until later in the process.

Yeah like that.

I recruit quite a lot and would be happy to consider it. My latest recruit WFH more than average because she’s also a local councillor miles away. But if she’d dropped it on my once she had the job I’d be a bit pissed off.

I would treat this much the same way as asking if a job advertised as full time could be part time.
So I'd apply and then at the end of the interview I'd say I am interested in part time hours, is that a possibility? So I'd ask then if it's a possibility to do the job fully working from home.

Be aware though some WFH roles can require working in the office for the 1st 6 weeks or whatever for training purposes

I wouldn't mention it at the application stage. We have this issue with two DS with ASD who are at special school- there isn't any before or after school care. The two days that I work a full day, my DH does a shorter day so we both work round each other. If you have to do a day a week in the office, could your DH do the school run that day?

I think I would apply and mention it at interview stage where they ask if you have any questions.

Although my employer likes you to be in the office 2 days per week, they are quite flexible with extra WFH requests.

many jobs will (with good reason) want you in the office to meet other people etc.

but leaving early for your kid and then working later on might be possible.

don't ask in your cover letter, wait until interview.

You can ask.
Make it clear that you won't be planning to work and care for your child at the same time though.
Good luck.

Most places are clear that you can’t WFH and look after a child at the same time.
”caring commitments” suggests that you will be doing that, not working.

I would at least raise the issue in your cover letter, then if it's a flat no, you aren't wasting your time. Along the lines of 'I'd be interested in discussing the possibility of a part-time/hybrid/remote role'. You can keep it vague.

Good employers will at least be open to discussing what's possible.

Just something else to consider: some employers have very specific WFH rules.
We can WFH, but have to teams call our manager to confirm no one else is home, just incase they overhear us on the phone/ teams calls (we might be asking a client a question or confirming something or having to make a welfare call) and they claim it's for confidential and data protection rules.
So it would be good to clarify your children will not be at home when/ if you do WFH.