NHS CAREERS: NOT JUST DOCTORS AND NURSES

Did you know there are over 350 job roles in the NHS? It’s most definitely not just about carving out a career as a doctor or a nurse.

There are so many non-clinical NHS roles available at all levels that there’s something for almost anyone.  Most of these roles are supported by world-class training, including apprenticeships.  With new government reforms expected, along with game-changing working landscapes shaped by AI, a career in the NHS promises to be exciting and rewarding, especially if you enjoy change, challenges, and helping people. 

THE NHS 

NHS England is the largest employer in the UK. Indeed, it’s one of the biggest in the world, boasting a workforce that spans many skills and specialisations. Around 1.5 million people are employed by the nation’s most cherished institution, which provides services to millions of patients annually. Because it’s so vast, it is necessarily a complex organisation that needs a supply of skills and talented individuals to function properly. This is why there is always a rich choice of vacancies to apply for.

MEDICAL PROFESSIONS IN THE NHS

Of course, there are many junior and senior professional roles in the NHS suited to people with medical training or the qualifications that will allow them to apply for these jobs and access training. These positions range from doctors and surgeons to nurses, dentists, paramedics, and clinical support roles.

NON-MEDICAL ROLES

There are many important non-medical roles, too. These come together to form the huge infrastructure of the NHS, enabling it to deliver its services to the nation’s people when they need them. Roles include Dietician, Music Therapist, Chef, Engineer, Plumber, Carpenter, Surveyor, Audiovisual Technician, Health and Safety Officer, Educator/Trainer, IT Technician, Manager, and Administrator. These are just a few of the roles; there are many more.

APPRENTICESHIPS

Apprenticeships are one of the main ways the NHS in Liverpool City Region and nationally recruits and upskill existing staff, particularly for non-clinical roles. Apprenticeships offer the best of both worlds in all careers, not just in the NHS. This is because you will receive industry-standard training and be paid as you are training. Not only that, but apprenticeships lend themselves to a pre-planned career path: you can progress from level 2 to level 3 and right up to degree-level training.

BENEFITS OF AN NHS CAREER

Anyone who chooses to work for the NHS will receive many benefits. Salaries are competitive, and the NHS offers a great pension scheme with good annual leave allowances. Furthermore, the NHS actively encourages its staff members to continue developing throughout their careers using programmes like apprenticeships. Another benefit is the job satisfaction of knowing you are helping people keep themselves well. It’s a working environment where you will be interacting with staff and members of the public on a daily basis, so it’s a great workplace if you are a people person!

LCR NHS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES 

Many opportunities are available across the Liverpool City Region if you are considering a career with the NHS. Some of the principal NHS workplaces include Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Aintree University Hospital, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, Warrington & Halton NHS Teaching Hospital, and Wirral University Teaching Hospital.

These institutions rely on people who work in many different medical and non-medical roles. Similarly, there are many varied positions available in the network of community health centres, dentists, and GP surgeries that exist in the Liverpool City Region. For those interested in becoming a paramedic or an emergency call handler, the North West Ambulance Service has a dedicated career development programme[https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/careers/]. It regularly holds information sessions that provide insights into different roles, available training, and how to apply.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has an employment and skills project officer Sharon Blaney, who focuses exclusively on the NHS and health sector. She collaborates with NHS leaders and other healthcare organisations to enable school leavers and other jobseekers to access information, advice and guidance about healthcare careers. For example, earlier this year, Sharon worked in partnership with the North West Skills Development Network and the Warrington & Halton NHS Teaching Hospital to facilitate an apprenticeship assessment session [https://lcrbemore.co.uk/apprenticeships/north-west-skills-development-network-supporting-the-nhs-through-apprenticeships/] for young people interested in NHS apprenticeships in IT, accounts or procurement.

FURTHER AVENUES

Another avenue for joining the NHS is via The Princes Trust, which runs free courses for 16-30-year-olds to give the foundations required to step into an NHS role [https://sectors.princes-trust.org.uk]. 

If you are still at school or college, you could always try speaking to your tutors about getting work experience in one of the many NHS workplaces in the Liverpool City Region. This will put you in a strong position when you leave school and apply for an NHS position. You can also explore opportunities in the weekly bulletin here[https://lcrbemore.co.uk/health-vacancies/]. 

If you like the idea of working in the NHS but aren’t sure exactly what role you would be suited to, there is a questionnaire [https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/FindYourCareer] to help you discover how your skills and interests could best contribute to the NHS.