Work experience
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.
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding our work experience provision, please contact the team on nlft.workexperience@nhs.net
The community recovery service for older people placement
The Community Recovery Service for Older People is a day rehabilitation service treating older people with functional mental health problems as a part of the acute care pathway for older adults in mental health crisis.
We are a small team constituting nursing, occupational therapy, admin and support staff, alongside input from psychology, psychiatrists and Arts Therapies on a sessional basis.
Treatment is a mixture of group therapeutic sessions, and more focussed one to one work, including chair based exercise, healthy lifestyles work, gardening sessions and focussed group discussion.
Placement Structure:
Monday to Friday – Therapeutic group activity programme for older people with functional mental health problems offered between 10.30 and 3pm. Work experience candidate would be expected to assist in the planning and running of these sessions, which might involve, e.g. participation in group exercise sessions, gardening, discussion groups. Full instructions of the timetable would be included as part of the local induction to the service.
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 6 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 back 3-4 weeks after the application close date.
• 1 week prior to placement, applicant will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable.
Upcoming Placement Dates:
27th July 2026 - Application deadline 10th July 2026
17th Aug 2026 – Application deadline 31st July 2026
Sign up: The Community Recovery Service Application Fill in form
Analytics - online placements
This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain real-time experience across Analytics, Population Health, Data Management, Data Science, and Digital & IT within the NLFT. Over an intensive week, interns will work alongside experienced professionals, joining live team meetings, daily scrums, and project discussions to understand how data and digital systems drive decision-making in healthcare.
Participants will be introduced to NHS data structures, digital infrastructure, information governance, and data security, while exploring commonly used datasets and KPIs. Interns will gain hands-on experience with data analysis and Power BI dashboard development within a mental health NHS setting, while also learning how digital platforms and IT systems support clinical services and operational decision-making.
The programme also provides insight into population health analytics, data modelling, data quality, digital transformation, and real-world data science applications. Interns will see how analytics teams collaborate with Digital and IT teams to ensure data systems, reporting tools, and digital solutions effectively support healthcare delivery.
By the end of the internship, interns will analyse raw data, develop insights, and present their findings, gaining valuable exposure to how analytics, digital, and IT teams operate in a fast-paced, collaborative NHS environment. This placement is ideal for students or early-career professionals looking to build practical skills, confidence, and industry-relevant experience in health data, analytics, and digital healthcare systems.
Placement structure
Day 1: Intro to Analytics - Overview of NHS data structures and systems, information governance and NHS data security
Day 2: Population Health and Data Quality
Day 3: Analytics – daily scrum, Report writing/RDA process in Power BI, MHSDS Process Review and Improvement meeting and NHS Finance Metrics
Day 4: Analytics Dashboards Demo and DATA SCIENCE
Day 5: Analytics - Power BI Dashboard development pipelines and Data Hands-on Analysis Presentation
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 6 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 back 3-4 weeks after the application close date.
• 1 week prior to placement, applicant will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable.
Please note that the work experience placement will be delivered online.
Required:
You will need to have the following:
• Laptop or computer with internet access
• Access to Microsoft Teams
• Working camera and headphones/microphone
• Quiet and appropriate workspace/location for online meetings
Upcoming Placement Dates:
More dates to be confirmed.
Careers Untapped - a new resource for insight into NHS jobs
London NHS organisations and NHS England are delighted to share NHS Careers Untapped, a series of podcasts, videos and recorded webinars showcasing some of the lesser-known jobs and professions in healthcare.
Whom is Careers Untapped for?
The Careers Untapped programme is aimed at young people aged from 13-19 years, and careers advisors, who want to find out more about careers in the NHS. The programme supports schools and careers advisors with achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks.
We are delighted that the resources from the programme are now available on the Healthcare Horizons website. To access, please register for an account for free.
The following editions are available for you to access:
NHS Careers Untapped 1st Edition:
This self-paced module includes short videos and podcasts and is a great way to learn about some of the lesser-known careers in healthcare.
Once the full module is completed, viewers will receive a certificate of participation.
NHS Careers Untapped 2nd Edition:
This is a larger catalogue of lesser-known careers in the NHS, with podcasts and pre-recorded webinars covering 50 key roles in healthcare.
Here are some of the exciting roles covered:
- Clinical Associate Psychologist
- Peer Support Worker
- Pharmacy Technician
- Operating Department Practitioner
- Digital Learning Manager
- Therapeutic Radiographer
Co-production and engagement placement
This placement offers young people hands-on experience in co-production and community engagement within CYMPHS. Activities include stakeholder mapping, outreach planning, content creation, and event coordination across Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, and Islington. Participants will contribute to real projects such as Summer Connect and youth-led workshops, while developing skills in research, communication, and collaborative working. The placement also includes training, reflection, and a final presentation to showcase learning and impact.
Placement structure
Day 1: Local Induction, Presentation: Introduction to co-production and Neurodiversity project planning activity. Overview of co-production and engagement workstreams
Day 2: Draft a plan for young people’s recruitment and set up shared drive
Day 3: Research key stakeholders, draft a short, inclusive outreach message inviting collaboration or event participation
Day 4: Create a presentation and feedback on mental health in sports
Day 5: Presentation of skills and learning outcomes of 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 6 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 back 3-4 weeks after the application close date.
- 1 week prior to placement, applicant will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable.
Upcoming placement dates
More dates to be confirmed.
Pharmacy placement
About the pharmacy department
Gain first-hand insight into the dynamic and rewarding world of pharmacy through this exciting work experience opportunity.
This placement will help you develop a strong understanding of how an NHS Trust pharmacy department operates day to day, while highlighting the vital role pharmacy teams play in delivering safe, effective, and patient-centred care.
During your placement, you will support medication management processes, observe—and where appropriate, assist under supervision—the dispensing of medicines, and gain an appreciation of the high standards of accuracy and safety that underpin pharmaceutical practice. You will also see how pharmacy teams collaborate closely with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to provide high-quality, multidisciplinary patient care.
Additionally, you will learn about the procedures and standards for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of medicines, as well as the important role pharmacy staff play in advising and supporting patients—particularly within mental health services.
Ideal for anyone considering a career in pharmacy or healthcare, this placement offers valuable, hands-on experience and a meaningful insight into the significant impact pharmacy professionals have on patient wellbeing.
Placement structure
Day 1: Induction with Learning and Development Team
Day 2: Local Induction & Procurement and Distribution
Day 3: Procurement and Distribution & Dispensary
Day 4: Procurement and Distribution & Dispensary
Day 5: Team Develop Meeting & Procurement and Distribution & 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 6 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 back 3-4 weeks after the application close date.
• 1 week prior to placement, applicant will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable.
Upcoming placement dates
More dates to be confirmed.
Ken Porter Ward placement
About Ken Porter Ward
Ken Porter Ward is part of the Older Adults and Rehabilitation service, based at the Springwell Centre in Barnet. It is a mixed-gender ward that supports both long-term residents and step-down patients who are preparing for discharge back into the community. The ward provides care for individuals with complex physical and mental health needs, requiring a holistic, patient-centred approach. Many patients have multiple comorbidities, including chronic medical conditions, cognitive impairments, and mental health challenges. For some individuals, the ward has become a long-term home, and care is therefore delivered with a strong emphasis on dignity, continuity, and quality of life, alongside rehabilitation.
Ken Porter Ward offers a rich and supportive learning environment for students, and this was captured in our last CQC visit. It exposes learners and students to a wide range of clinical and non – clinical learning as well as long-term care management, multidisciplinary teamwork, and discharge coordination. Students also have the opportunity to develop their clinical skills such as assessment, care planning, communication, and risk management, while also gaining insight into the complexities of caring for older adults with diverse needs.
The ward fosters a collaborative culture, where students are encouraged to engage with experienced professionals across disciplines, including nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and medical teams. Overall, Ken Porter Ward provides a dynamic and compassionate setting that not only prioritises high-quality patient care but also actively supports the professional growth and confidence of students.
Placement structure
Day 1 - Local Induction and Orientation (meeting the nursing team)
Day 2 - Ward Round - Multi-disciplinary team
Day 3 – Working with OT Coordinator
Day 4 - Spend time with Ward doctors
Day 5 - Reflection
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 6 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 back 3-4 weeks after the application close date
- 1 week prior to placement, applicant will receive a confirmation email containing placement details including mentor details and timetable
Upcoming placement dates
More dates to be confirmed.
