Work Experience
Work experience in the NHS is a fantastic way to gain insight into a particular career. It can also be a valuable way of getting some confidence and experience of working in a team and caring for people.
As a learning organisation, the North London NHS Foundation Trust is always looking to support and nurture fresh talent who are exploring career pathways in healthcare.
Residents local to the Trust who wish to express interest for a work experience opportunity are more than welcome to apply using the form below and the team will support however they can.
What will you gain from this experience?
- On-the-job exposure with our colleagues in one of our many divisions
- An opportunity to build your network by building relationships with different colleagues
- A better understanding of the NHS and how it functions day to day
- Insight into the steps you should take to move into a particular healthcare career
What is the structure of work experience?
Successful applicants will be provided with a dedicated mentor who will be supporting them throughout the experience. The mentor will have created a bespoke timetable for the duration of the placement providing the applicant an overview of where they will be spending their placement and who will be supporting them.
When applicants complete the application form, they will need to provide the dates they are requesting work experience for, and the team will try and accommodate these when arranging a placement.
What placements do we offer?
We offer a range of placements, from those in estates and facilities, to pharmacy and much more. We're updating our offering currently, so check back soon to see where else you can apply and for more placement dates!
For now, you can apply to the placements in the dropdowns below.
Administration (Hospital Division) placements
The Hospital Division administrative service supports our inpatient wards, liaison services and health-based place of safety, as well as providing a reception function at both our hospitals in the division.
Our staff need to demonstrate a high level of prioritising and organisational skills to provide an effective admin service. This includes using initiative to develop office support systems as required, and organising own workload to meet Trust and local requirements, adjusting priorities as necessary in negotiation with the department and administration managers.
Placement structure
Tasks can include monitoring and reporting on ward compliance, using the Electronic Patient Record system (Rio), sending admission and discharge correspondence to GPs, minuting meetings and ensuring information on ward noticeboards is up to date and relevant.
In community teams, we also send assessments to GPs as well as recording activity and reporting in line with key performance indicators and national targets.
Applicants for this placement must be 18+ years old.
Application process and timeline
To apply for a placement with this department, you will need to complete an application form and health questionnaire. The link to apply is at the bottom of the page.
Key timeline information:
- Applications will close six weeks prior to placement dates
- You will be informed if successful 1-2 weeks after the application close date
- You will receive a learning agreement to sign and submit 3-4 weeks after the application close date
- One week prior to placement, you will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable.
Upcoming placement dates
2-6 June – Application deadline of 9 May
21-25 July – Application deadline of 9 June
How to apply
The link to the application form is here.
Estates and facilities placements
Estates and Facilities management comes in all shapes and sizes. From catering, all the way to waste management, the estates and facilities team is a key player in ensuring the trust is a safe and pleasant place for patients and staff.
Some of the other services estates and facilities provide include:
- Project management
- Painting and decorating
- Waste management
- Security
Placement structure
Day 1 – Trust induction with Learning and Development
Day 2 - Estates 'soft' facilities management
Day 3 - 'Hard' facilities management
Day 4 - Capital project management
Day 5 - Estates and facilities admin and presentation to estates and facilities on work experience
Application process and timeline
To apply for a placement with this department, you will need to complete an application form and health questionnaire. The link to apply is at the bottom of the page.
Key timeline information:
- Applications will close six weeks prior to placement dates
- You will be informed if successful 1-2 weeks after the application close date
- You will receive a learning agreement to sign and submit 3-4 weeks after the application close date
- One week prior to placement, you will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable.
Upcoming placement dates
2-6 June – Application deadline of 9 May
4-8 August – Application deadline of 23 June
How to apply
The link to the application form is here.
Pharmacy placements
During your work experience with pharmacy, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the day-to-day operations of an NHS inpatient pharmacy department.
This includes supporting patient care, assisting in medication management, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring the safe handling and disposal of medications. You will also learn about the critical role pharmacy professionals play in providing medication advice and support for mental health patients.
Placement structure
Day 1 – Trust induction with Learning and Development
Day 2 - Local induction; procurement and distribution
Day 3 - Procurement, distribution and dispensary
Day 4 - Procurement, distribution and dispensary
Day 5 - Team development meeting; procurement, distribution and dispensary
Application process and timeline
To apply for a placement with this department, you will need to complete an application form and health questionnaire. The link to apply is at the bottom of the page.
Key timeline information:
- Applications will close six weeks prior to placement dates
- You will be informed if successful 1-2 weeks after the application close date
- You will receive a learning agreement to sign and submit 3-4 weeks after the application close date
- One week prior to placement, you will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable.
Upcoming placement dates
2-6 June – Application deadline of 9 May
21-25 July – Application deadline of 9 June
4-8 August – Application deadline of 23 June
18-22 August – Application deadline of 7 July
How to apply
The link to the application form is here.
Specialist forensics community placements
The Community Hub in our Specialist Forensics team works with service users who are under the care of the North London Forensic Service. These individuals are living within the community or transitioning out of hospital back into a community based setting.
The Community Hub team provides a schedule of weekly groups and activities for service users to access, supporting social engagement, structure and routine, leisure and education. The team runs all their activities in community-based settings, including day centres, where activities take place two days a week.
The Community Hub team works closely with the service users clinical team to support their onward progression and recovery.
Applicants for this placement must be 18+ years old.
Placement structure
Day 1 – Learning and development corporate induction
Throughout the rest of the week, you will be supporting the Community Hub to facilitate multiple activities within their community base setting. Some of the activities include IT skills-building and peer support.
Application process and timeline
To apply for a placement with this department, you will need to complete an application form and health questionnaire. The link to apply is at the bottom of the page.
Key timeline information:
- Applications will close six weeks prior to placement dates
- You will be informed if successful 1-2 weeks after the application close date
- You will receive a learning agreement to sign and submit 3-4 weeks after the application close date
- One week prior to placement, you will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable.
Upcoming placement dates
2-6 June – Application deadline of 9 May
The placement will not include Wednesday 4 June. The days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday will last from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
How to apply
The link to the application form is here.
