NHS work stress and time off

[Anon1984x]

Hi,

I work as a clinician in an NHS mental health service, I am contracted to work 22.5 hours a week but exceed this regularly due to the unmanageable workload. The reasons for the high workload are due to reductions in staffing for varying reasons and also high service demand. Management are aware I am struggling but I am told I need to look at how I manage my workload. I've asked to increase my hours, they have said there is no money. I feel like I am heading to burn out, if I'm not already there. I have been tearful at points with colleagues, feel very stressed with poor sleep and it's impacting my patience at home.

I feel I need to take some time off with stress but I feel incredibly guilty at the thought of doing this and the impact it would have on my team. I have only ever been signed off by a GP once in 16 years for a physical issue so it's new to me.

I can't keep papering the cracks for my own health and wellbeing and I hate that there is an expectation to work beyond contracted hours to get the job done.

I am wondering how bad others were feeling when they got signed off with stress/anxiety that is work related? And how long GP signed you off for and if anything changed after going back to work?

Thank you

You will return and it will be exactly the same

Rather look for a new job rather than going on sick leave

I do kind of agree with the other poster that going off with stress won’t make it any better and it’ll be really hard to go back if you’re off for a significant time. Could you take a week off to rest, get your head together and then go back while actively looking for work?

Do you manage your own caseload and book
your own appointments? If so, you need to slow
it down and work your hours, even if it means things are slower. I work in a similar service and work the same hours and you need to be strict.

Thanks for the replies. I've been looking for a new job for a few months now and not found anything suitable yet due to the hours I need.

I do book my own diary in terms of caseload, however the frequency of my contacts depends on risk. My caseload is too high for the hours I do as we've lost staff. (I used to do this job 30 hours a week before kids and my caseload was less than it is now.)

How many hours a week are you doing? Is it more than a 40 hour full time week?

I work the same hours as you in MH services so your post seems sadly very familiar. I've not take time off although others in my team have and nothing changes. I manage it by being as firm as I can with my boundaries and ignoring all requests for 'extra help' from management. Which are constant due to the staffing issues and overwhelming workload.

i’d speak to your manager and tell her how you feel.

i’d also contact hr to arrange to meet occy health or contact occy health direct.

your caseload should be proportionate. if it cannot be reduced then the time with each person or the frequency you see them needs reduced.

it does nobody any good if youre off sick so somethimg needs to change.

Can you tell them your caseload is unsafe and needs to be reduced to reflect the risk you are holding? I would be asking for a stress risk assessment and to speak to occupational health to discuss the situation.

There has to be boundaries and I’m assuming you have case management supervision? Where this can be discussed and documented and they can help you balance the risk and caseload.

There is a lot of burnout and staff shortages are everywhere, if they want you to not be off sick then they need you to have a caseload that manageable and is non-negotiable. You will need to be strong about it otherwise they will just use you till you stop.

I can’t help with advice on work load but just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart a huge, heartfelt thank you to you for the job you do. A team like yours saved my life, yes truly. I am thankful to the NHS MH team for life and am “paying it back” by now working in a pharmacy. I am so thankful to people like yourself.

Having said the above, if your own mental health suffers as a result it's perhaps time to take a step back. You have still more than done your bit, don't feel like a failure, sometimes the time has come to move on.

Oh God Im sick of that!!! Every NHS job Ive had they try to tell you you arent coping because you cant manage your workload instead of admitting there is a problem wirh the service. It does royally piss me off.
Ive been doing this for 46 years yet toxic management never changes.
Ive grown a very thick skin as a result and dont put up with that crap.
The NHS is an awful place to work really.

Have you sought help from your union? You absolutely should not be consistently working over your contracted hours and for no overtime or other benefit (toil). If you are not in a union then see what advice there is for you from ACAS and in the meantime see your GP, get signed off, give your nervous system a chance to settle while you think about what you can do next. If you plan to return after sick leave then you need and Occupational Health assessment, a stress risk assessment and adjustments made to support your return. The organisation has a duty of care towards you and there are policies in place to protect you. If they are in breach of their own policies then you have a strong position to a) advocate for yourself in the current role or b) leave and seek compensation.

Sorry you’re struggling. Honestly though I think it’s common thing seen when women / caregivers reduce their hours after having children - your hours go down but the work stays the same. It’s the same in my job. Agree that sick leave won’t help, but a new job might…