Can you please give me some advice about my work situation. Not sure if I should stay or leave?

[Daisydaisydaisy1]

Im hoping to get some support here.
im a mental health nurse and been qualified about 10 yrs (uk).
it’s taken me 4 roles to find what i enjoy. I have noticed there is a bit of a culture in the nhs but over the years adapted to it whilst building my confidence.
I understand management are stuck in certain situations and dynamic of a team. Where I am, there are about 25 of us (different professions). Out of that many there are 7 who have worked together for years (including the manager). I am in the office with them all (not the manager). It was very hard to fit in but I persevered and thought I was ok. I’m going to cut a very long story short.
I noticed 2 colleagues very close and exclude people from conversations and interact together, like to gossip, sometimes the way they speak about others can feel uncomfortable. One nurse has a lot of time off and they all say this is ‘historic’. I can share particular things they say but it’s so long. I noticed they wouldn’t support me, talk over me, exclude me and they often spoke about conversations they have had with the manager. Such as ‘taking the colleague down the competency route’, ‘she’s playing the mental health card’, ‘she is not a team player’.
Have been managing a number of roles due to staff sickness. Aswell as managing health conditions and supporting my daughter with her mental health. I had some time off to recover (4 weeks). When I returned, one of the more dominant characters (who has previously said to me, I’m not challenged because I’m too nice and won’t ‘kick off’) approached me about covering something and I said I have just returned from burnout. She challenged me in a very aggressive tone. I was so taken back. She said I was not being a team player. I honestly couldn’t believe what was happening.
I probably am too sensitive but I don’t know what to do. I have panicked looking for another job. Or do I go back and face this?
There is a lot more to the dynamic but it’s a lot to explain and don’t want to bore you all. I’m just wondering if anyone else has had to manage this?

So your job description is specific to you and your manager is neither of these two pushier colleagues? You could start off nicely - it’d be great if we all had time to help each other but I’m so swamped on abc, the quarterly report, sort of thing. I would not mention burnout or you/dc health, as they will weaponise it and it’s none of their business.

At the same time, keep a record of interactions and witnesses. Even if what they are saying isn’t about you and how (seeming contra to their job) it paints a picture of them maligning people’s needs and situations.

Have a conversation (quarterly review?) with your manager about how you’re performing in your new role and maybe bring up how existing team dynamics appear rather entrenched and the office is a bit fractured across the 7 vs the rest?

It’s hard to do but I’d focus on my stated role, maybe make allies outside of the clique, and keep records.

I had a similar experience where I joined an established team abroad and actually it was the local manager who was the key problem. I navigated around them and into their chain of command, and kept my personal vs professional life very separate. It’s extremely draining and I remember just thinking how it was so unnecessary. Good luck!

I'd work on how to say no in a way that makes you look helpful but also with clear boundaries. I have colleagues who are absolutely not team players and say no to everything but they do it in a way that makes them respected, bizarrely!

So rather than saying "I've just been burnt out" you could say "this is such an important task, I'm at capacity right now because of [very important task], I think X will be great for this though"

I.e.. throw someone under the bus.

If they say they've already asked the person and they've said no, just say "oh that surprises me" and walk away.