Produced in partnership with HM Government
Play a vital role
DO YOU dream of a career that’s exciting, fast-paced and rewarding?
One where you make a real difference in people’s lives and can be part of one of Britain’s best-loved institutions?
Well, that’s the reality for more than 1.6 million people employed by the National Health Service in England.
And it could be yours too.
The NHS is Britain’s biggest employer and has full-time, part-time, bank and volunteer positions across a wide range of more than 350 roles.
Perhaps you’re looking for the buzz and camaraderie of working in a busy hospital.
Maybe you need flexible working around childcare and job security.
Or the generous pension scheme – one of the best in the UK – appeals to you.
Whatever your skill set, qualifications or interests, climbing the career ladder in a supportive, caring environment is possible with the NHS.
There are a number of entry-level roles – a great first step to a career in the NHS.
As a healthcare support worker, for example, you don’t need qualifications.
The role is also varied, allowing you to work in hospitals, GP practices, people’s homes or the community.
It’s a great way to build skills and you can earn a starting salary of £22,383 while you’re doing so.
With a degree, plus training, you can become a nurse, nursing associate, allied health professional or midwife if desired.
A newly qualified nurse at band five will have a starting salary of £28,407.
NHS jobs come in all forms – from hospital porters, healthcare assistants, cooks and cleaners to paramedics, nurses, doctors and midwives.
There may be opportunities to earn additional payments for working on-call, overtime, or unsocial hours.
Everyone plays a valuable role in making our national institution great.
The NHS celebrates its 75th birthday this year, and its biggest asset has been and always will be its dedicated and compassionate staff.
Below three people describe their experience of working in the NHS. Are you ready to join them?
‘A real privilege’
STEPHEN LITTLE, 45, lives in South Shields, South Tyneside, with his wife Emma and two young boys. He works for the North East Ambulance Service as a volunteer development team assistant and patient journeys facilitator.
“I jumped at becoming an NHS 111 call handler in 2019.
My cousin, an NHS patient transport team planner, heard the ambulance service was looking for operators and thought I’d be a good fit.
I’d previously held management roles in the pub, restaurant and licensing trade, but I needed flexible hours to work around my two young children.
The choice of different shift patterns and the flexibility of full or part-time hours or weekends was a godsend.
I’ve always been a good listener and verbal communicator, which are key skills for the role.
The training programme was intense but needed to be because of the nature of the work. It greatly prepared me for the different scenarios I’d encounter.
Every day was different.
One minute I’d get a call from a patient who couldn’t get hold of their prescription drugs on a bank holiday, the next day someone would be having a heart attack and didn’t realise it.
It was a real privilege to be on the end of the phone helping the patients.
But 18 months into the role, I caught a bad strain of Covid, which wiped me out. I couldn’t talk for very long without losing breath and kept getting headaches.
Even though I loved the job, I needed one that involved less talking.
I was so thankful when the service placed me on alternative duty.
I now organise out-of-area journeys for the patient transport service and do the invoicing side of things for the volunteer development team.
My hours are 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday, working mostly from home, which suits me perfectly.
My uncle has been a paramedic with the health service for more than 30 years, and I can see why.
There’s great camaraderie, and the flexibility is fantastic.
We’re also looked after well with a generous pension scheme and we are well remunerated.
I don’t ever see myself leaving the NHS – it’s truly a national treasure.”
‘Great team’
STACEY JAMES, 36, is a mum of four children aged seven, 11, 13 and 18. She lives in Southend, Essex, and is a healthcare assistant at Southend Hospital, part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
“When I began working as a healthcare assistant (HCA) four years ago, I never expected to enjoy my job as much as I did.
Now I’m about to start cannulation training and hope to become a permanent staff member.
My mum, who has been an HCA for 20 years, was the one who suggested I apply for the role.
I’d previously trained as a hairdresser, but when my marriage broke down, I needed to find work that would fit around my kids. Working as bank staff for two long days from 7am-7.30pm was ideal.
I’m not assigned permanently to one ward but I love helping the elderly patients – whether it’s assisting with their personal care, doing observations, feeding them or simply spending time with them and being an ear.
Sometimes they’re lonely and are so grateful when you sit, listen and chat with them.
They always thank me and say it means so much to them.
But it works both ways. Hearing all their amazing stories is great too.
My hairdressing skills have been put to good use as well.
On the ward, we have an inflatable sink, which means even bedbound patients can get their hair washed.
They love the experience.
It also motivates staff and creates a positive, friendly environment.
Our team is like family.
Everyone is always there for each other, including my manager, who is very supportive.
Being an HCA is the perfect entry position into the NHS. If I want to move into nursing, I can train, skill up and increase my salary.
I’m so grateful my mum suggested I apply for the role. And now my eldest is in training to become a paramedic.”
‘So supportive’
ADAM SHARIF, 36, lives in Clapham, south London. He has worked for the London NHS Foundation Trust for eight years and as a diabetes dietitian for six.
“I’ve always been interested in health and nutrition. I work as a personal trainer in my spare time and studied for a nutrition and dietetics degree at London Metropolitan University before working for the NHS.
But when my mum was diagnosed with diabetes, I decided to specialise in the condition. That was six years ago.
I’d spent the previous two years providing dietary advice to patients, and calculating protein, vitamin and minerals for those who needed tube feeding.
When I told the trust my plans to focus on diabetes exclusively, it was so supportive.
One of its main aims is to keep staff for as long as possible, so it trains you up, develops you and does all it can to help you reach your potential.
During my training, I spent six months shadowing other people who were managing diabetes, and I was sent on a course. I also enjoyed a pay rise.
Now I run weekly group education sessions with a diabetes nurse and hold diabetes clinics where I see newly diagnosed patients.
I educate them and try to help them better manage their lifestyle and improve their blood sugars to see if they can stay off insulin.
Nothing beats the feeling when patients go into remission because they’ve overhauled their diet and lost weight.
They’re so happy, often in tears of joy, and feel they have their lives back. It makes me feel valuable too.
Every day at work is rewarding and different. I doubt I’ll ever leave the profession.
There’s also the pension scheme.
I’ve just bought a flat. I’m loving my job, and I’m really excited for the future.”
Find a rewarding career in the NHS with a whole host of benefits at healthcareers.nhs.uk