Do you think these hours are 'workable'......

[QueenOfQuotes]

ok so I'm looking for a part time job. Would love to do care work of some description (although I have experience), but anything would do really. Most of the daytime care jobs require own transport (which I don't have), or the hours aren't possible because of DH's working hours.

He works (roughly) 1.30-9pm (getting home at around 9.20pm) usually 5 days a week.

Just seen a job advertised for a Care Assistant NVQ level 2 "preferred" but not as essential. It's at a care home about 7 minutes walk from my house.......but (here's the snag) it's nights - 20-30hrs per week 2/3 nights from 7 between 9.45-7.30am.

I only "need" 5-6hrs sleep a night (usually go to bed around 1.30-2am, and get up around 7.30-8am) and survive quite happily on that - so I could sleep when I got back - and DS2 goes for his sleep from 1am (which DH could him down for) meaning I could sleep until nearly 3pm (if I wanted to).

Does anyone else here work a couple of nights a week - and is it 'do-able'??

[fqueenzebra]

I think it's doable, but you wouldn't see a lot of your dh. Would that be doable for your relationship??

[Donbean]

Yes its do~able. Works quite well actually.
That is of course if you are not disturbed by:
lawnmowers
car stereo's
reving cars
sales people knocking at the door/ringing the phone
DH popping in to "ask you something" grrrr
People talking outside your house
dogs barking.......etc etc etc.

Other than that night shift works realy quite well.

[QueenOfQuotes]

zebra - I think we'd survive - (in fact I'm sure we would - we need the money.

Donbean

Lawnmowers - never heard a single lawnmower from our bedroom, or dogs barking (can from the back bedrooms' but not from the front one)

car stereos/reving cars/people talking - get that every morning (even my 'lie-ins') as we live next to the school - never bothered me.

Door - I'm very adept at 'sleeping' throught the postie ringing the doorbell at 7am

Phone - can't hear it from the bedroom with the door shut.

DH popping in - he wouldn't - thankfully he's not that sort of man

[Donbean]

Then go for it girl!
Sounds good.

[expatinscotland]

Get some earplugs and go for it!

[Donbean]

Pesonally, i HATE nights, cant stand them, they make me feel ill. I work 2 nights when i have to do them and i try to split them up or work them at a weekend when dh is home so that i can go to bed for a few hours.
If i work in the week i cant go to bed so no wonder i feel ill!!!

[QueenOfQuotes]

might give them a ring them (got to pluck up the courage first - not 'great' with phone calls )

[QueenOfQuotes]

well.....I've called. Manager sounded pleasant enough -

She didn't sound too phased by me not having any qualifcations, but I have to go by later and pick up an application form (makes more sense than posting I guess being such a short walk away......wonder if she's heard my name before - she had an air of 'recognition' in her voice when I spelled it for her.....I think someone from church also works there - and I know for a fact some of the pastoral team often visit....hope he's not heard how scatty I am if she does recognise the name LOL).

Just had a thought - would it look really bad if I arrived there for the form with DS2 in his pushchair??? What if she wants a short chat?? OMG.....

[Redtartanlass]

QofQ - depending where you live you may be able to get funding for your Level 2 NVQ. Care homes have to have at least 50% of their staff qualified to L2, so they are usually keen to get staff trained up.

[QueenOfQuotes]

It says in the ad that training is available. I know that (in January) 14/18 staff either had/were working towards their NVQ level 2 (found their inspection report ) so hopefully I'll be able get training.

[Redtartanlass]

Oh sounds a good home, good luck ,you'll walk it!!!

[QueenOfQuotes]

I hope so....just to get to the interview stage would be nice - have sent of 4 applications (for sales assitants/customer service assitants) in town in recent weeks, 3 haven't even replied, and the other sent a 'sorry' letter.......

"day" shifts (ie mornings) would be ideal, but I'd be quite happy doing nights as I'd loved to work in the 'care' sector.

[Redtartanlass]

QofQ IMO, I think it's good practice to apply for loads of jobs, especially ones you don't want. It gives you great experience of interviews, so that when the job comes along that you really want, you will be more confident when you get an interview.

Especially if you've been out the job market for a while.

[QueenOfQuotes]

Oh I am, I'm applying for anything that fits into the hours I can work. Haven't had any experience of interviews yet though LOL.

As for being out of the job market a while.......I've never been in it in the UK

[Bozza]

Go for it Q0fQ - you sound great for the job. I don't think that turning up with the pushchair would be a negative. Two nights a week in a care home - its obvious most candidates would have something else in their life. Also shows that you have up to the minute experience in caring. Good luck!

[QueenOfQuotes]

well I've been an picked the form up, the manager had gone out, so one of the other workers answered the door and gave me the form. She seemed very friendly (but obviously working days I wouldn't work with her) but if the rest of the staff are that nice doesn't seem like too bad a place to work.

Form doesn't look too bad - but there's a massive section for "any other imformation you wish to give in support of your application" and the section for "Qualifications, Training (of which I have neither ), and/or relevant experience" (not sure I have any of that either ) is a sizeable piece of page too.

(do you think the fact that the average age of my church choir is 69, with the oldest member being 92 would help )

Also filled in an Argos application form while I was in town.

[Bozza]

So what have you done QofQ? What did you do while you were abroad? Have you got elderly relatives? Could you emphasise your caring role for your kids and your voluntary work? Its probably just a standard form so the same is used for pretty entry level work (2 night shifts) as for the manager.

[QueenOfQuotes]

Not a lot

I was teaching music while abroad. My mum isn't 'eldery' but she's got Parkison's disease - although also lives 200 miles from us.

It's daft, this is the first application form I've got for a job that I'd really like to do...but I aven't got a clue where to start as I've got experience

[Bozza]

So teaching - you have to get along with people, get the best out of them, sometimes be firm with them etc. You are a SAHM with two young children so you are used hard work, bodily fluids (don't put it quite like that! ), lack of co-operation etc. You do voluntary work (church choir) with elderly people and understand their perspective, interests etc. You are young and fit (for lifting etc) and get on with people. That sort of thing.