WORK SHADOWING STUDENTS

The following is a precis of the BMA guidelines regarding 'Work Shadowing Students':

Some kind of criteria is required for selection of observers. Numbers have to be limited because of the sensitivity of the clinical environment

Recommended Criteria:

• Evidence of efforts to find out about a career in medicine from other sources
• Predicted ability to pursue the course - This could be based on medical school entry requirements
• Ensure all interested students have an equal chance to take part in work observation, thus avoiding students being disadvantaged before the selection process begins.

Only observers who have already completed GCSE's or standard grades should be allowed in to clinical areas for work observation. The ideal time for school students to do work observation is in the summer of the first year of sixth form. This is after they have chosen appropriate A Levels or Higher Education for Medical School entry.

There are also other considerations that must be made when taking on student observers:

• Patient confidentiality
• Duty of care to both patient and student

Work shadowing at Whipps Cross:

We normally take students in the summer time, due to the fact that we have a large number of medical students throughout the year and this is the quietest time.

We take non-medical students on Work Shading placements from July until the end of August. Accepted students will get a one week placement. We only take applications directly from individuals as our clinical work shadowing programme is not linked to any schools or organisations (such as Trident).

If you are interested in a Work Shadowing placement in summer 2012, applications forms will be available online from the first week of March 2012, but will only be accepted from 02 April 2012.

Please ensure that you have read the full policy of work shadowing before you decide to apply. Please include your CV and covering letter when you apply.

All applicants must have agreement from their parent/guardian or teacher in order to be eligible for our programme, and their signature on the application form is required.

You must aslso provide a supporting statement (other relevant information), which will supply evidence of how a placement at our hospital will assist you with your studies and/or future career. We advise that you present your application as professionally as possible as we receive a high volume of applications for work experience placements.

A submitted application is not a guarantee of a placement, as access to our programme is highly competitive; we strongly recommend you submit your application as early as possible, usually at least six weeks in advance of the date of your requested placement. We also advise that you seek opportunities in other organisations in addition to ours in case we can not facilitate your placement.

If your application is successful you will be notified in writing and you will receive all relevant documentation; including honorary contract and pre-placement health questionnaire, which you are required to complete, sign and return before starting your placement.

Due to the large amount of requests we receive, we may not be able to acknowledge unsuccessful applications.

For more information, please contact:
Vaishali Joshi (vaishali.joshi@whippsx.nhs.uk)