Work experience

Work experience is an opportunity for a placement within a real life workplace setting. It is all about giving you an insight into the world of work.

Work experience helps people to prepare for professional study and their future career. It allows those on placement to see what the job is really like, understand the demands of job roles and careers and to find out if it is suited to them.

It gives participants the opportunity to understand, develop and demonstrate the values, attitudes and behaviours necessary to work in the NHS.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust currently offers short-term work experience opportunities for people aged 16 years and over. The maximum duration is two weeks, subject to placement availability.

What are the benefits of work experience in the NHS?

For the individual:

• Helps you to understand specific job roles and careers, including how roles function as part of a wider multidisciplinary team.

   

• Offers insight to help you navigate your own career path.

• Develops your confidence and soft skills, including communication, teamwork and resilience.

• Work Experience can help enhance your CV to support university or employment applications.

For the employer:

• Attract motivated people of all ages, promoting diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

• Improve future interest in the organisation as a place to work.

• Improved engagement with the local community.

• An opportunity to positively influence people’s career choices and support workforce growth for the future.

350 Careers to choose from

Did you know that there are 350 different careers available within the NHS – with a career to suit everyone’s interests, knowledge and skills? 

If you’re interested in a career within the NHS and are looking for work experience, you may already know which job role or career pathway is right for you. However, if you’re not quite sure yet there is information available about the many different careers, including a careers quiz to help you find your future: 

• Health careers website
• Take the NHS careers quiz

Getting a work experience placement

When applying for work experience please take the following into consideration:

• Ensure you are 16 or over on the date of submitting the application
• Ensure you consider travel arrangements
• You must allow a month’s notice before your requested start date for us to process the application
• Ensure all fields are completed on the application, otherwise it will be automatically declined
• Submit specific dates so we can check these with the department requested
• If you are declined for dates, we encourage you to reapply with new dates

To register your interest, please complete the online application form.

Once we have received your application, you will be contacted by a member of the education team, who will be able to let you know if we can offer you a placement.

Examples of placements currently available at North Tees, subject to availability:

• Radiology (18 years and over)
• Endoscopy (18 years and over)
• Medicine wards
• Surgical wards
• Cardiology
• Pharmacy
• Orthopaedics
• Outpatients
• Finance

Please note that we do not provide work experience within the following areas and there are no exceptions to this:

• Paediatrics
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Radiology for individuals under 18 years of age
• A&E and urgent care
• Intensive care
• Theatre
• Physiatry
• Mortuary
• Admin

All work experience placements are offered as an observation-only experience.

The application process

Stage 1

The applicant completes an online application form.

Stage 2

• The application form is received and reviewed by our career and development team.
• Our team will scope potential opportunities in our hospital relating to your specific request.
• The applicant will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.
• If a placement is available, additional required forms will be sent to the applicant for completion. This will include a confidentiality agreement, confidential health form and a parental consent form (if under 18). We also require a copy of photo ID. Forms should be returned within one week of receiving them.

Stage 3

Once all forms are received and reviewed a placement will be confirmed with the applicant and they will be given further information on next steps.

Expectations

While you are on placement we will:

• Provide you with an immersive experience that offers valuable insight into what it is like to work within the NHS.

• Include you and treat you with dignity and respect in line with the values outlined in our Customer Care Charter.

• Provide supervision and support at all times to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.

While on work experience placement you will:

• Dress in a manner that promotes trust and confidence in the professionalism of the NHS, including being ‘bare below the elbows’ if working or entering a clinical setting. This means no wrist watches or wrist jewellery, no stoned rings (one plain band permitted), no nail polish or false/gel nails and short sleeves or sleeves rolled up above the elbow.

• Be aware of the Trust’s Customer Care Charter and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the values outlined within the Charter.

• Listen to and follow the instruction of your supervisor at all times, adhering to all rules and regulations outlined by your placement area.

• Maintain confidentiality at all times, this includes for patients, members of staff and the organisation more broadly. Any breach of this will result in immediate termination of your placement.

• To be punctual and inform your placement area of any concerns or problems you may have.