Compare roles in health

Not sure where to start with the hundreds of NHS careers? Use our compare roles section to get bite-size information on the entry requirements and training, pay and conditions, prospects and skills needed of up to three roles. If there is something that you think you could do, then get more in-depth information on the role.

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  1. Communications/public relations staff

    Communications and public relations (PR) staff help NHS organisations engage with patients, their local communities, staff and other interested groups including the media.

    Although there is no set entry route, communications and PR staff often have a relevant qualification. This could be in PR, marketing, journalism or communications, often at degree level. Employers may expect experience, which could be paid or voluntary. It may be possible to gain experience in an admin job in a communications department. When you start the job, you'll be given the training you need including an introduction to the department and its systems and procedures. You'll be expected to keep your knowledge and skills up to date. Your employer may offer you the chance to go on short courses on particular topics (eg social media, web development, etc) and you may take further professional qualifications in communication, marketing and PR.
    Communications and PR staff working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You will typically start in a position on AfC band 2 or 3. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions at bands 4 and 5. Senior managers will be paid more. Communications and PR staff in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. They may have to attend meetings or events in the evenings or at weekends. Some may be part of an on-call rota for media enquiries. Terms and conditions will usually be different for clinical support staff working outside of the NHS.
    Working in communications and PR, you'll staff need to be creative, able to communicate messages clearly, willing to work under pressure, accurate, with an eye for detail and able to deal with sensitive situations. You'll also need excellent writing skills, excellent speaking and presentation skills, good networking, research and social media skills.
    With experience, communications and PR staff can progress to become managers of a department or area. With further experience they could become a director of communications, responsible for all communications and PR in an organisation. There may also be opportunities to work outside the NHS.
  2. Clinical exercise physiologist

    Clinical exercise physiologists are responsible for prescribing and delivering evidence-based exercise to help patients prevent, treat and manage their long-term conditions. 

    You'll need a first degree in a relevant subject to do an exercise physiology master's degree, for example sport and exercise science, science or a related discipline. The clinical exercise physiology master's degree is one year long.
    As a clinical exercise physiologist registered with the Academy of Healthcare Science, you'll usually be paid at band 6 of the Agenda for Change payscales. You will usually work regular, daytime hours.
    You'll have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a calm, confident and sympathetic approach. You'll be comfortable using technology and complex equipment and be able to work under direction, in a team and independently. You'll have good attention to detail and an interest in exercise and fitness.
    With further training and/or experience, you can progress into specialist areas, management, research or teaching. You could also consider becoming a registered clinical scientist in one of the physiological sciences by applying to the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP).
  3. Youth intensive psychological practitioner 

    Youth intensive psychological practitioners provide psychological assessment and psychologically informed interventions support for young people (13–17 years old) with severe mental health problems.

    You need a willingness to work in a hopeful and productive way with young people with severe and complex mental health needs. For a place on the programme, you need to either have a first degree in psychology or have completed a course that confers graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
    While training, you’ll typically spend one day a week remote studying at university (45 days in total) and the rest of your time (four days a week) working in or undertaking specific training tasks in your placement setting.
    You’ll want to work closely with children, young people, their families and carers at some of the most difficult times in their lives. You’ll have a resilient character, excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusting and productive relationships with a wide range of people. You'll work well within a multidisciplinary team and be able to work independently where appropriate.
    You could progress to a specialist role in the psychological professions, for example in clinical psychology or cognitive behavioural therapy, or retrain in another mental healthcare professional role such as nursing or the allied health professions.
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