Work Experience

Our Work Experience offer is closed

We will open again in early February 2025 for placement offers in June and July 2025. 

Thank you for taking the time to look into our Work Experience offer.

Many people consider the NHS as a clinical setting, with doctors and nurses and forget the “behind the scenes” people who all play an important role towards the functioning of the hospital and the care given to the patients.

We also offer placements within Allied Health Professionals roles. These are jobs within physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, speech and language therapy, orthotics, orthoptists, podiatry, the operating department or radiotherapy.

Did you know there are over 350 different job roles within the NHS!

Work experience is vital for young people from our local community giving them the opportunity to experience what it is like in a healthcare working environment.   This experience can help individuals decide on their future career pathway and assist with:

  • Broadening awareness of the numerous careers available within the NHS
  • Developing an understanding of a chosen career
  • Gaining transferable skills, such as communicating with others, that will be used within a wide range of job roles
  • Experiencing how working roles within the NHS are often much more complex
  • Strengthening college, university or job applications by allowing an individual to discuss work experiences on application forms and at interview

Please note at this Trust, we prioritise applications from individuals who live in and/or attend an educational setting within the Sandwell and West Birmingham catchment area.

  • Clinical Placements can be offered to students aged 16+
  • Non-clinical placements (such as admin/IT) can be offered to students aged 14 & 15

Placement restrictions for students at school age include (but not exhaustive):

Under 16s (14-15 year olds)16–18 year olds
No clinical areas
  • Major Resuscitation
  • Neonatal
  • Critical Care
  • Imaging/Radiography
  • Theatres
  • Mortuary
No unsupervised access to patient or staff records Students must not observe or participate in intimate patient examinations and consent must be gained for any other examinations.

Students must not be involved in:

  • Any activities for which specialised training is required i.e. Manual Handling
  • Any activity involving contact with clinical waste products/by products
  • Any activity, which may jeopardise the safety of patients or student
  • Inappropriate or unsupervised access to patient’s medical records or staff records.
  • Inappropriate or unsupervised access to computers
  • Any unsupervised contact with patients

Useful services: 

Youth Space Forum:
Swbh.engagement@nhs.net

Volunteers Service:
swbh.volunteer@nhs.net

Apprenticeships:
https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
Email: swbh.apprenticeship@nhs.net

NHS Jobs:
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk
https://apps.trac.jobs/

Employment Support:
Expression of Interest (office.com)