Am I mad to be considering this?

[RosieLeaLovesTea]

Ok I work in a senior manager in public sector. Ii worked for one LA for 23 years. I moved to another LA and changed to a different sector. I feel it’s not for me and I don’t really fit in. I am so fed up with having to save money, running projects and managing other people. I want to Jack it in and go agency and just do the job without having to manage people or their work. I also want to go back to the sector I have most experience in. So I would be leaving a permanent role for a temporary/contract role. I have savings that I could use if there was gaps in between work. I will have to consider travelling. I quite like the idea of trying out different LAs and teams but just being responsible for my work rather than that of other people. Pros higher pay, trying out different teams. Cons: travelling distance, break in service which affects terms and conditions

Our LA has a recruitment freeze and has let go a lot of agency staff in the last couple of months due to budget pressures, so might be worth checking the situation in LAs near you before taking the plunge

@rewardacrosstrack yes that is definitely a risk! And always worse at the end of the financial year. I may need to keep the savings for that time.

Can you not look for other permanent roles to try before going for something so risky? I couldn’t cope with the stress of the lack of security for longer than necessary.

Plus, how would it impact things like rent/mortgage payments not to have a guaranteed income?

I would be concerned in the current climate with most LAs freezing recruitment.
I suppose it depends on your financial commitments and how long you could sustain a loss of income if you were let go.
Agency appeals to me however I know at this stage of my life that it isn’t viable because I need the security.

Our LA has got rid of most agency staff and there’s a recruitment freeze. What area do you work in?