Placement Year Review at NHS

The Role

Role Description

Working in the Strategy, Planning & Redesign directorate of commisioning. I was assigned to the long term conditions team. My duties where to assist as required on proejct based work as and when is necessary and fulfill the tasks set out for the implementation of a Pilot Project due to start in August of 2011

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

It wasn't the job i was looking for but it was more than i expected. A real insight into healthcare management.

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

It was their first time having placement undergrads so i think they were half unsure what to do with us, but it was all good

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Managers were awesome! This statement is exclusive to my expereience as i consier myself rather lucky to have been assigned the managers and work i was given for the year

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

It was a mixed bag, For 2 or 3 months i'd spend the day typing away furiously to get reports done, to standard, research material to feedback to external colleagues and coordinating workstreams and so on, and then there were lulls, for a couple of weeks at time when it was kind of slow.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

Because it was they're first time having a placement i didn't know whether they considered me a lacky or a colleague, i just stepped up to the requirements of the task/s i was doing and got on with it. All in all a very good project fora placement year.

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I was a project assistant and was responsible for many of the workstreams and activity coordinating, scheduling on that project, subsequent to my beginning i was fortunate enough to take a professionally accredited project management course and it's helped mould my outlook for the future and i'm looking forward to getting involved in more project work in the future.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

It was cool. I managed to forge some relationships that allowed me to feel somewhat relaxed and at ease and just be in a position to crack a joke or two every once in a while with colleagues, have a chin-wag and all the rest of the pleasantries that come with office life. Not too David Brent, but again not the colourful, vibrant, young, fast paced & creative buzzing some of you may be looking for.

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 4/10

They tried, and in all fairness they're personal development programme was very good in the end.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

It was okay, i was lucky to get on the professional accreditation course, and the rest of the training programmes on offer are really perinent to helping you solve some short term problems i.e. you could go on an advance excel course for the day to help you increase your efficiency on some spreadsheet work you may be doing, or take a presentation training day to help you practice and prepare for a meeting or presentation.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 0/10

• There were no perks with this placement year

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

Again, this was just a guinea pig exercise, the NHS is going through a lot of changes and there's a cloud of uncertainty in the atmosphere. I do think i have a slight chance should i choose o apply for they're MTS programme, which i hear is very good.

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

Not much of a scene to be honest. Was there with 3 other placement students, all cool, but a mixed bag of personalities.

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

I lived in Birmingham so it's the average 5-6K for living (inclusive of bills) regardless of whether you choose student accoms. or private residences. I highly recommend student accomodation.

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Birminingahm is the way forward, it's never failed to provide me with an evenings entertainment should i so choose to prowl the night. There's a lot you can get stuck into, the typical boozy night down Broad Street's finest establishment or take in the wealth of fine restaurants, live music spots and galleries the city has to offer. It's no London but it's close and the people are friendlier.

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

You work 5 days, so that leaves a weekend to part time (which i did on occasion) or get stuck into whatever tickles your fancy.

In addition to these questions, is there any extra information you would like to leave about your experiences on your work placement that other students may be interested in?

I honestly think this placement was a one time deal. On account of the governmental reforms, the NHS organisation i was working for won't be around in 2013 and there isn't (well whilst i was there anyway) a firm indication as to what the future organisation that will take its place will look like and what positions are up for grabs.

You can still apply for they're MTS scheme (Management Training Scheme), it's on par with some of the best graduate schemes in terms of career progression opportunities, pay rate and so on; just the public sector version of ehat's typically offered. Competiton is fierce so you'll have to be pretty sharp.

Review 76/76 for NHS

Previous