Thinking of applying to medicine? Below are some suggestions of places that offer work experience and give you the opportunity to work with children.

Hospital-Based Work Experience

 Official CUH Work Experience Placements – not specifically Paediatrics

• Medical Shadowing and other such programmes run at Addenbrooke’s Hospital
• Further details can be found at: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/work-experience/work-experience-programmes
• Most of the programmes are designed for school students, but some may be amenable to accepting individuals who are considering medicine as graduates.
• The person to contact is Anne Saucier, who is the HR Advisor responsible for work experience placements at Addenbrooke’s. Her details are:
  • Email: saucier@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
  • Telephone number: 01223 274 234

Paediatric Work Experience – Observing at GOSH (a specialist children’s hospital in London)

• If you are over the age of 18 and wish to observe within GOSH you will need to enquire with the department you wish to visit directly.
  • List of departments: https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/wards-and-departments/departments/clinical-specialties
• If the department are able to offer you a placement, you then need to email contracts@gosh.nhs.ukand request an application form with the details of your placement including the GOSH Line Manager who is offering the placement.
  • NB: there is a fee to process your contract and at least 6 weeks’ notice is required.

How else can I get Paediatric-specific Work Experience in a hospital?

• Paediatricians are friendly and approachable. Ask if you could shadow one in your local hospital.
  • They may be able to act as a mentor and help you get an understanding of what it is like to train and work as a paediatrician.
  • Here is a list of the Children’s Clinics, Wards and Services at CUH: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/childrens-services/childrens-clinics-and-wards
    • You could write to one of these if based in Cambridge!
  • Attend relevant conferences to get to know medical students and practitioners, as well as to hear more about important issues & updates in Paediatrics – e.g., the annual Cambridge University Paediatric Society conference!
    • Facebook event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/320660448668227/

Volunteering Opportunities

 Volunteering at CUH

• Volunteering is a cornerstone of medical school applications. Perhaps more than anything else, it can help show real commitment to the cause, as well as allowing to develop relationships with individuals long-term. This in particular can help you to understand the importance for patients of continuity of care.
• CUH has an extensive Volunteering department, with vacancies posted on this site: http://jobs.cuh.org.uk/job_list/s9/Volunteers?_ts=1
• For more information about volunteering at CUH overall, see: https://www.volunteering.cuh.org.uk/volunteering/become-a-volunteer/

Over the Wall

• A free, therapeutic recreation camp for children and young people living with the challenges of serious illness and disability.
• Need over 700 volunteers every year to help create the camp experience for these young people and their families.
• Clinicians are on the team, so there is also the opportunity to interact with, and learn from, medical professionals.
• Find out more about the charity: https://www.otw.org.uk/about/
• Apply: https://www.otw.org.uk/apply-to-be-a-volunteer/

Other Useful Websites for Finding Volunteering

• https://do-it.org/
• https://www.ncvo.org.uk

 Other Avenues & Ideas

• Consider contacting hospices, GP surgeries and even alternative practitioners to ask about any work opportunities. You may not be able to work with children, but all experience is helpful, so long as you reflect on it.
• See if you can get involved with a local children’s or youth club. You may be able to lend a hand at weekends, or in the holidays if you are student/working. This will give you great experience working hands-on with children.
  • Examples of places in Cambridge:
    • Brown’s Field Youth & Community Centre in Cambridge: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/browns-field-youth-and-community-centre
    • Youth Support Service Centre – Cambridge: http://www.youthoria.org
    • Cambridge Kids Club: https://www.cambridgekidsclub.com
  • Learn first aid! Organisations such as St John’s Ambulance have programmes for young people, and this is a great skill to have on your CV.
    • First aid training with SJA: https://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-training-courses.aspx
    • With British Read Cross: https://www.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk/Courses.aspx?gclid=Cj0KCQiAoJrfBRC0ARIsANqkS_7x3ywyQJGp3UetzaQrrCNOsXBA7MPO5KztYsM6cxeqnNvdQXv0GR0aAjAHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds