As part of its Step into the NHS campaign, NHS Careers is supporting teachers and schools in raising awareness of the 350 plus careers in the NHS by launching new lesson plans and work experience packs.
The lesson plans are the next phase of the 'Step into the NHS' campaign to get 14-19 year olds thinking about careers in the NHS. The ten activities are interactive, and use the games and videos from the 'Step into the NHS' website, including a career mapper. Not only are they suitable for careers lessons, but can be used in English, Drama, Citizenship, PSHE and the new Society, Health and Development diploma to be launched in September.
NHS Careers has also launched a pack to support schools, colleges and universities in setting up and improving work experience programmes with the NHS. It follows anecdotal evidence suggesting some NHS trusts are not providing enough work experience opportunities for students. It is also available on the teachers and career advisers section of the website. It helps schools, colleges and universities to better understand the NHS and its processes. There are also examples of best practice and templates to support starting up a work experience programme.
A toolkit has also been produced for NHS trusts and is available on the NHS Employers website (see below). As well as offering support, it dispels the associated myths with offering work experience, such as patient confidentiality problems, the need for CRB checks and special insurance for students.
'Step into the NHS' was launched in June 2007 to raise awareness of the 350 careers in the NHS amongst 14-19 year olds. Research with 500 teenagers registered with the website shows 93% said it made them think more seriously about a career in the NHS with 80% saying it is because they can make a difference.
More information;
www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk
www.nhsemployers.org/workexperience | 
