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. Neurologist

    Neurologists diagnose, treat and manage conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord, and disorders of the nerves and muscles that activate movement and transmit sensations from around the body to the brain. 

    Training usually starts with a five year first degree in medicine. You’ll then complete two years of foundation training, two years of core training (CT1-2) and four years of specialty training (ST3-6).
    Doctors may work up to 48 hours a week. The working hours may sometimes extend beyond the normal working day including early mornings, evenings, weekends and on call. The basic salary ranges from £29,384 to £34,012. Once you start your specialty training as a neurologist employed by the NHS, you can expect to earn a salary of at least £40,257, which can increase to between £84,559 and £114,003 as a consultant.
    You'll need excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families. You'll be emotionally resilient, have excellent problem-solving and diagnostic skills and work well in teams and under pressure. You'll also be very organised for the benefit of patients.
    In 2020 there were 207 applications for 50 specialty training places. You could specialise or conduct research in areas such as stroke medicine, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), sleep medicine or pain management. You could teach medical or postgraduate students or get involved in research.
  2. Chef/cook

    Chefs and cooks are responsible for cooking food in NHS hospitals and other services making sure our patients and staff have highly nutritious, high quality food.  

    To enter the NHS as a cook or chef, you need a catering qualification, usually at level 2 or 3. Employers also expect catering experience. Some cooks or chefs enter the NHS as catering assistants and take qualifications while they are working. There are no set entry requirements for catering assistants. Employers expect a good standard of numeracy and literacy and may ask for GCSEs in English and maths. It would be an advantage to have some experience of catering or customer service. If you join the NHS as a cook or chef you are likely to have opportunities to take further qualifications. You may also be expected to go on short courses in particular topics such as cooking for special diets. As a catering assistant, you will be trained in food hygiene, health and safety and manual handling. You will be encouraged to take qualifications in catering and customers service.
    Cooks, chefs and assistants working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. As an assistant/catering support worker, you would typically start at the bottom of AfC band 2 and higher points of band 2 as a cook or chef. With further training and experience, you could apply for team leader positions at bands 3 and above. Cooks, chefs and assistants in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. They may work shifts including early starts, evenings, nights and weekends. Terms and conditions will usually be different for cooks, chefs and assistants working outside of the NHS.
    Chefs, cooks and assistants need to be interested in food and cooking, willing to work in hot, noisy conditions, physically fit for standing, moving and lifting, flexible and adaptable and keen to provide good customer service. They also need awareness of food hygiene and food safety, team working and organisational skills.
    With experience, catering assistants can become team leaders, supervising the work of a team of assistants. With further experience and qualifications, they can progress to become catering managers. They could move into other areas such as facilities management or housekeeping. Chefs and cooks can progress by working in larger kitchens. With experience, they could become assistant head chefs or cooks, supervising the work of a team in the kitchen. They could progress further to become a head chef or cook running a kitchen.
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