Student programmes

We have some interesting opportunities for students in high school, sixth form, college or post graduate education to experience working life in a variety of areas in our hospital.

Student volunteer placements

Our student volunteer programme is an excellent opportunity for sixth form and college students to regularly volunteer on a busy ward helping ward staff and patients at mealtimes. This is especially useful for any student considering a career in healthcare or hoping to study medicine at university.

We offer approximately 30 placements a year. 

Students will be required to commit to 50 hours volunteering (at least a two hour session once a week, until 50 hours are completed) This allows students to become a valuable member of the ward team, giving them an immersive and rewarding volunteer experience, while avoiding students having to volunteer during their school exams. 

Due to the high demand for our student volunteer opportunities we do have a selection process and this is based on the information from your personal statement. All enquiries must come from the student themselves - we are unable to give information to tutor/friends or family unless extra support is needed.

Volunteering at a hospital benefits the volunteer, the patients, the families, and the hospital workers. The volunteer often benefits from meeting new people, learning new skills, gaining experience and improving self-worth. Meeting new people helps improve social skills and increases the individual's social network.

If you'd like to apply, please complete our form and send it to Volunteer.Services@wsh.nhs.uk.

If you are aged 16-17, please ensure the relevant areas of the form are signed by a parent/guardian and your Year Head/Tutor. 

You must be aged 16+ to apply. If you are aged 18+ and aren't a sixth form or college student, please visit our main volunteering page. 

If successful after interview, you will be required to complete a DBS check and undergo health screening, which will all be online. The charge for the DBS will be £23.

Here are some guidance notes on how to apply.

Clinical shadowing

Clinical shadowing placements are available to students with an interest in healthcare over the age of 16, in sixth form, college or post graduate education. For one or two days students can observe doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in their day-to-day setting.

Clinical shadowing will give you a taste of what it is like to work in healthcare, whether this is with a doctor, nurse or physiotherapist. You will see how their work impacts patients, other staff and see the day to day life of their profession. These skills can help you with further studies, help boost your university applications and will be useful in your future career and life in general.

Clinical shadowing is a very popular opportunity and due to high demand in certain opportunities places are limited.

Please email Volunteer.Services@wsh.nhs.uk for confirmation that the clinical shadowing opportunity you are interested in is currently available prior to applying.

To apply. please download, complete and return the application pack.

Work experience in non-clinical areas

One week hands on work experience placements are available in non-clinical areas between Monday and Friday only to year 10 and 11 students, offering a great opportunity to see first-hand how a hospital runs behind the scenes. These placements will be offered in non-clinical departments such as human resources and communications, the medical library and the estates and facilities department. Please be aware that spaces are limited.

You will be able to:

• gain a realistic awareness of the everyday realities of life in the health service
• acquire knowledge about your own abilities and limitations
• learn how to communicate well with all sorts of different people
• take responsibility for your learning and plan future goals.

Please note work experience placements are not appropriate if you are looking for experience in medicine, nursing, or Health care departments. If you are 16 or over, you can apply for a clinical shadowing placement as detailed above.

For an application pack, please click here.

T-Level Industry Placements 

The Trust will work with education training providers to offer placements where possible. The hours that students complete and the location of placement area will be dependent on their chosen industry and will be course specific.

Other College/University courses requiring clinical placements

The Trust will work with education training providers to offer placements where possible. The hours that students complete and the location of placement area will be course specific.

Pharmacy placements for undergraduates

We offer short vacation placements to second and third year pharmacy undergraduate students during the Easter and Summer holidays. This will give you an opportunity to meet the team and find out about working in our pharmacy department. To apply please send a cover letter and a current CV to jenny.hannah@wsh.nhs.uk

Medical students

If you are already a medical student and are looking for clinical or elective attachments, please contact post graduate medical education:

Telephone: 01284 712679 or email ann.southgate@wsh.nhs.uk

Contact the team

For more information please email: Volunteer.Services@wsh.nhs.uk or telephone: 01284 713169.

Location

Volunteer services is in the main entrance at the front of the hospital and is open Monday to Friday, 8.00am - 4.30pm.