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Headstart into Healthcare - Key Stage 3 and 4 Resources

Welcome to our Headstart in Healthcare resources for Key Stage 3 and 4 students.

Below you will find a number of resources suitable for students in Year 7 - 11, including:

  • A short introductory video about what the NHS is and who works in the NHS
  • A 360 degree video, which follows the story of Josh and his grandad as he meets various NHS professionals, and starts to think about his future career
  • A series videos of different healthcare professions explaining what they saw in Josh's story
  • Short animations of current professionals and undergraduate students talking about their professions
  • A workbook, containing information and activities centred around health careers
  • A Colour activity book looking at a number of professions in the NHS and what they do in their day to day roles

The final section of this resource details some further advice and guidance for students interested in a career in health and social care.

Part One - What is the NHS?

In this video, Mark from our outreach team talks about the NHS, and the different people who work in the NHS.

What is the NHS? - Watch the Video Here

Part Two - Meet Josh and Patrick

This short film follows Josh and his grandfather, Patrick, as they navigate Patrick’s health issues and Josh’s future career aspirations together.

Children can use a pair of VR goggles to view this video. If you have received a pack of cardboard goggles from us, you can find instructions here on how to setup your device and view the VR film.

Alternatively, you can view the film below on your PC, tablet or mobile device.

Meet Josh and Patrick - Watch the Film Here

This short film follows Josh and his grandfather, Patrick, as they navigate Patrick’s health issues and Josh’s future career aspirations together.

Part Three - Professional Opinions

Whilst there are important skills and values that are shared by all healthcare professionals, there are also significant differences between them, with each profession having a particular remit and specific knowledge, skills and ways of working with their patients.

The VR film shows Patrick at home and at a clinic appointment, talking about how he is feeling and what he is able, and unable to do.

The videos below have been recorded by registered Adult and Mental Health Nurses and a Cardiac Physiologist, explaining what they were each thinking whilst watching the film.

They explain what questions they would ask, the tests they would do and some initial thoughts as to why Patrick (grandad) might be feeling like he is.

Adult Nursing Perspective

Hear what Adult Nurse, Barbara, thinks about Patrick's case

Cardiac Physiology Perspective

Hear what Cardiac Physiologist, Shehan, thinks about Patrick's case

Mental Health Nursing Perspective

Hear what Mental Health Nurse, Sam, thinks about Patrick's Case

Social Work Perspective

Hear what Social Worker, Robin, thinks about Patrick's case

Part Four - What Do They Do?

In this section, you can view a number of animated videos from current students and healthcare professionals, talking about their day to day roles.

Explore the tabs below to find out more.

Meet Beth - Adult Nursing Student

Meet Hollie - Staff Nurse

Meet Laura - Cardiac Physiologist

Meet Michael - Mental Health Pharmacist

Meet Prince - Mental Health Nurse

Meet Rashmi - Consultant Psychiatrist

Meet Shehan - Cardiac Physiologist

Meet Vicky - Veterans' Services Manager

Part Five - Activity Workbook

Now that you've had chance to find out more about some professions within the NHS, have a go at working your way through our workbook, which includes further information, activities and quizzes about careers in the NHS.

Headstart into Healthcare Workbook

Click here to download a copy of our activity workbook

Part Six - Colouring Activity Book

You can also download our colouring resources, which take a further look at what different healthcare professionals do in their day to day roles.

Colouring Activity Book

Click here to download a copy of our colouring activity book

Your Future in Health and Social Care

What Should You Be Doing Now?

To access most health professions, you will need to study a degree at University, after studying at Sixth Form or College.

Your first step into healthcare is getting good GCSE grades, as most University courses have entry requirements you need to meet in order to study that course. It’s important that you focus on doing well in school and getting good grades in a number of subjects, especially English, Maths and Science, as you’ll need all the skills and knowledge from these subjects once you’re studying at University.

In Year 11, you’ll start to look at the various options available to you once you leave school. If you want to study a health profession at University, you need to do your research and see if there are any subject specific requirements for entry to these courses, as some professions need you to have studied certain subjects at either A Level or in other alternative qualifications, such as BTECs. This will help you decide what subjects to study at college or sixth form.

You can find out this information either on University websites, or on the UCAS website, which details entry requirements for all University courses in the country.

What Can You Do In The Future?

Healthcare is an exciting and diverse area to work in, offering a wide variety of opportunities and experiences. Once qualified, people usually spend some years working clinically in their chosen profession.

Over time, people often move jobs to gain experience in different places and clinical specialities within the sphere of their own profession. This might include moving from working in a hospital to working in the community, prison service, armed forces, universities, private or voluntary sector healthcare provision.

Over your career, you may choose to continue working as a clinician, with direct contact with patients. However, you could also use your knowledge and experiences and move into different roles, for example within management, research or teaching.

Follow the links below to find out more about the various professions we have talked about in this project on the NHS careers website.