Work Experince & Volunteering

[Dr_Scully]

Hello all,

I have looked at the marking form for work experience - however I can't quite figure out if what I have qualifies.

I have volunteered at a listener for The Samaritans for nearly 2 years now - does this count as a caring environment?
My only other experience is shadowing and then a few months of care work 3 years ago.

Unfortunately working full-time (and when I was studying I was also working full time!), has left me little opportunity for trying to find HCA work. I have shadowed for 2 months in one location and 1 week in another.

Should I attempt to undertake anything else between now and the time I hand my letters in?


Thanks everyone

[Elly by the sea]

Hi Dr Scully
It might be worth calling St Georges about this, to make sure. Volunteering with Samaritans sounds like a caring environment to me, and I think long held volunteering positions are highly regarded by the uni.
Also, the shadowing should have given you a decent insight into the dynamics of a hospital environment. Sounds like you've got some pretty solid and relevant experience under your belt.
But I know what you mean, it is tricky to figure out.
Give them a call to calm your nerves.
Good luck!!
Elly

[mirifahmy]

So to add to that...
I have worked in a centre that helped youths with learning and physical difficulties. We did activities with them at the centre and took them on excursions.
Following that when I came back to England, I volunteered at a similar centre that lost funding after a month.
I then started my teacher training and during that period I opted to spend time in a school for pupils with sever and profound learning and physical difficulties over three weeks.

Since then I have worked full time as a teacher and am trying to organise some voluntary work over the weekend but given the speed of the paperwork and other bureaucracies, I do not know if I will have time to get more experience in before the interview letters etc come through.

I will try calling the university, but can anyone add any further advice or tips?

Many thanks!

[mesoldsan85]

Does anyone have this form that they could send to me? I am wondering whether my work experience is enough or even recent enough to be considered favorably. I have done HCA work for 2 years in an outpatient setting (2009-2011) and worked in laboratories since. Would it be recommended to do some more work experience?