Review of a virtual work experience, used to support school-aged students during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Authors
Bailey, E
Bailey, R
Rajendran, P
Hazell, S
Emery, M
Issue Date
2021
Type
Scientific Paper
Language
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE::Dermatology and venerology,clinical genetics, internal medicine::Internal medicine::Paediatric medicine
Alternative Title
Abstract
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on education, mental health and morale of school-aged students. Schools have been closed for months on end, meaning many have been left to ponder future careers with little or no help. Additionally, those considering a career within the NHS have been presented with press reports revealing how difficult working within this area can sometimes be but had little or no opportunity to visit or speak to professionals working in the roles. Thus, by holding a Virtual Work Experience for students who are interested in a career within the NHS we aimed to reduce anxieties and boost knowledge.
Objectives Our aims were to improve students’ knowledge of what it is like to work within the NHS, as well as give insights into the multiple different career options that are available. In addition, we hoped the session would give students information to help them to go on and be successful in their applications and interviews.
In the long term, we hope this project will help the NHS and its’ patients as we will have more informed young people joining the different professions.
Methods In partnership with the School Volunteering Team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we invited school-aged students who were interested in exploring a career within the NHS to attend the session. We invited representatives from the Clinical (Doctor/Nursing student/Paramedic/GP nurse etc), Administrative and Management team along with Allied health professionals from both the Hospital and Community set-up to give presentations or video insights into their roles. Students were asked to complete a questionnaire pre and post-attending to help us evaluate what was useful and the effect the session had.
Results In total 26 students attended the day, 15 filled in the questionnaire pre-attending, and 14 post. 57% of students had done no medical work experience prior to this session, and of those who had, a third had only done virtual sessions.
From the questionnaires we found 12/14 students felt more confident in their decision to work in the NHS following the session, with the remaining 2/14 feeling no different. Additionally, we found 92% of students planned to use this event in their UCAS, personal statement and/or interview questions.
Conclusions Young people have been hugely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; they’ve been kept away from school, their peers and also missed opportunities for learning about future careers. Additionally, the current COVID-19 pandemic has placed the NHS in prime public view, revealing the hardships that often go along with the work.
Thus, by holding this event we hoped to allay fears, provide information and allow students to ask questions about entering into a profession within the NHS. The event’s feedback was very positive, so we are now going on to hold a larger event in March 2021; inviting more students to attend and including more specialties
Therefore, by helping these young people at a time when access to services is so limited, we can help to continue to encourage them into careers within the NHS.
https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-rcpch.50
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Citation
Bailey E, Bailey R, Rajendran P, et al519 Review of a virtual work experience, used to support school-aged students during the COVID-19 pandemicArchives of Disease in Childhood 2021;106:A30.