Job dilemma for friend in late 40's. Reflexology?
Discussion
A friend of my wife and I is in a rubbish situation.
Since suffering a break down and stint in hospital around 5 years ago, she has been out of work and not really in a fit state to cope with working at all. Now though, she is under regular threat to have her benefits removed due to the way mental health benefits are assessed (I'll make it clear she is by no means comfortable as it is and under financial pressure which obviously makes health problems worse with the stress).
Please reserve any judgements about benefits and government help - all that aside (let's just focus on the job situation here), she would need a fairly stress free way, due to mental health problems, perhaps working alone with no 'boss' as such, of earning a minimum of £15,000 per year.
Previous work includes construction company director, beauty therapist and warehouse worker, so a varied skill set!
When visiting a chiropractor recently, the person giving the treatment told our friend that they often get asked about reflexology and suggested it would be a good thing to learn which she is actually very interested in.
Are there any more suggestions for a way back in to work which won't induce too much stress and would pay all the bills? A short and cheap-ish course or courses are possible with the help of friends and family. A reasonably steady income is needed as she is single and although her rent is cheap it all still needs paying every month! So casual suitable work like dog walking isn't really ideal..
Sadly the job centre and MH team have been useless and are next to no help in trying to get her fit for and back in to suitable employment unfortunately.
Any suggestions on avenues to pursue would be great as we're not great at this sort of thing but I'd love to be some help... in all our friend is a very bright and capable person but having been through the mill in life could do with a little hand up - and I'm sure getting back to work would give a needed sense of purpose and distract from other worries of every day life, I certainly know I worry about things a lot more when I have too much time on my hands!
Your replies and thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks
Since suffering a break down and stint in hospital around 5 years ago, she has been out of work and not really in a fit state to cope with working at all. Now though, she is under regular threat to have her benefits removed due to the way mental health benefits are assessed (I'll make it clear she is by no means comfortable as it is and under financial pressure which obviously makes health problems worse with the stress).
Please reserve any judgements about benefits and government help - all that aside (let's just focus on the job situation here), she would need a fairly stress free way, due to mental health problems, perhaps working alone with no 'boss' as such, of earning a minimum of £15,000 per year.
Previous work includes construction company director, beauty therapist and warehouse worker, so a varied skill set!
When visiting a chiropractor recently, the person giving the treatment told our friend that they often get asked about reflexology and suggested it would be a good thing to learn which she is actually very interested in.
Are there any more suggestions for a way back in to work which won't induce too much stress and would pay all the bills? A short and cheap-ish course or courses are possible with the help of friends and family. A reasonably steady income is needed as she is single and although her rent is cheap it all still needs paying every month! So casual suitable work like dog walking isn't really ideal..
Sadly the job centre and MH team have been useless and are next to no help in trying to get her fit for and back in to suitable employment unfortunately.
Any suggestions on avenues to pursue would be great as we're not great at this sort of thing but I'd love to be some help... in all our friend is a very bright and capable person but having been through the mill in life could do with a little hand up - and I'm sure getting back to work would give a needed sense of purpose and distract from other worries of every day life, I certainly know I worry about things a lot more when I have too much time on my hands!
Your replies and thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks
Edited by Farmer Geddon on Tuesday 25th July 16:48
Thank you for all your replies!
Fortunately, our friend has had a stroke of luck. Another friend of hers has put in a good word for her and she's now got a job learning phlebotomy and doing some tests in a lab or something or other.
Sounds pretty suitable and quite low stress so she's happy.
Cheers
Fortunately, our friend has had a stroke of luck. Another friend of hers has put in a good word for her and she's now got a job learning phlebotomy and doing some tests in a lab or something or other.
Sounds pretty suitable and quite low stress so she's happy.
Cheers
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