NHS 'experience' opportunities
There are several facilities around the country that help give school and college students a taste of what it’s like to work for the NHS.
Some are facilities for school and college groups to visit and others are mobile units that can take simulation experiences to schools and colleges.
See the information below to see what's available.
Careers Hub
Careers Hub is based at five different sites across the north west: Lancaster, Preston, Chorley LIFE Centre, Blackburn and Blackpool.
It aims to:
- inspire people to join the NHS
- ‘grow our own’ future workforce
- fill recruitment gaps
- develop links with local schools, colleges and job centres
- support local careers and enterprise activities
- dispel myths about the NHS
- promote the wide range of careers and opportunities available in health and care
- encourage ‘self-care’ and healthy lifestyles
The Hub also runs projects such as skills clubs, recruitment and engagement events, insights weeks for 14-16 year olds, work experience, internships, traineeships and employability, pre-employment programmes, and programmes for veterans and members of the armed forces.
Information and contact
See information at local job centres, schools colleges and universities and on the Careers Hub website.
Email: [email protected]
HealthReach
HealthReach is a mobile outreach project that offers opportunities for primary, secondary and college students to experience working in healthcare through simulation.
Based at the University of Reading, HealthReach workshops are based on the national curriculum and use real-life case studies developed by health professionals to bring learning to life.
A range of exciting kit is used during the sessions to raise awareness of health and life science careers.
HealthReach sessions can be delivered at schools or colleges, or on the university campus.
Information and contact
Email: [email protected]
HealthTec Thames Valley
HealthTec Thames Valley gives learners of all ages the opportunity to gain hands-on insight into careers within the NHS and the social care sector. The facility provides:
- learning experiences through innovative, immersive and practical scenarios relevant to both the national curriculum and the health workforce
- quality careers education, information, advice and guidance about career pathways in the health and care sector
- basic lifesaving skills
Situated in a bespoke classroom at the Aylesbury Campus of the Buckinghamshire College Group, HealthTec is fully equipped with a state-of-the-art immersive classroom. Participants see different scenarios so they can experience a range of situations and practice their skills. Opportunities include a simulated care home setting to help participants develop empathy and practice caring for the elderly, seeing what happens in an ambulance on the way to hospital, and experiencing life on a hospital ward.
Information and contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07850 917544
Joined Up Careers, Derbyshire
Joined Up Careers offers a range of online and in person experience opportunities in the Derbyshire area. There's a rolling programme of opportunities throughout the year to help students can gain experience of:
- administration
- midwifery
- medicine
- nursing
- orthoptics
- dental technology
- clinical engineering
Information and contact
Check the Joined Up Careers website to see what's on offer.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01629 532415
Learn Live broadcasts
Learn Live is a series of 20-30 minute broadcasts that can be watched live or on demand to showcase different careers. Each web-based broadcast focuses on a particular topic and includes a Q&A-style interview with a practitioner.
Students can email questions to be asked as part of live interviews. And on demand broadcasts are currently available covering:
- South East Coast Ambulance Service
- pharmacy
- Brighton Medical School
- nursing
- operating department practice
- psychology
- mental health
- midwifery
- radiology
- engineering
- social care
Information and contact
LIFE Centre
LIFE Centre in Lancashire is a purpose-built facility to inspire local people to consider a career in health and support health and wellbeing. Available for people aged five and above, it is designed to include practical-based teaching and state-of-the-art VR and AV technology.
Education providers and NHS organisations in Lancashire can book to run lessons and training sessions. LIFE staff ensure the facility is prepared for sessions and can be booked to provide teaching session ideas and lesson plans.
Information and contact
Phone: 01772 524310
Email: [email protected]
Lincolnshire Talent Academy
The Lincolnshire Talent Academy provides information to those interested in health and care careers and supports work experience placements in a wide range of settings across Lincolnshire.
Lincolnshire Talent Academy website
NHS Futures Zone
NHS Futures Zone is an interactive clinical skills suite and training room run by Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
The Zone provides all sorts of interactive sessions, including Discover the NHS week, communication and customer care, patient observations, Dementia Friends and emergency department scenarios.
The facility is primarily for schools and academies to inspire young people to choose an NHS career, but can also accommodate colleges, community organisations, unemployed people and minority groups.
Information and contact
Phone: 07788 603856 or 01902 554424
Email: [email protected]