WORKING IN –STEP INTO
When people think about job roles in healthcare, the ones which generally spring to mind are doctors, nurses, midwives and paramedics. While plenty of staff are needed to fill those invaluable roles, and many in the Armed Forces community already do those jobs, did you know there are actually 350 different careers available in the NHS?
The range of roles offered within the NHS is vast, from frontline clinical staff to project managers, healthcare scientists and the huge support workforce such as electricians, secretaries, accountants, gardeners and chefs who keep the ship afloat. Don’t forget that not all jobs in healthcare are based in hospitals
either.You could work inaGPsurgery,apharmacy,an ambulance trust oramental health service provider.
The Step into Health programme works with NHS employers to provide adedicated pathway for the Armed Forces community to access the numerous career opportunities available in the NHS.
Gemma Wright, Armed Forces programme lead at Step into Health said: “Veterans and their families are aperfect fit for roles in the NHS and have atremendous amount of skills and attributes to offer,such as adaptability,planning, organising, dealing with change, emotional resilience and being able to work under pressure.
Jane O’Brien, aPractice Educator for Dorset County HospitalNHSFoundation Trust shares…
In 2007, after five years’ service Ileft the RAF –Ithought Iknew what to expect as a‘military wife’ working within the NHS….I was wrong! It can be abumpy ride and one that is very unique and underestimated.
Ihave gained some incredible experience and made some amazing friends along the way.
“Employers in the NHS are welcoming contacts through Step into Health, so if you haven’t already,it’s really worth considering acareer in the NHS.”
Youcan find details of employers running the programme on the Step into Health website. There are also links on the site to Health Careers, where you can explore the different roles and apprenticeships open to you.
If you’re at the point of looking for anew role, the NHS Jobs website can also help you find roles within aparticular area and there is arange of supportive guides on how to apply for roles in the NHS.
Whatever your skills and experience, it’s likely the NHS needs people just like you. As the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday, could you be part of its future?
Moving is hard.Weare committed to being afamily unit, but this entails sacrifices. Relocation means anew job and this can result in you leavingamuch loved position. Prior to this posting, Ihad ajob within aspecialised department at The Royal Papworth Hospital, it was such asmall field (pulmonary hypertension) and Ihad no chance of continuing in this when we moved. This was tough as it was ajob Iadored, it took some time for me to adjust and settle in anew role after relocating. Career progression can be stunted as you can work hard to establish yourself in arole -only to move and start all over again. Additionally, you can miss out on promotion opportunities due to moving, but Ifeel this is countered by abroad range of experience in different clinical settings. It helps to see the silver linings!
Jane O’Brien
At our previous two locations, Iwas fortunate to have agood network of friends –postings were reasonably close together so we could still meet regularly. Our next move was hundreds of miles, so these friendships became ‘long distance’ and Ihave felt quite isolated. This makes finding agood
job even more important, as it is the main way to make friends and develop asupport network –this is something Imost missed in 2018 when my husband was deployed. It’s the first time Ihave felt alone and this had an impact on both me and my five year old son. However Iwas fortunate in that my line manager was incredibly supportive and this was ahuge relief. Flexible working can be a constant worry due to lack of support and reliance on childcare and this can prevent spouses within the NHS from taking
ENVOY
SPRING 2019
raf-ff.org.uk
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FEATURE WORKING IN THENHS
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