Work Experience Officer

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 16 May 2025

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for an outgoing, highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the charity team and facilitate the planning and delivery of our work experience and student volunteering programme.

This is a great opportunity to work as part of an amazing team who have a wealth of knowledge and skills to train and support the right applicant.

Our vision is to support our future workforce and provide students with an opportunity to gain an insight into different areas across our hospital sites. As a primary contact, the post holder must have confidence to communicate with colleagues, students and external organisations at all levels.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be a first point of contact to both motivate and inspire individuals to pursue careers within healthcare and across our hospitalsites.

A vital role to manage the work experience waiting list and provide effective support in coordinating the smooth running of the young personprogrammes on offer across the Trust and who will be key to ensuring high quality placement experiences are achieved. The post holder will haveexcellent interpersonal skills, who is able to proactively build strong relationships with colleagues at all levels which is vital to ensure continuity ofplacements. A key element of the role will also be to support students taking part in the student volunteering programme by coordinating therecruitment process and supporting the delivery of ward based training.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-VOL8666-EH

Job locations

Charity Bungalow, Luton Hospital Site

6 Calnwood Road

Luton

LU4 0ET


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please review full job description and person specification attached to this advert for full details of the role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please review full job description and person specification attached to this advert for full details of the role.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • Level 6-9 in Numeracy, Literacy/ English Language or Equivalent
  • A Level or equivalent qualification / experience

Desirable

  • HR / Recruitment Qualification
  • Mentoring / Coaching Qualification
  • SEND Qualification
  • Degree

Experience

Essential

  • Experience/ Evidence of positive in person engagement with people from a range of backgrounds
  • Minimum of 1 year experience/Evidence of working in administration or office support
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills through different forums with staff at all levels and external organisations
  • Confident public speaking skills

Desirable

  • Peer management skills: know how to get the best out of people who may have multiple objectives and tasks that may be different to your own
  • Experience of recruitment processes
  • Experience in supporting or running placement programmes
  • Experience in working with young persons
  • Experience working with volunteers
  • Experience in delivering training
  • Experience interacting with patients

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Fully trained in and with good skill levels in use of all Microsoft Office Applications
  • Trained in use of and reporting from a database or another organisation specific database
  • Excellent customer service skills

Desirable

  • Knowledge/use of Harlequin database
  • Knowledge and understanding of individual needs for those undertaking placements

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Understanding of the need for confidentiality awareness at all times
  • Possess high emotional intelligence and exceptional interpersonal skills; a people person
  • Motivation to work with and mentor young persons and Individuals
  • Be able to empathise with people's stated needs and emotional drivers
  • Ability to remain calm under pressure and have resilience to deal with stressful and complex situations and resolve these face to face, via telephone or email
  • Positive and enthusiastic approach to always look for the best outcomes
  • Honest and with a high degree of personal integrity
  • Able to prioritise own work load and work to deadlines
  • Ability to work autonomously and as part of a busy team
  • Reliable
  • Self-aware: know gaps in your own knowledge and skills and not be afraid to ask for assistance
  • Well-presented and professional behaviour to maintain a high personal and professional standard that enables effective working relationships with others
  • Always keen and able to learn and improve
  • Attention to detail as well as ensure accurate recordkeeping and follow-up on assigned tasks. Able to be task oriented but also see the bigger picture

Other

Essential

  • Flexibility to cover out of hours to deliver ward based training to include evenings and weekends
  • Ability to travel across hospital sites as required
  • Access to a car to attend engagement events

Demonstrated Skills

Essential

  • Strong Supporting Statement to meet role requirements

Desirable

  • Application completed fully
Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • Level 6-9 in Numeracy, Literacy/ English Language or Equivalent
  • A Level or equivalent qualification / experience

Desirable

  • HR / Recruitment Qualification
  • Mentoring / Coaching Qualification
  • SEND Qualification
  • Degree

Experience

Essential

  • Experience/ Evidence of positive in person engagement with people from a range of backgrounds
  • Minimum of 1 year experience/Evidence of working in administration or office support
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills through different forums with staff at all levels and external organisations
  • Confident public speaking skills

Desirable

  • Peer management skills: know how to get the best out of people who may have multiple objectives and tasks that may be different to your own
  • Experience of recruitment processes
  • Experience in supporting or running placement programmes
  • Experience in working with young persons
  • Experience working with volunteers
  • Experience in delivering training
  • Experience interacting with patients

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Fully trained in and with good skill levels in use of all Microsoft Office Applications
  • Trained in use of and reporting from a database or another organisation specific database
  • Excellent customer service skills

Desirable

  • Knowledge/use of Harlequin database
  • Knowledge and understanding of individual needs for those undertaking placements

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Understanding of the need for confidentiality awareness at all times
  • Possess high emotional intelligence and exceptional interpersonal skills; a people person
  • Motivation to work with and mentor young persons and Individuals
  • Be able to empathise with people's stated needs and emotional drivers
  • Ability to remain calm under pressure and have resilience to deal with stressful and complex situations and resolve these face to face, via telephone or email
  • Positive and enthusiastic approach to always look for the best outcomes
  • Honest and with a high degree of personal integrity
  • Able to prioritise own work load and work to deadlines
  • Ability to work autonomously and as part of a busy team
  • Reliable
  • Self-aware: know gaps in your own knowledge and skills and not be afraid to ask for assistance
  • Well-presented and professional behaviour to maintain a high personal and professional standard that enables effective working relationships with others
  • Always keen and able to learn and improve
  • Attention to detail as well as ensure accurate recordkeeping and follow-up on assigned tasks. Able to be task oriented but also see the bigger picture

Other

Essential

  • Flexibility to cover out of hours to deliver ward based training to include evenings and weekends
  • Ability to travel across hospital sites as required
  • Access to a car to attend engagement events

Demonstrated Skills

Essential

  • Strong Supporting Statement to meet role requirements

Desirable

  • Application completed fully

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Charity Bungalow, Luton Hospital Site

6 Calnwood Road

Luton

LU4 0ET


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Charity Bungalow, Luton Hospital Site

6 Calnwood Road

Luton

LU4 0ET


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Work Experience Mngr & Specialist Volunteer Lead

Mhairi Emery

mhairi.emery@bedsft.nhs.uk

01582497384

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-VOL8666-EH

Job locations

Charity Bungalow, Luton Hospital Site

6 Calnwood Road

Luton

LU4 0ET


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)