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Work Experience, Voluntary Placements and Employment
The Work Store at Worthing College The Work Store provides information and advice with regards to Work Experience, Voluntary Placements and Employment through drop in sessions, one to one appointments and through notices on Worthing College The Work Store Facebook page, the student intranet, emails and through the tutorial programme and college calendar of events. Help with arranging work and voluntary placements and preparation of CVs and applications can also be accessed through The Work Store. Kerry Mann, Independent Careers Advisor is also available by appointment.
Work Placements and Voluntary Work Work Placements are offered to all our students on the majority of Vocational Courses and are encouraged for all first and second year A Level students as a feature of their study programme. • Why participate in Work Placements and Voluntary Work? • To learn a particular job or industry. • As part of academic development. • As an experience for a personal portfolio, CV, Personal Statement, Record of Achievement, UCAS application. • Opportunity to gain a Worthing College Bronze, Silver or Gold Achievement award. • To discover something about personal skills, preferences, talents, interests. • As evidence of commitment to, and understanding of a specific career; particularly vital if you are considering teaching, physiotherapy, veterinary work, agricultural careers, nursing or medicine. • Opportunity to participate in National Citizen Service.
Are there any restrictions which apply to Work Placements and Voluntary Work? • •
Parental consent must be obtained for all under 18 year olds prior to going on work experience. Health and Safety checks have to be completed at the workplace prior to commencing, and safety advice provided to the student.
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Disclosure and Barring Service checks will be required for placements with children or vulnerable adults prior to commencing a placement, and there is usually a cost for this.
Work Placements should ideally take place during half terms, holiday periods or non-timetabled time. However, this is not always possible and circumstances will be considered on an individual basis. Work or Voluntary Placements may be timetabled for individual vocational courses. Students must also obtain a reference and authorised absence from their tutor/teachers. Placements must not impact on a students’ availability for internal or external examinations. Arrangements for the cost and organisation of travel to and from the placement are the responsibility of the student.
How do students organise a Work or Voluntary Placement? Students are encouraged, where appropriate, to take responsibility for making the initial contact with employers and should register their intention with The Work Store at Worthing College. Staff in subject areas may also assist in the organisation of placements. The Work Store and a representative from OUTSET YOUTH ACTION (volunteer organisation) is available to help give advice and guidance during advertised drop in sessions, or you can email theworkstore@worthing.ac.uk to arrange appointments at other times. There is also useful guidance on the student intranet to help get you started; My Future/The Work Store.
What type of opportunities have students participated in? • • • • • • • •
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Sports Assistants at Steyning and Worthing Leisure Centres. Occupational and Physiotherapy at Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. Volunteering at Guildcare and Worthing and District Stroke Club. Assistants at a range of WSCC schools such as Thomas A Becket, Chesswood and Downsbrook Schools, and Worthing and Chatsmore High Schools. Additional needs assistants at Palatine and Oak Grove Schools. Professional work placements at Ricardo, GSK, Adur District Council and local solicitors and banks. Medical and Veterinary placements at St Lawrence Surgery and Northdale Vets. Pharmacy placements at Worthing Hospital, Lloyds Pharmacy and Sainsbury Pharmacy. Physiotherapy at Worthing and Southlands Hospitals. Laboratory work at Glaxo Smith Kline. Volunteering at Worthing Hospital. Training buddy with disabled athletes. Worthing Libraries Summer Reading Challenge.
Worthing College, 1 Sanditon Way, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 9FD 01903 275755 info@worthing.ac.uk www.worthing.ac.uk