CAREERS IN HEALTH – STEP INTO THE NHS

Did you know there are over 300 different careers in the NHS? You can choose to work directly with patients or help to support other staff that do, in hospitals or in the community. To help you decide which NHS career may be for you, check out a new website, www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk It’ll help you work out how your interests and experiences could be used to their best effect, and give you all the information and ongoing support to get you into your ideal job. Caring for people?

Over 3 million people are treated in the NHS in England every week. Staff who have the most direct contact in treating and caring for people usually come from the following groups: nursing, midwifery, medicine, dentistry, the allied health professions and healthcare science. 70% of NHS staff come from these groups. There are also a wide range of roles, such as management, health informatics and the wider healthcare team. Although these have less direct contact with patients, they all make a very important contribution in the delivery of healthcare.

Science skills

Most staff who deliver direct care to patients use a knowledge of science to help provide the best and most effective care. Whilst a general understanding of science is useful for many of these careers (for example nursing), there are roles which involve a very detailed and in-depth knowledge of pure science, for example chemistry and physics.

Healthcare scientists, doctors, dentists and many of the allied health professions use their expert knowledge of science on a daily basis. In many other careers it is also possible to progress to advanced roles where science plays an increasingly important part.

Organising and managing?

The NHS, with 1.3 million staff, is the largest employer in Europe so it requires staff who have the skills and potential to organise and manage care for patients, and to make sure that all the supporting services the NHS needs are in place. This includes people, buildings, finances, information services, stores and supplies.

You can work in many of these areas without being a qualified clinical healthcare professional. Examples include management and estates and facilities.

Working with computers?

Health informatics is used widely throughout the NHS. Most staff will come into contact with computers, however there are some specialist careers where computers are used regularly and to an advanced level in the management of information. Health informatics brings together careers which include IT technical support, health records, knowledge management (such as library services) and statistical roles.

Entry levels

Below are three examples, one explaining ways to become a biomedical scientist, another, a pathway into physiotherapy, and finally, how to get into information analysis. But remember, the great thing about the NHS is that the organisation welcomes and supports everyone whether they have already achieved an education to degree level or are coming straight from school. Visit www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk for more details about joining some of the other healthcare professions.

Becoming a biomedical scientist

A day as a biomedical scientist: You work in the laboratory at your local NHS hospital, and today you're on the Saturday-night shift - starting work at 6pm. Your first task is to test the blood of a critically ill patient in need of a transfusion, and you work with the latest high-tech medical equipment to determine the correct blood type as fast as possible. As you specialise in transfusion science, the rest of your shift is spent testing the blood types of patients requiring transfusions, and preparing the donated blood they'll be given. You enjoy providing doctors and surgeons with vital information and materials - and knowing that every day you help to save lives

What's next after A level and beyond?

You'll usually need three A levels (or the equivalent), preferably including chemistry and biology. Then you can begin a degree course in biomedical science at university. A relevant BTEC or GNVQ may also be accepted by some universities - it's vital to check the requirements of individual institutions well in advance.

Preparing to be a physiotherapist

A day as a physiotherapist: You work in the community visiting all sorts of patients in nursing homes, special schools and their own residences. Your day begins visiting the home of a patient with learning difficulties. You assess his current mobility and design a programme of special exercises for him which will help him improve his movement. You also talk to his carer about the benefit of the exercises and how they will improve his mobility in the future. Later, you visit a nursing home and check the progress of an elderly resident who has recently suffered a stroke and finds walking difficult. You have been working with her for the past few weeks and are pleased to see that the treatment you designed have helped improve her movement.

What's next after A level and beyond?

After achieving a minimum of two A levels (or the equivalent), you'll need to apply for a three or four-year university-based course. Different courses favour different qualifications, so it's essential to check entry requirements when considering a future university.

Get into information analysis

A day as an information analyst: You work at your local NHS hospital, researching facts and figures to check national healthcare standards are being met in your area. Today, you're researching patient waiting times, gathering facts and statistics from staff reports and computer records. You use a statistical computer program to read the data, so you can easily see patterns and possible data-collection errors. Then you write up patient-waiting-time trends in a report, and check your hospital meets national healthcare standards. You discover patients are waiting much longer for some treatments than others, and email senior members of staff to make them aware of this trend. You enjoy using your skills to make sure healthcare standards are met, and like working regular 9-5 hours.

What's next after A level and beyond?

Ideally, you should be working towards at least two A levels (or the equivalent), and applying for a degree in statistical analysis or other relevant subject. Check university prospectuses well in advance for details of courses and entry requirements.

Benefits of working in the NHS

Everyone who joins the NHS is guaranteed a salary that matches their ability and responsibilities, and given every opportunity to increase it through training and development. On top of your basic salary, you will receive at least 27 days’ holiday each year, plus a range of other benefits including occupational health and counselling services. To find out which career in the NHS would suit your personality and skills, visit www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk or call 0845 60 60 655.