Work experience

King’s Work Experience

King’s supports local young people who are interested in pursuing healthcare careers by offering one-to-five-day clinical and non-clinical work experience placements. Participants are matched with passionate mentors based on their career interests. Participants gain invaluable experiences while learning about the work environment, job duties and skills necessary for success.

Upcoming placements

Eligibility (all criteria must be met)

• Between the ages of 16 and 19 years.
• Lives in Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Orpington or Bromley.
• Current secondary school student, with priority to those not attending a private school.

Placement sites

Placements take place at our King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital sites.

Types of placements offered

We have a growing base of professionals who are looking to support the next generation of healthcare workers. Roles vary per placement week and are dependent on the availability of mentors.

Non-clinical teams

• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Finance
• Human resources
• International and private patient services
• Learning and organisational development
• Occupational health
• Project management
• Quality improvement

Clinical teams

• Acute medicine
• Anaesthesiology
• Cardiology
• Child health
• Gastroenterology
• Haematology
• Hepatology
• Histopathology
• Liver care
• Nursing
• Occupational therapy
• Orthopaedics
• Orthoptics, optometry and ophthalmic imaging
• Surgery
• Radiography
• Pharmacy
• Urology

Project SEARCH

For the 2023-24 academic year, the Trust has partnered with DFN Project SEARCH and local colleges to provide internships for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism at King’s College Hospital and the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH).

Project SEARCH is a national programme for people aged 18 to 24 years old with learning disabilities and/or autism to gain work experience. The programme provides real life work experience combined with opportunities to develop life skills to help young people with learning difficulties make successful transitions from school to adult life. Project SEARCH is a collaboration with the DFN Foundation. The programme began in the UK in 2008 and today runs over 70 schemes throughout the UK and Europe. They have supported more than 1,500 young people into paid work.

We are working with DFN Project SEARCH, Lambeth College, London South East Colleges, Lambeth Council, Bromley Council, Unity Works and Mencap to facilitate placements for interns from September 2023.

Our interns

The interns will gain a year’s worth of experience in different departments of the hospital, including clinical areas, clinical support services and corporate services. The placements they undertake are assigned based on their skills, abilities and interests.

Each intern will spend 10 to 12 weeks in each of their three placements before graduating in July 2024.

A member of King’s staff will provide mentorship to each intern. The mentor will work alongside them during their placement, providing training and guidance. The interns also receive support to complete their final year of education from their on-site job coach and tutor.

Find out more

If you would like to find out more about the programme, please visit the Project SEARCH website.