Careers in health
Useful Links
https://studyinghealthcare.ac.uk/
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/browse-sector/healthcare
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/healthcare/public-health-careers
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/health-studies
https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/arrangements.htm
North West NHS Careers : https://nhscareersnw.co.uk/
Click the buttons for related career information:
Across Lancashire & South Cumbria the local NHS Trusts have been creating an online platform :
The new E-Learning element (Aspire - My future. My NHS and Care Career) will be live from 1st January 2023. They will have a variety of courses available detailing NHS Careers, Apprenticeships, Pathways plus much more.
Health careers
What areas of healthcare can I work in?
Employment opportunities can be grouped into:
allied health (e.g. physiotherapy, radiography, and occupational therapy)
ambulance services
complementary therapies
dentistry
health informatics
health promotion
healthcare administration and management
healthcare science (e.g. clinical engineering, biomedical science, and pathology)
medical equipment sales
medicine (e.g. doctors, surgeons, and GPs)
medical research
midwifery
nursing
nutrition and diet
optometry and opticians
pharmacy
psychological therapies.
There are over 350 different NHS careers and everyone makes a difference to people's lives every day.
It doesn't matter whether you’re still in education, thinking about switching your career or already working in health, you'll get the information you need. You'll also find real-life stories and films of those already working in health.
Unsure of what you'd like to do in the future in a health career ?
Try the NHS Quiz :
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/FindYourCareer
350 careers. One NHS.
Your future.
Careers help - work experience/ online training
ALL health related careers now REQUIRE or are encourage APPLICANTS TO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN A CARING OR SERVICE ROLE, EITHER PAID OR VOLUNTARILY, IN HEALTH OR RELATED FIELD, AS WELL AS DIRECT OBSERVATION HEALTHCARE.
YOU CAN GET A PLACEMENT IN A RANGE OF HEALTHCARE SETTINGS, SUCH AS A GP PRACTICE, HOSPITAL OR EVEN INTERNATIONALLY. KEEP IN MIND THAT IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME. YOU MAY NEED TO APPLY TO MANY PLACES BEFORE YOU GET A POSITIVE RESPONSE.
Ideas you can do locally.
Community based volunteering
https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
https://www.sja.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/
https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/volunteer
https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering-and-participating/
https://www.gov.uk/volunteering
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/support-us/volunteer-with-us/
https://volunteer.volunteercentrebwf.org.uk/
Hospital placements
Online courses
Spring Pod virtual course
Community ideas
https://new.fylde.gov.uk/volunteering-opportunities-in-fylde/
https://www.sja.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/
https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/our-services/volunteers/
https://www.trinityhospice.co.uk/ - palliative, end of life care
Blackpool Victoria Hospital are currently asking students to apply for a range of work experience opportunities directly.
Please email requests to bfwh.apprenticeandworkexperience@nhs.net with a brief explanation of what you are looking for and what you would like to gain out of your placement, stating a preferred date and location for you application.
Job Profiles
Click below for relevant job profiles (A-Z) & work placement help.
For more job profiles : have a look on the NHS website : https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles
Prospects Health roles: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/browse-sector/healthcare
Employers
Taken from Prospects 2021
You could work in the National Health Service (NHS), private healthcare or private/non-profit organisations in a range of settings including:
care homes or hospices
community healthcare (e.g. doctors' surgeries, dental surgeries, health clinics)
hospitals
medical laboratories
people's homes.
In large organisations such as the NHS and private healthcare providers such as Bupa, there are also jobs for graduates in:
customer care
finance
hospitality
human resources (HR)
IT
legal services
marketing
procurement
sales.
Alternatively you might consider health-related roles in the science and pharmaceuticals or leisure, sport and tourism sectors.
The main Graduate employers include:
The largest employer in the UK healthcare sector is the NHS, which employs more than 1.5 million people - placing it in the top five largest workforces in the world. There are more than 350 different roles available within the NHS.
A significant proportion of the sector's workforce is in independent healthcare. In addition to their private sector functions, these providers are increasingly contracted to provide services on behalf of the NHS.
Independent healthcare organisations include:
Bupa
BMI Healthcare
Care UK
Ramsay Health Care UK
Spire Healthcare.
Voluntary and non-profit organisations in the healthcare sector include:
British Red Cross
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) UK
Nuffield Health
Save the Children
Sue Ryder.
Interview Help
If your role will be based within the NHS, ensure you are aware of the NHS and their values.
The six values in the NHS Constitution are:
Working together for patients
Respect and dignity
Commitment to quality care
Compassion
Improving lives
Everyone counts
TEST YOUR VALUES WITH AN E-TOOL
Health Education England has a free online tool to champion the values and behaviours of the NHS. The tool will show you some videos of staff working in various situations and ask you questions about how you would have handled the same situation. You'll then get an assessment report to show you how you've done.
Try out the tool for yourself.
https://www.nhsemployers.org/sites/default/files/media/VBR-Behaviour-framework_0.pdf
How to prepare for your interview
For specialist interview advice - please use the job profile pages above or check out the Higher Education Interview page for more information.
Top tips:
Be on time! Make sure you know where you need to be and how to get there with plenty of time to spare.
Bring all documentation they have asked you to take with you.
Dress appropriately - remember, this is an interview for a professional role.
Research the employer/ company/ institution you will be working for.
Re-read your application form
Be clear about why you want to do this particular role.
Be ready to answer questions about the profession – brief yourself on current issues. Check current news related to the profession you are hoping to go into.
Be ready to answer questions about the role and skills needed.
What are your core values and how do you display these values – read NHS England’s Compassion in Practice.
Be yourself! Be confident ! Good luck!
Researching for interview
It is also important to understand the UK demographic.
Which hospitals specialise within particular treatments for example ?
Demographics of a hospital
https://network.healthwatch.co.uk/guidance/2022-04-06/using-demographic-data
https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/Patient-safety-and-human-factors
https://www.england.nhs.uk/integratedcare/what-is-integrated-care/phm/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/nqb-hum-fact-concord.pdf
Main conditions which would be useful to understand
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health-services/nhs/a4502/a-to-z-of-hospital-departments/
Hospital specialisms.
https://www.expatica.com/uk/healthcare/healthcare-services/uk-hospitals-1095642/#hospitals
https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=103
Is you interview being conducted as a MMI (Multi- Mini interview) ?
Click the link to the right for guidance on this.
BEST UNIVERSITIES FOR HEALTH RELATED COURSES
Professional Bodies
Regulators in England
Care Quality Commission (CQC) - In England, the CQC is the independent regulator for the quality and safety of care. This includes the care provided by the NHS, local authorities, independent providers and voluntary organisations in registered settings. CQC register most but not all types of care.
They regulate:
Providers of healthcare services to people of all ages, including hospitals, ambulance services, clinics, community services, mental health services and other registered locations, including dental and GP practices.
Providers of social care services for adults in care homes (where nursing or personal care is provided), in the community and in people's own homes.
Providers of services for people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act.
UK-wide regulators
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) - The MHRA is a government agency that is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. It is an executive agency of the Department of Health. The MHRA is responsible for the regulation of medicines and medical devices and equipment used in healthcare and the investigation of harmful incidents. The MHRA also looks after blood and blood products, working with UK blood services, healthcare providers, and other relevant organisations to improve blood quality and safety.
Professional bodies
In addition to these regulators, there are also professional regulatory bodies who aim to ensure that proper standards are maintained by health and social care professionals and act when they are not. In order to practice in the UK, professionals are required to register with the appropriate body.
These bodies fulfil similar functions for different professions across the UK. Their main duties are to:
maintain an up-to-date register of professionals;
set and maintain standards for education, training and conduct; and,
investigate when these standards are not met or when a professional's fitness to practise is in doubt.
A summary of the professions covered by each body follows. For further information on their role, please check their websites:
Healthcare Professional bodies
General Medical Council (GMC) - The GMC regulates doctors. HSE has a Memorandum of Understanding with the GMC (PDF) which is an agreed framework for co-operation and collaboration between the two organisations. The Memorandum sets out the respective roles and responsibilities and outlines mechanisms in place for effective liaison relationships
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) - The NMC regulates nurses and midwives
General Dental Council (GDC) - The GDC regulates dental professionals in the UK. This includes dentists, dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists.
General Optical Council (GOC) - The GOC regulates optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses.
General Chiropractic Council (GCC) -The GCC regulates chiropractors.
General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) -The GOsC regulates osteopaths.
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) - The GPC is the regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises in Great Britain.
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) The HCPC regulates 15 healthcare professionals: arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists / podiatrists, clinical scientists, dieticians, hearing aid dispensers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists / orthotists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists. From 1st August 2012, the HCPC also assumed responsibility for regulating social workers in England.
The work of these professional bodies is regulated by the Professional Standards Authority (previously known as the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence). This authority aims to protect the health and well-being of patients and the public by scrutinising and overseeing the work of regulatory bodies that set standards for training and conduct of health and care professionals.
Social Care Professional bodies
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) - The HCPC is the regulator of the social work profession and social work education in England.
Social Care Wales (SCW) - The SCW is the social care workforce regulator in Wales.
Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) - The SSSC is the regulator of the social work profession and social work education in Scotland.
Career videos
For videos related to health check out the NHS YouTube channel below:
https://www.youtube.com/user/NHSCareers