Single mum looking for work during school hours

[Reflektor]

I am looking for work. I have no criminal convictions and hold a Masters Degree in Art from Sussex University, but I haven't been able to find any work.

So far the work I did before motherhood: retail, bar and cafe jobs, have turned me down. I am nearly 50 and an immigrant, some ageism/nationalism could be at play but mainly the issue is finding work within the school hours.

I am allergic to bleach and pet dander so being a cleaner wouldn't be appropriate for me. Apart from my university degree I have no qualifications or skills. I don't own a car or have a UK drivers licence, so Uber is not an option.

Please don't tell me to go home, I would if I could but my child's father will not agree and has stopped us leaving the country even for a visit several times since our separation. He is permitted to see our child but chooses not to. CMS deducts a very small amount from his benefits each month for child maintenance. I cannot rely on him for childcare nor financial support.

At 11 your child is old enough to be by themselves for an hour in the evening.

I agree at age 11 they can be home for an hour, leave out a snack and tell them to watch tv or start homework.

Sign up to a temping agency for schools?

Have a look at charity jobs. There are so many that are wfh.

Secondary school age is fine to be at home for an hour early evening, just make sure they’ve got a mobile and you’ve got snacks in

Childminder or GP/medical secretary, both short coursework for training, not open late, or weekends.

You can work as an nhs support worker on the bank during school hours. The shifts will show as 0700-1300 or 1300-1900 but you can amend the shift times to suit you in most trusts.

Time to ease off a bit and let your child have a little more freedom. Your job opportunities will also open up massively

Work in a school?

TA, admin, art teacher?

It’s ridiculous to be restricting yourself to school hours with an 11 year old. I manage 4 full days with a 5 year old. Come on @Reflektor you aren’t trying hard enough.

Look at full time because it opens up so many more opportunities, widen your search to all sectors but remember charity sector, churches etc may be more open to flexibility.

I have not, I don't know who could help with this.

they aren't in secondary school yet, but soon

Ask at the school, for a TA position they can train you up

TA whilst training to do your pgse?

At my school we don’t have a single TA who isn’t a qualified teacher…

You really don’t need school hours when you have an 11 year old and after school care until 5.30. He’ll be fine for an hour by himself.

PGCE then art teacher so you will have school holidays aswell.

See if there is any help here https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers

Also, if you are claiming UC your work coach can give CV advice

On UC you get virtually all your childcare paid for you.

Why can't you do what everyone else does and pay for childcare (or even better in your case a tiny amount for childcare) in order to work?

Check out your local FE College, most have Learning Support Assistant roles available. Your language skills would be an asset and it’s a great ‘foot in the door’ role.

I got a job as a TA in my children’s school so no need for childcare at all. I signed up for an agency to get experience and did supply TAing for 6 weeks and then applied for the TA job at their school. TA agencies are crying out for people, mainly in SEN schools but you can pick and choose your days and the hours are generally 8.30-3.30.

Local council could be crying out for your language skills in meetings involving Social workers and their service users too.

I work on a team that send out the invite letters so SW’s aren’t sat at their computers all day and we have a hefty number of unaccompanied asylum seeker children (UASC). All service users have meetings every 6 months, so there is a regular need for interpretation.

If your home language is not a typical one for asylum seekers, enquire about the need for business support assistants. That is what I do but I am also doing an apprenticeship to allow me to consider other roles. Council are pretty family friendly these days.

My 12 year old stays home while I work til midnight the occasional night. It’s far from ideal but needs must. An hour is nothing however plenty retail jobs do 10-2 shifts or are flexible. Also allergies aren’t a great excuse - wear gloves and take an antihistamine. My dd is allergic to animal hair yet we have a dog and a pony. She’s also allergic to the hay she has to feed the pony but gets on with it daily.

Art technician in a school/college/university?