On Tuesday 27 June, local students attended an innovative health and care careers event in Bassetlaw, where they were presented with a wide variety of job opportunities within the health and social care sector.
Working in partnership with Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), Retford Oaks Academy, and other health, social care, and educational originations in the area, ‘We Care into the Future’ supported local students to understand what career opportunities the NHS and care sector has to offer upon completion of school. Year 8 students from secondary schools across Bassetlaw were invited to learn about over 100 careers through interaction at 45 stands across the event, giving them an insight into the reality of working in health and social care.
Replicating past successes of hosting the ‘We Care into the Future’ event in Doncaster, the day was designed to be both educational and engaging, making it a highly interactive experience. Students began their day journeying through a simulation corridor which demonstrated a patient’s realistic journey from the community to the emergency department, operating theatres, hospital ward, and then back into the community. From there, students were able to visit and speak to specialists working on stands that displayed their career pathways, as well as examples of their everyday practice through exciting interactive games, scenarios, models, and displays.
The students interacted with a range of education providers who were able to provide and advise on a wide variety of both academic and vocational pathways available in health and social care after leaving school. Through this, they were able to help challenge the typical perceptions of working within the health and social care sector and inspire the students for future aspirations in a range of careers.
For more pictures of the day, please click here.
Dr Sam Debbage, Director of Education and Research at DBTH, said: “We were so pleased to be able to host the ‘We Care into the Future’ careers event at the Retford Education Centre this year. After successes at past Doncaster events, we were delighted to give local Bassetlaw students the opportunity to meet in-person specialists in health and social care as well as educationalists who were able to both educate and inspire them for future career pathways that can both benefit themselves and their local communities.”
Luke Dickinson, Principal for Retford Oaks Academy, a Foundation School in Health, said: “The day was a fantastic opportunity for our young people, allowing them to learn about a wider range of opportunities within the health and care sector, outside of the roles they were already aware of. These events really help to kickstart the conversation of considering their Keystage 4 pathways and beyond when looking at their career aspirations and how they can benefit their local community.
“Retford Oaks Academy has been working in partnership with DBTH as a Foundation School in Health, and we are incredibly proud and grateful for our Healthcare Ambassadors, who were able to provide support on the day supporting the organisers by helping with guiding students around the event as well as using their photography and videography skills to capture the day’s events.”
At DBTH, there are over 250 different career pathways, from patient-facing to non-patient facing who all work together to deliver quality patient treatment and care.
At the event, there were representees from DBTH, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, BPP University, RNN Group, Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (BCVS), Barnsley Premium Leisure, Home Instead, Nottinghamshire County Council and Bassetlaw District Council.
This event is part of a new partnership between DBTH and Retford Oaks Academy, having become a Foundation School in Health last year. Due to the event’s success interest has been generated from organisations nationwide who wish to replicate and hold similar events for their local young people. DBTH are hoping that with their support, We Care into the Future will become a nationally recognised Health and Social Care careers event.
To find out more about this careers event, head over to the We Care into the Future pages here.