Work experience placement: Medical Needs and Hospital Education service
Work experience placement: Medical Needs and Hospital Education service
As part of my second year studies, I contacted the service manager of an alternative provision local to me that provides support to vulnerable children who cannot access mainstream schooling due to mental health, medical needs or requiring hospital education. This job role appealed to me as it was clear from my first interaction with the manager that I would be given the opportunity to trial out many job roles, this suited me as I am very adaptable and always eager to learn. I knew the nature of this placement fit my existing skills well, working with a large team of professionals allowed my interpersonal skills to flourish while the students helped me to practise open communication and empathy.
My roles included two opposite ends of the working sphere; hands on assisting with the pupils and behind the scenes administrative tasks. This gave me an eclectic overview on what it is I prefer and allowed me to get the most out of the placement.
The hands on work was challenging yet so rewarding as I had to adapt my communication styles to fit differing ages, needs and sensitive situations. Due to the nature of this provision, a lot of the work we did was through art and PSHE activities which allowed me to slowly gain trust and form a bond with the students. One student even brought a cupcake just for me on her birthday!
From these connections, I was able to encourage the year eleven history students to attend some revision sessions with me where I received positive feedback from both the students and the staff. We focused on reinstating the material they were already familiar with and, with a lot of positive reinforcement, move on to some topics they had missed due to their personal schooling situations. At times this was too overwhelming for them as the reasons they had missed chunks of education could feel triggering. This was a huge learning curve for me as I was thrown into the deep end, navigating conversations that I felt honoured the students trusted me to discuss, yet wanting to approach these scenarios correctly as I knew how sensitive the material was.
The ability to tweak my communication techniques depending on my audience is one I will carry with me into the world of work. I feel it is an invaluable skill that has shown me how to strike a balance between professional and approachable. It helped me realise that the patience and interpersonal skills I had developed are so important when working with a team.
On the other side of my placement, I spent most afternoons learning about the companies computing systems for storing files, communicating and uploading new information. I had attained a full DBS check prior to this placement so was cleared to view personal information such as EHCPs and had a thorough grounding in GDPR so I understood the importance of data confidentiality. I thoroughly enjoyed working with this software finding it methodical and a relaxing contrast from my mornings of teaching. I was even trusted to add and review new data which was a privilege as a placement student.
My workspace was filled with motivational posters and students artwork that made for a pleasant work environment. I proved so productive with my set tasks that I was permitted to work on reading for university if I finished early. Another aspect of this side of the placement I enjoyed was shadowing the welfare officer. I attended both staff and student meetings, briefings and student reviews - it was fascinating to see how the service is run and to gain knowledge of the personal qualities and professional responsibilities needed for an official role with the Local Authority.
Overall, I found the experience fulfilling and enjoyable; it was a great opportunity to learn new skills and understand how the company operates. While I took a lot from the placement, I also realised how much you have to put into such a unique experience- dedication, patience and understanding are key in building trusting relationships. It has made me confident going forward that I will thrive in a team and will certainly be looking for a similar role.
