Work Experience

The Western Trust prides itself on being a Great Place to Work.

Work experience is a fantastic way to gain insight into a particular career. It can also be a valuable way of building some confidence and experience of working in a team and caring for people. Whether you are considering applying for university and want help to ensure you are making the right career choice or you would like some experience to enhance your current studies, our Volunteering and Work Experience Team is on hand to support you along the way.

We have established a Careers Hub on the Western Trust website.  It has presentations, videos, and useful links for many career paths.

• In-person Work Experience for School/College Students

  If you are at school or college and at least 16 years old, we may be able to offer you work experience of 1-3 days depending on the career you are interested in.

  You’ll be able to gain a real sense of what it’s like to work in a clinical setting such as Nursing, Medical, Health Care Science or Allied Health Professionals. You will have the chance to decide whether it’s the right career path for you. We will not be able to offer in-person work experience in every profession but may be able to offer an alternative such as an online session or information in the careers section.

  Our work experience placements are in very high demand. So, if you are interested in joining us please speak to your careers teacher or advisor who must submit a request to us on your behalf. Please note that priority is given to those who live or are being educated within our Western Trust postcode areas.

• Online work experience sessions for 16-19 year olds

  We provide a range of in-person workshops and online sessions covering many health and social care related careers. Sessions are made available to school/Further Education college students within the Western Trust locality and bordering areas via school careers departments.

  These interactive and informative sessions are delivered by our staff who provide first-hand knowledge of their day to day work and offer useful insights to students in support of their career planning and university applications.

  We will provide details of our sessions to careers teachers/advisors and seek nominations following our confirmed guidelines and protocols. We ask that students carefully consider their career choices and talk to their careers teacher/advisor to ensure that they are selecting the most appropriate sessions matched to their academic pathway and career aspirations. Places on our sessions are restricted so we discourage students registering for multiple sessions that may hinder other students from obtaining a place.

  We are committed to showcasing the vast array of career options within the Western Trust and the numerous avenues individuals can follow for each career path.  We encourage students to consider a career within Health and Social Care and to view the Western Trust as their employer of choice.

• Work Placements for Further Education Students

  We work with the North West Regional College and South West College to provide work placements for students studying specific level 3 and level 4 health and social care qualifications. All requests for work placements must be made via the college placement officers as they will be able to advise you on your options and the required checks and information you will need to complete before attending placement at the Western Trust.

• Elective placements for University Students

  The Western Trust have a tripartite agreement in conjunction with the Department of Health with Ulster University and Queens University Belfast to provide structured work placements for students enrolled on their healthcare courses. If you are a student at any other university and wish to request an elective placement, please contact the relevant professional lead or education facilitator at the Western Trust so they can advise on the information needed in order to consider your request.

• School Work Experience Privacy Notice

  Ou Volunteering and Work Experience Team will collect information about you to assess your suitability for a volunteering or work placement within the Trust.

  We will only collect the necessary information, which will include:

  • Name
  • Contact details (Address and Email)
  • Date of Birth
  • Health information (so the Trust is aware of any medical or mental health conditions to fulfil its duty of care to you and to the Trust’s staff, patients and clients).

  We will retain the information for seven years upon the completion of your work experience and will securely dispose of the information at that point.

  The information you provide will be shared with relevant services across the Trust to secure the placement but will not be shared further, unless required by law; or for a statutory purpose; or to investigate a health and safety incident; or to investigate any potential criminal activity; or to review an incident as per the Trust’s Incident Management policy.

  You may withdraw consent for our holding of your information, at any time by contacting the Team at volunteering@westerntrust.hscni.net. This is also the contact email for any general queries you may have about your information or the Trust’s data protection and related policies.

• Frequently Asked Questions

  Is there a minimum age to be able to attend work experience?

  The minimum age for work experience at the Western Health & Social Care Trust is 16 years old.

  How can I apply for work experience?

  Please speak to your careers teacher or advisor who must submit the request on your behalf. It is important that any work experience we provide is part of a career planning process so you are matched to the most appropriate work experience opportunity.

  I’m no longer at school but would like some work experience, can I still apply?

  Yes, however you will need to provide information about your current situation and why you are seeking work experience so we can look at options for you. We will still need you to complete some forms

  How many days work experience can I get?

  Our work experience is typically for 1 to 3 days depending on the type. We receive a large number of requests for work experience each year and aim to accept as many requests as we can therefore we need to limit the number of days we can offer to each student.

  What is your dress code for work experience?

  Students should ensure they are appropriately dressed for a professional workplace. In particular, we have a strict dress code for nursing placements to promote effective infection control and to enable staff and visitors to identify students on placement. Guidance on dress code and other important information about your work experience placement will be provided to you before you are due to attend.

  What happens if I am unwell or unable to attend work experience?

  Please do not attend work experience if you are unwell or a close contact of someone who has symptoms or tested positive for an illness such as Covid-19. Please contact your careers teacher and/or the Volunteering and Work Experience Team to advise that you will not be attending work experience. If appropriate, we will attempt to re-arrange your work experience but cannot guarantee that we can provide you with another opportunity

  Can I register to volunteer as well?

  Yes, volunteering is another great way to build experience and confidence in a workplace. We have many volunteer roles that will help you learn more about patient care and working in a healthcare setting. Please visit Volunteering for more information if you are interested in volunteering with the Western Health & Social Care Trust.

• Contact Us

  Email: Volunteering@westerntrust.hscni.net

  Telephone:  028 7161 1155

  Visit us at our volunteer services in Altnagelvin, Omagh or South West Acute Hospitals.