Generational clash in (NHS) management

[Jamonjamon456]

I'm working in a new trust after a hideous situation involving bullying and discrimination in my last role (being screamed at, made up notes from meetings, incredibly personal comments).

But the honeymoon period in my new job is wearing off and I'm worrying I might be facing another difficult management character. I work clinically with a caseload shared between the team. Manager swooped in last week and took every single new patient leaving me with very little to do. I advertised the fact I could use more work but received quite curt messages saying she was taking each new patient. Apparently the same behaviour has happened with previous staff in the role so although it does feel quite personal I'm lead to believe it's not. It's more the total absence of discussion/communication around this that is unsettling me than the fact she clearly wants the work as I've been left trying to fill in the blanks and it's quite unsettling.

I'm going to bring it up in a 1:1 but have also been warned that she doesn't like to be put on the spot so now stressed about how to bring up the fact I want to raise this. She's very established in the organisation but it's got me thinking that I've had a number of "difficult" manager so perhaps it's me or just generational differences around things like communication and respect and equality. Don't know what advice I'm looking for tbh, just beginning to really question if NHS hierarchy is compatible with my mental health.

I have also suffered from very difficult managers in the NHS, one my age (in their 60s) and one much younger. I feel that counter intuitively, the NHS is not a very pleasant place to work. It's not generational, it's cultural. Far better treatment in a very large US corporation.

Not sure I'd be bringing it up in a 121 with her if you already know she's a poor manager and prickly. If she wants to take work from you let her crack on (as long as it doesn't impact your pay) and find somehing to do that benefits you.

I'm on a contract so don't really have anything to do other than direct patient care. I think this is where I feel generational issues come in as pretty much everything I've learnt/read is about dealing with difficult situations before they escalate, having open conversations etc but this doesn't seem to be the right thing to do here. Obviously I wouldn't go in saying "You've done XYZ" more "I wonder if there would be an opportunity for us to see patients together for my own learning (given I've got nothing else to do)" or "do you have any feedback about my performance".

It’s not generational, it’s just poor management. I’m at the end of my NHS career and I’ve had some fabulous mangers, of all ages, who work as part of a team, encourage development and treat people with respect. I’ve been a manager too. Managing people is a skill and not everyone is up to it (none of us trained to be managers, it just comes with seniority). I really hope this works out for you but please don’t think it’s because older mangers don’t have those skills.

I think what you've suggested saying is fine. You're going to have to tread carefully and manage her to keep her on your side and not make an enemy of her. You shouldn't have to, of course but in the real world many people end up as managers, despite not having the necessary skills.