ELHT would like to share a new approach we have adopted to make meaningful work experience happen in both clinical and non-clinical areas.
We were aware that our work experience offering was in need of a revamp and at just one day didn’t offer a lot of value to the young people in our community. Equally we wanted to ensure that we attracted young people into our jobs and careers so we decided to start again…
We scoped good practice (thanks to Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Foundation Trust, Bridgewater Community Foundation Trust & NW Boroughs Healthcare for their invaluable advice) and came up with a plan!
Our proposal was for a work experience placement of one week – possibly two, across all areas of the organisation. All students have an induction, a tour of placement area, 3½ days on placement and finish with a feedback event.
The proposal was put to our four local colleges… who were keen to support…
The hard bit –making it happen
A sad fact of life was no additional resources could be found internally to fund a full-time band 4 post which would be needed to facilitate the placement but thankfully the colleges came to the rescue and agreed to jointly fund.
Pre-placement logistics (getting our plan together)
Two major learning points for us have been the importance of student selection – right values and behaviours and on the correct career pathway, and placement preparation. Staff will get hacked off with students who aren’t committed or say they don’t want to work in the area they are placed on. There is too much demand from genuine students to accommodate time wasters.
Application form link: Work Experience Application Form
They don’t need a DBS as they are never unsupervised but we do have to complete a health screen.
Some excellent placement plans:
Work experience uniform which everyone likes as it makes them easily identifiable.
Students get a passport which allows them to reflect on their learning and is fab evidence for their personal statements when applying to Uni…
Work Experience Passport link: Work Experience Passport
So What!
We really like what the students had to say…
- Did you achieve your learning outcomes? Yes 100 %
- Were you fully supervised and supported during placement? Yes 100%
- Overall, did you find the placement to be a worthwhile experience? Yes 100%
- Would you like to work at ELHT in the future? Yes 95.5%
“During my experience, I found it really interesting and very useful. Doctors, nurses, health care assistants and staff made sure that we were learning. It was a very inclusive environment, I learnt new things”
“A wonderful, successful experience which has helped me gain an insight into the NHS. Working in a variety of departments has played a part in finalising my future careers”
The law of unintended consequences (positive thankfully)
Staff were so impressed they can now employ students on the Bank during holidays. Managers have also developed apprenticeships which the work experience students have applied for and been appointed to.
Moving Forward
All colleges want to continue as do we and plans are being drawn up for next year.
We shared our programme with Sir Keith Pearson (Chair of Health Education England), who was really impressed at how the programme has inspired our local young people to consider NHS careers.
For further information please email: [email protected]