Work experience is a fantastic way to gain an insight into a wide range of career opportunities and we have many exciting options available within the Trust. They can help build your confidence and give you an understanding of the attitudes, behaviours and values that are expected in a healthcare setting. Work experience will help you to make informed choices on your future career options.
To access a placement within the Trust, students must complete a work placement application form and health questionnaire. We will do our best to identify a suitable placement for. Applications are individual to each opportunity on offer.
Students aged 14 years and over
Block Week Placements
Work experience gives those interested in a career in the NHS the opportunity to experience what happens in hospitals, to observe the day-to-day work of NHS staff and gain an insight into the varied job roles vital to the NHS. It will give you an understanding of the attitudes, the behaviours and values that are expected in a healthcare setting.
Here at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, we offer work experience opportunities to students aged 14 years and over, in patient and non-patient facing roles, and within clinical and non-clinical areas. The placement is dependent on the age of the applicant at the time of placement. Please note only applicants over the age of 16 at the time of their placement will be considered for patient-facing work experience.
We provide a full induction every Monday and then offer block placements from Tuesday to Friday within departments throughout the year.
Priority will be given to local school students within the Medway area. Clinical placements and non-clinical placements are on set weeks for block or rotation placements for one week Monday to Friday throughout the year for local schools and colleges.
We offer work experience in a variety of areas across the hospital:
14 years of age or older at time of placement
- Catering
- EPR Project Team
- Front Desk
- HR
- IT
- Knowledge and Library Service
- Main Reception
- Medical Records
- Procurement
- Research and Innovation
- Resourcing
- Resourcing – Temporary Staffing
- Simulation
16 years of age or older at time of placement*
- Cardiorespiratory
- Catering
- EPR Project Team
- Front Desk
- HR
- IT
- Knowledge and Library Service
- Main Reception
- Medical Records
- Nursery
- Orthodontics
- Pathology
- Perioperative Medicine
- Prehabilitation
- Procurement
- Research and Innovation
- Resourcing
- Resourcing – Temporary Staffing
- Respiratory
- Simulation
- Therapy
*A DBS or enhanced DBS is required for some placements. Please note this is at the cost of the applicant.
Due to high demand, we only accept applications from students within Kent and Medway during the application months outlined below.
We have limited placements in the hospital and not all applications are successful. We only accept application directly from the student not from friends, parents or school/college staff.
Block Week dates available for 14 to 18 year olds:
- 3 February 2025
- 10 February 2025
- 17 February 2025
- 24 February 2025
- 3 March 2025
- 17 March 2025
- 24 March 2025
- 7 April 2025
- 28 April 2025
- 19 May 2025
- 30 June 2025
- 7 July 2025
- 14 July 2025
- 28 July 2025
- 4 August 2025
- 11 August 2025
- 18 August 2025
- 6 October 2025
- 13 October 2025
- 20 October 2025
- 15 December 2025
Application windows open at the following time over the year – only for the allocated month as described. We cannot accept applications outside of this.
Please apply on the 1st of the application month to be considered:
- Apply in November 2024 for placements in February / March 2025
- Apply in January for placements in April / May / June
- Apply in May for placements in July / August
- Apply in July for placements in October
- Apply in September for placements in December
- Apply in December for placements in February 2026
For example you can’t apply in April to be placed in October.
Completed forms should be emailed to medwayft.workexperience@nhs.net
UCAS Year 11 and 12 observation placements
At Medway NHS Foundation Trust, we are dedicated to supporting your medical career aspirations through bespoke observation/shadowing placements in specialist areas.
Our UCAS Observation Placements allow you to experience clinical settings firsthand, shadow healthcare professionals, and gain valuable insight into the key roles that are vital to the NHS. This opportunity will help deepen your understanding of the healthcare sector and the diverse career paths it offers.
These placements are aimed at giving you a firsthand view of the healthcare profession, with potential areas for observation/shadowing that may include (depending on business needs at the time of placement):
- Radiology
- Paediatrics
- Emergency Department
- Medicine
- Research and Innovation
- Orthopaedics
- Rheumatology
- Theatres
- ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat)
- Respiratory
Due to the high demand for placements, we use a shortlisting process to review applications which ensures that placements are offered to students whose academic achievements and career goals align with these opportunities.
Placement availability is limited, and unfortunately, not all applications will be successful. If your application is successful, please be aware that your preferred area of interest may not be guaranteed due to business needs. However, we will make every effort to offer a placement that enhances your NHS experience, which may include exposure to a variety of departments to provide a broader understanding of healthcare careers.
Entry Criteria
To be eligible for the UCAS Observation Placements, you should:
- Be studying towards qualifications that will enable you to pursue a career in medicine
- Be committed to applying to a medical school within the next 24 months
- Have achieved or be predicted to achieve at least five GCSEs at grades 7 to 9, including Mathematics and sciences (with a minimum of Grade 7 in these subjects), aligning with medical school entry requirements.
UCAS Block Week dates available for 16 to 18 year olds:
- 25 February 2025
- 7 April 2025
- 11 August 2025
- 18 August 2025
- 20 October 2025
Please apply from the 1st of the application month to be considered. Applications sent outside of these allocated windows will not be considered.
- Apply in November 2024 for placements in February 2025
- Apply in January 2025 for placements in April 2025
- Apply in May 2025 for placements in August 2025
- Apply in July 2025 for placements in October 2025
For example you can’t apply in April to be placed in October.
Completed forms should be emailed to medwayft.workexperience@nhs.net
T-Level Industry Placements
We host T-Level industry placements for those over 18 years old within healthcare. We provide a minimum 45-days placement within the hospital to support the new knowledge, skills and behaviours taught in college.
Visit the MidKent College website for more information on T-Levels.
Are you a parent or carer?
For enquires regarding T-Level placements at Medway, please email Lucy Mason.
Medway Futures: Nurse Cadet Placements
Medway Futures: Nurse Cadet Placements is a bespoke observational programme for college students aged 16 and above, currently studying at least Level 2 in healthcare. This programme offers a unique opportunity to observe healthcare professionals in various clinical settings, providing valuable insight into the healthcare sector. It is designed to help you build confidence, knowledge, and a deeper understanding of nursing and healthcare careers, supporting your future applications for university or healthcare roles.
What you’ll gain:
- 20 Hours of observation
- Insight into nursing and healthcare careers
- Networking opportunities
Nurse Cadet Placements are available for applicants the week beginning:
- 24 February 2025
Due to high demand, we only accept applications from students within Kent and Medway. We have limited placements in the hospital and not all applications are successful.
To be eligible for the Nurse Cadet placements, you should:
- Be studying or have recently completed at least Level 2 in healthcare
- Apply between November and January, as the application window closes at the end of the first week of January. Applications received after this date will not be considered. The earlier you apply, the higher your chance of securing a placement
- Ensure that you highlight ‘Nurse Cadets‘ or ‘Medway Futures: Nurse Cadet in the ‘Type of Work Experience Placement’ section of the application form to ensure your application is considered for this specific placement.
Completed forms should be emailed to medwayft.workexperience@nhs.net
Clinical Attachments
Clinical attachments are a useful way for international medical graduates to get a taste of the working lives of doctors in the NHS. You can observe a consultant in a relevant specialty without having the responsibility of patient care.
Attachments usually last between two and six months and cost £350.
During the attachment, you are not given any responsibility and are not able to make clinical decisions or give clinical advice. The experience you gain will be relevant to your GMC application for registration. It will ask for details of all your work experience from the last five years both medical and non-medical.
Experience shows that it is advisable to do a clinical attachment shortly before taking part two of the PLAB test or after you have passed it. This ensures you will get the most out of it.
Please email our Medical Staffing team for more information.
For medical student electives / medical student clinical attachments, please email our Medical Education team.
University Student Placements
Student nurse placements
We offer placement opportunities to students studying with our university partners – Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Greenwich and London South Bank University. It is important to note that these placements are organised through the university that the student nurse is studying at which means that no student should contact us directly to organise a placement. If a student has any placement requirements, they should contact the placement office at the university they are studying at.
The exception to this is if a student is interested in undertaking an elective placement within the organisation and is studying at a university which is not one of our usual partners. Please note, that to undertake an elective placement, we will require confirmation and approval from the student’s own university, and we will not be able to accept any student who is in the final placement of part 1, 2 or 3.
If you are interested in undertaking an elective placement at Medway, please contact Jacqui Berry, Learning Environment Lead.
Email: jacquiberry@nhs.net
Call: 01634 833821
