Work experience requirements for Nursing, Medical, Social Work and Veterinary Science Courses

Contents:

•Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work Courses – presented by Vanessa Chetwyn: De Montfort University

• Veterinary Science Courses – presented by Richard Stringer: University of Nottingham

• Medicine Courses – presented by Dr Margaret Barnes-Davies: University of Leicester

Work experience requirements for Nursing and Midwifery

Nursing and Midwifery•Two very popular course areas both here at DMU and nationally across the UK.

•134,267 applications were made in 2012 for just 25,000 places. *

•Increased competition results in a greater emphasis being placed on the students application.

•Admissions tutors are looking for more than just good grades.

•Applicants need to demonstrate they have the right skills and attributes to succeed on the course and in the career itself.* Source = UCAS Data Resources 2012

• Current entry requirements for Nursing and Midwifery are usually set at:

5 to 6 GCSE’s Grade C and above (inc English and Math) Between 240 and 320 UCAS points Universities prefer applicants with a science subject but

it’s not always a requirement. Complete an occupational health check Pass a DBS disclosure check Successfully pass an interview

• Work experience is currently not a compulsory requirement

However.....

• Work experience is extremely important if students want to demonstrate that they –

a) understand what a career in nursing and midwifery involves.b) Have the confidence and experience of caring for people.c) Have used and developed keys transferable skills such as team work, organisational and time management, communication skills etc.d) Can display empathy, sensitivity, flexibility and emotional resilience.

Work experience is also beneficial because.....

•It’s a great way of seeing what it’s like working in the health service.•It can help students definitely decide what kind of health care career they want.•It shows commitment to their future career in the NHS

• Most importantly your chances of being accepted on to a nursing and midwifery programme are significantly increased if you can demonstrate relevant work experience.

Where to find work experience.....

•Work experience can be paid or voluntary •Course placements will be taken into consideration but not as stand alone evidence.•The longer the experience the better, and the broader the set of experiences the better.•Personal experiences such as caring for a relative should be spoken about but not used exclusively as evidence.•Experience can be from a multitude of settings not necessarily just from within the NHS

Where to find work experience.....

In a hospital or clinical setting

•The NHS is made up of 400 individual NHS trusts each responsible for arranging work experience.

•Students/teachers can contact their local NHS trust and enquire about available work experience placements.

•You can find your local NHS trust by visiting NHS Choices or Step into NHS websites.

In a hospital or clinical setting

•Students need to submit an application form detailing why they want to do the placement and how they feel they will benefit from the experience.• Competition for places is high• Limited number of opportunities available • Might not always be possible to gain an experience in your first choice career but any experience in a healthcare setting will be beneficial.• Students should apply as early as possible to secure the best chance of being accepted.

3 options available working with

University Hospitals Leicester.

Work experience outside of hospitals and clinical settings....

Students can also gain healthcare experience in a variety of non-clinical settings.

•Residential care homes•Charity organisations such as Mind, Shelter, Age Concern, Rainbows, LOROS•Shadowing of NHS staff in the community – school nurse, health visitors etc•Patient visiting and befriending volunteering•Community groups – SureStart, breastfeeding groups, etc•Interviewing NHS staff – local GP, community nurse/midwife,

Other sources of experience....•Any volunteering experience: demonstrates selflessness and commitment•Duke of Edinburgh Award: Showcases key skills such as leadership and team work•Part time jobs: Demonstrates time management, responsibility and working with the public•Caring for relatives: Showcases care and compassion •Gap years abroad: gain an international perspective of healthcare.

Writing about their experience....

Whatever the type of experience(s) the student has, writing about them effectively is really important.

Wherever possible students should talk not just about what they did as part of the placement but what they learnt from it.

Talking about transferable skills is key to demonstrating your suitability to the career.

Link it in to the 6 C’s of Nursing & Midwifery•Care•Communication•Compassion •Courage•Competency•Commitment

Work experience requirements for Social Work

Social Work

•Social Work is in the top 10 most popular courses

•DMU received over 600 applications in 2013 for 50 places

•Social Work is a professional course which upon competition students can register as a Social Worker and begin to practise.

Entry Requirements•Current entry requirements for Social Work

5 to 6 GCSE’s Grade C and above (inc English and Math) Between 240 and 320 UCAS points Pass a DBS disclosure check Successfully pass an interview

• Work experience can be a compulsory requirement for some Social Work degrees.

• Individual universities set their own conditions for the amount of work experience needed. Students should research entry requirements before applying.

Work Experience Requirements:

•Universities usually ask for anywhere between 6 weeks to 6 months of work experience.

•This usually has to be work that directly involves interacting with service users.

•Placements done as part of a school/college course aren’t always accepted.

•Personal experience of social services may be classed as relevant experience and should be spoken about on the application

Where can you get work experience?

Think about who are service users.....•Adults 18+•Children and families

Specific users....•The elderly•Young offenders•Addicts•Patients with mental health problems•Homeless people•Children in care etc

Students can contact charities, community groups, volunteering centres, NHS departments, Local Authorities etc

Work Experience...

•Admissions tutors are looking for students who are emotionally resilient and prepared for the career ahead.

•They will assess what skills you possess to help you become a safe, confident and competent Social Worker.

•Students should consider the Framework of Capabilities for Social Workers when talking about work experience.

ProfessionalismValues & EthicsDiversityRights, Justice and Economic WellbeingKnowledgeCritical reflection and analysisIntervention and Skills Leaderships

Useful Websites

NHS Choices - www.nhs.uk

Step in to the NHS - www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk

Nursing & Midwifery Council – www.nmc-uk.org

Health & Care Professions Council – www.hpc-uk.org

De Montfort University – www.dmu.ac.uk

Work experience requirements for Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Medicine at Nottingham•Minimum six weeks of work experience but the more the better!

•Recommended: Small and large animal vets

•Recommended: At least one week in a dairy farm, one week lambing and one week in a stables

•Six weeks of one type of experience is not enough

•Get references from all work experiences

Why work experience?

•Not a tick box exercise – work experience really matters!•To gain insight into what it’s really like to be a vet •To understand different environments and different animal types •Ensure it’s the right career path for you! •Shows you are proactive and enthusiastic

Work experience requirements at seven UK vet schools

What counts as work experience•Work experience in abattoirs –some universities require this others don’t

•Lab based experience – counts if linked to veterinary medicine but not essential

•Animal charities – yes but looking for practical animal handling experience

•Office based experience in a related field – good but doesn’t count!

•Work experience abroad – good but the course qualifies you to be a vet in the UK so the majority should be UK based

Talking about work experience•Universities are looking for academic ability AND personal attributes•Develop understanding of a vet’s role in the UK•Awareness of vets’ place in the wider context e.g. in world issues like the BSE crisis and public health•Was anything surprising? What did you learn?

Personal statements•Keep a reflective diary of your work experience

•Your chance to stand out from the crowd

•Voice your own opinions – you can be critical of your experience!

•How has work experience inspired you? What have you learnt about yourself?

Scenarios

A student who grew up on a farm – do they still need formal work experience?•Yes!

•To get onto the course you need work experience in a variety of settings

•They can count work experience on another farm – all farms work differently

•The course focuses on different types of animals

•Check other universities’ policies!

A student with their own horse•This can count as animal handling experience (good!) but not as work experience

A student with specific interests•Having lots of work experience in one area, e.g. exotic animals, is great if that’s their main interest – shows motivation and enthusiasm

•However, the course covers various areas

•They may change their mind!

Barriers to work experience

•Age – some places, like abattoirs, can be difficult to get into when you’re under 18

•Living inner city can make it hard to get into rural settings

•No ready made contacts

How to get work experience•We are looking for determination and motivation!

•Cold-calling

•Going in person

•Friends and family contacts

•The Student Room forum

•Advice from current or previous Vet Med students

If a student can’t get sufficient work experience•We will take into consideration any difficulties you have experienced – send information in writing to the vet school

•Try your best - even if it’s just shadowing or talking informally to a vet

•Be creative and think outside the box – show you have done your absolute best to get animal related experience

Other animal related coursese.g. Animal Science and Zoology•Work experience is good but not essential

•Can be in a variety of settings e.g. veterinary practice, zoos, farms

•Admissions tutors are looking for genuine interest in animals and their biology rather than hands on experience or commitment to a specific career

•Use work experience as a way to stand out from the crowd

Summary•Work experience is vitally important

•Good work experience gives insight into the profession in a variety of settings

•Importance of reflecting on students’ experience

•Vet schools will look at references written after students’ work experience

•Start early!

Useful resources•http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/vet/

•http://www.rcvs.org.uk/education/

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

•http://www.workshop-uk.net/vetsim

Vetsim course

•http://www.bva.co.uk/

British Veterinary Association

•Vet Records magazine and Farmers’ Weekly to keep up to date on current issues!