Can I be prevented from taking another job?

You cannot be prevented from taking another job unless your written terms of employment contain a 'restrictive covenant' restraining or limiting your employment after you have terminated employment with your present employer.

Examples of such restrictions would be working for a direct competitor, or setting up in competition with your employer within a specified geographical area.

Such 'restraint of trade' clauses are only valid in law if they can be shown to be protecting legitimate business interests, be in the public interest and not unreasonably prevent you from earning a living

The only other circumstances are where you have been dismissed for serious misconduct from a particular occupation, which would be relevant to your continuing in the same employment.