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Work Experience

Explore your future career in Health and Care

We are not just doctors and nurses

The people who work in our teams make a positive difference each and every day.

There are over 350 different careers within the NHS, each with a vital role to play in delivering high quality, compassionate care, from healthcare assistants to business managers, estates to IT, allied health professionals to healthcare scientists and so much more! 

Work experience provides you with a valuable introduction to careers in health and care, and the opportunity to develop your understanding of the sector and the career pathway you may like to pursue.

If you are unsure what your future could be, we recommend that you take time to visit the NHS Careers website to help you decide.

We are proud to offer opportunities for students and young people looking to gain an insight into the broad range of careers within the IOW NHS Trust.


Work Experience is an introductory experience to careers in the health and care sector.

Who can apply?
  • You must be at least 16 years old and in Year 12+ (or equivalent) when you start your placement.
  • We give priority to:
    • Students aged 16-19 (or up to 25 with an EHCP) living on the Isle of Wight and studying at a local sixth form or Further Education college.
    • Young people living on the Isle of Wight aged 16-19 (or up to 25 with an EHCP) on a recognised training programme or being supported into work (e.g. Island Futures). 
  • While we do our best to fulfil as many requests as possible, we have a limited capacity and cannot guarantee placements. We may pause applications if we reach capacity.
  • If you have any questions, please email iownt.careers-work.experience@nhs.net
  • Applicants under the age of 18 must have permission from a parent/carer to participate in workplace shadowing.
What roles can I experience?

Below is a list of departments who are currently participating in our work experience programme:

  • Pharmacy - Healthcare science
  • Cardiology - Healthcare science
  • Central booking service - Customer service
  • Medical devices - Engineering and electronics

Please note, that placements within these teams may not be available in all work experience weeks, as this is always dependent on departmental capacity at any given time.

As work experience opportunities are highly competitive and places are limited, we recommend completing online work-related learning through one of our partners prior to applying:

If you don’t know which role you’d like to experience, explore roles on NHS Health Careers and take the careers quiz to find your role. For further information, please contact iownt.careers-work.experience@nhs.net

Where does work experience take place?
  • Most placements are based at St Mary’s Hospital, Parkhurst Road, Newport, Isle of Wight (although some may take place at the Apex Centre, St Cross Business Park, Newport).
  • Our site is well served by public transport. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide transport.
  • There is a car park on site for which there is an hourly charge.
When can I apply?
  • You can apply for work experience during the time periods below.
  • Capacity for placements within our host teams is limited, and applying for an experience does not guarantee a place on our programme.
  • Placements usually last two days, plus an additional induction day.
  • We do not offer placements on weekends.
  • We aim to let you know if your application has been successful or unsuccessful no longer than 2 weeks after the closing date.
  • Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications received outside of these dates. Please email iownt.careers-work.experience@nhs.net if you have any queries about work experience.

Workplace shadowing will take place within the following weeks, for 2 days. The induction day will usually take place on the Monday, and the 2 days within your chosen area will depend on the department’s capacity and staffing. This will be communicated to you if you are successful with your application.

Work Experience Weeks Applications Open Application Form 
21st - 25th October 2024 Apply between 13th - 23rd September 2024 Applications closed
28th April - 2nd May 2025 Apply between 3rd - 12th March 2025

(Link will appear here when applications open)

30th June - 11th July 2025

Apply between 12th - 21st May 2025 (Link will appear here when applications open)

This is for university students who are already studying towards their healthcare career

We work with local universities to support clinical placements, which lead to registration with the NMC and HCPC regulatory bodies.

We are able to consider elective placement requests for out of area universities if students are keen to work for the Trust upon registration. 

 Please click here for more information.

To access clinical placements in any of these areas, please contact your university programme lead.

The placement must be arranged at least 3 months prior to commencement. 

For further information email the Clinical Education Team iownt.ClinicalEducationTeam@nhs.net

This is for students who are already studying a level 3 qualification in their chosen career.

T-Levels were introduced to the Isle of Wight exclusively at the Isle of Wight College in September 2022, and have been developed in collaboration with employers to prepare young people with the knowledge and skills that will prepare you for workplace.

We offer industry placements in the workplace environment to students currently on a T-Level programme with the Isle of Wight College in Health, Digital and Business Administration.

For further information email The Clinical Education Team iownt.ClinicalEducationTeam@nhs.net

This is for sixth form students wishing to pursue a career in Medicine.

This is a special two-day observation course, which aims to provide an insight into the duties of a junior doctor at a busy hospital and will include shadowing a Foundation Trainee in Medicine and General Surgery. 

To be considered for this course, the requirements are GCSE passes of grade 7 or above and three predicted A Levels at A/A*, two of which must be science-based.

For further information or to apply, please visit our Medical work experience page.

Explore the wider NHS and the health and care sector.

Working in partnership with our NHS 350+ Careers Team, we welcome requests to support local careers events which provide young people with the opportunity to engage with our professionals. 

Education and training providers should contact:

  • NHS 350+ Careers Schools Engagement Team - NHSEducation.Outreach@solent.nhs.uk
  • Isle of Wight NHS Trust Careers Team - iownt.careers-work.experience@nhs.net

To support you with your career journey, please take a look at the following resources:

If you’re interested in becoming a doctor, explore:


Contact

St Marys Hospital
Parkhurst Road
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 5TG
Email: iownt.careers-work.experience@nhs.net