Work experience at First Community Health and Care
If you are interested in a career in healthcare, our work experience provides students the chance to gain insight from experienced professionals, build confidence, and find out more about the many opportunities available within the NHS and community healthcare.
Key information
- Students must be 16 years old to complete work experience in a patient facing area.
- The placement duration is usually 1-5 days depending on service and availability.
- To apply please email fchc.workexperience1@nhs.net, we will do our best to support work experience requests but cannot guarantee availability.
- Work experience will take place at one of the following sites:
| Services | Location |
| Corporate services Outpatient clinics: Physiotherapy, Speech & Language therapy and Podiatry |
Corporate services Outpatient clinics: Physiotherapy, Speech & Language therapy and Podiatry |
| Nursing (Adult) Pharmacy services Ward based: Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy and Speech & Language therapy Adult MSK physiotherapy in outpatient clinic Podiatry in outpatient clinic |
Caterham Dene Hospital Church Road, Caterham, CR3 5RA |
| Advanced Clinical Practice Nursing Work experience restricted to over 18's |
Minor Injury Unit Caterham Dene Hospital Church Road, Caterham, CR3 5RA |
| Outpatient clinics: Dietetics and Audiology | Crawley Hospital West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DR |
| Community nursing |
Unfortunately, our governance does not support work experience students to travel to patients homes in the community. Click here to find out more about community nursing: NHS Health Careers Nursing in the Community video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmDuX2-Jcow |
Resources to support career choice
Before choosing your future career, find more by:
- Completing work experience. You will gain valuable insight into the daily life of NHS staff which will help you understand if it's for you. You will also build confidence interacting with staff, patients and visitors.
- Attending career events to talk to practitioners. Find out what they love about the job, the challenges they face and why they recommend working within healthcare. Think through the questions you have and go prepared, we suggest some below.
- Researching, with the world at your fingertips, it is easy to access articles, presentations and research that will give you a better understanding of healthcare careers. The following NHS resources contain information on more than 350 careers available within healthcare and may help you decide on a future career:
Step into the NHS | help young people discover NHS careers
Step Into The NHS : Work experience
NHS England | Springpod - virtual work experience
Suggested questions to ask at career events:
- What inspired you to become a nurse / physiotherapist / dietician etc?
- What is the best thing about your job?
- What do you find challenging?
- Describe your typical day to me.
- What qualifications will I need to apply to study your career?
- Where did you study?
- What advice would you give to someone considering your career?
- Can you recommend any websites, books or resources that will help me understand the role?