Virtual

Digital Careers in Health and Care with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS

Job sector

Digital, IT and Computing

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The programme is open to anyone aged 13+ living in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent

Certificate of completion

Over 6 hours worth of content

Overview

Health and social care is one of the largest and most exciting industries in the country. Integral to making sure that we’re healthy, happy, and cared for, there are over 350 dedicated and varied careers available and not just clinical roles!

Springpod and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS have partnered up to provide you with an insight into the digital side of health and care through a fantastic programme that will help you prepare for taking your first steps into this innovative and exciting area.

What’s Included

This Virtual Work Experience programme is bursting with engaging content designed to introduce you to the various services, careers and the professionals currently working in digital health and care in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, plus pathways into an early career, such as apprenticeships and T Levels! You’ll also complete a series of quizzes and fun activities to help build your understanding.

Introduction to Digital Careers in Health and Care

You will gain an understanding of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS, including what an integrated care system (ICS) is, the health and care services it provides, the organisations that make up the ICS and its overall vision and purpose. You will explore the role of digital technology in the health and care sector and examine digital transformation in health and care, looking at how digital tools are reshaping service delivery. You will look at real-world examples from mental health, primary care (your local GP services) and more. You’ll also explore the benefits of digitisation in health and care settings.

Application and Software Development

Data Analytics and AI

You will explore the world of data analytics and AI, investigating its core principles, such as accuracy and the critical aspects of security and privacy. You’ll learn how health and care organisations collect, process, and analyse data to uncover insights that enhance patient care, streamline operations and inform strategic decisions. Additionally, you will investigate the transformative impact of AI, discovering how it facilitates early diagnosis and employs predictive modelling for forecasting outcomes and resource needs.

Digital and Medical

We’ll provide you with a high-level introduction to digital transformation in medical settings, such as hospitals, and how technology is reshaping patient care and treatment. You'll explore a range of medical technologies, including pacemakers, surgical tools, diagnostic equipment, and drug-releasing pumps, to understand their role in monitoring, diagnosing, and treating patients. This module also features a recording of a live procedure which was streamed to students for The Hospital Virtual Work Experience.

Career Pathways

Discover the various career pathways available in the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Health and Care System, giving you an overview of the opportunities across multiple organisations. You'll explore apprenticeship routes and learn what to expect, and how apprenticeships can lead to a rewarding career in health and care. You’ll hear from current and former apprentices and how their careers have progressed. You will also look at T Levels, where we’ll outline the pathway for students who choose this technical qualification and how it connects to roles within the ICS.

Employability Skills

You might be thinking that a career with one of the many partners in the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS feels right for you! You will learn exactly which skills you’ll need to flourish. You’ll dive into teamwork, problem-solving, and communication! After a whistle-stop tour through employability skills, you’ll complete a learning summary activity designed to reflect on what you have learnt throughout the course.

Available dates

On Demand

Programme dates

5th May 2025 - 30th September 2025

Eligibility criteria

Region

Staffordshire

Hear from our student community

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Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Thank you for all your time and effort. The program was by far the best experience I’ve had virtually compared to other virtual experiences I’ve done. I liked the layout and the interactive activities, and I learnt a lot I didn’t know. I would definitely recommend this program to others; it was a great experience I would love to do it all again.

“

Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

I enjoyed understanding the many professions and areas within journalism that I had not been able to clearly separate prior to this programme; I particularly enjoyed the photojournalism and broadcast journalism sections, as they allowed me to explore a less conventional writing style than what I would normally use. The interactive tasks were a great way for me to demonstrate and put into practice my new knowledge, and all of the videos were extremely concise and helpful.

“

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

A huge thank you to everyone who made this programme possible. It was a fantastic experience, and I feel more confident in myself now when applying for a job position in the future and in my personal life. I valued this experience because I realised it was okay to make mistakes and how they make you stronger for future events. I loved how efficient the Barclays team was when students and the professionals who ran the live webinars asked questions. The skills I've learnt through this virtual work experience will be used for future endeavours. So once again, thank you so much.

Frequently asked questions

I have a question about my application or programme eligibility

When will I hear back if I have been successful with my application?

Once you have applied for your programme, you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified about the outcome of your application via email at least 3 days before the programme start date. Good luck!

Can I apply to multiple programmes?

Yes, you can sign up to multiple programmes with us. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any potential clashes.

Who can take part in the programme? (Age limits, some programmes have location constraints but most don’t etc.)

Most of our programmes require students to be in school/college. Some programmes require students to be based in specific regions of the UK, this is stipulated by the organisations themselves, and is not defined by Springpod.

However, the ages mentioned on our programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. As such, we more than welcome older students to apply as well!

I have a question about my assignment

How long does it take for assignments to be reviewed?

Assignments can take up to a week or longer to review and be marked complete. Rest assured, it will be reviewed soon and your certificate will be generated once your programme has been marked as complete.

What do I do if I upload the wrong file?

If you make a mistake when uploading a file, please email hello@springpod.com. We will be able to make a note on our system. Don’t worry, the outcome of your programme will not be affected by this.

I have a question about the programme dates, deadline or workload

How long will I have to complete this programme?

There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

When does the programme start?

Our programmes have various start dates, you can find the exact date on the programme website page. These are available here: https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/search

You will be notified if your application has been successful, 3 days before the programme start date.

What happens if I can't finish the work experience in time?

All programme material will remain accessible after the end date of the programme. Students can continue to work through their programme after the official end date. Although, if possible, we would strongly encourage students to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions.

How much work is required for these programmes? (Will I be able/should I complete more than one programme at a time)?

There is around 10 hours worth of work in total, spread across a two week period. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any work whenever possible.

When do the programmes run? (programme structure etc.)

Once you have access, you can view and complete the material as and when you can, within the time frame of the course in question (for example, within a two week period). In total, there is around 10 hours worth of work. The live talks will take place during weekday working hours. However, all live talks will be available as recordings and the courses can be completed at your own convenience. . There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

I have a question about the live talks

What happens if I can't make a live talk/webinar?

All live talks will be available as recordings. You can access these at the same link used to access the live event. So don’t worry if you can’t attend a live webinar, a recording will be available for you to access through your programme within 24 hours of the live event finishing.

What software is required for the live talks?

We use a piece of software called BigMarker. It is a cloud based video hosting software. It requires no installations or downloads on your end, and will provide everything you need to join the live webinars through one simple link.

Will I be able to ask questions/do I have to have my microphone on?

You will have a chance to ask questions at the end of each webinar. These questions are typed out and then read to the presenter by the host of the live talk. There is no need to speak, and all student microphones will be muted for the duration of the live webinar.

I have a question about the certificate

I have a question about in-person work experience

Do you offer in-person work experience?
We don't directly manage in person work experience but many of our virtual programmes can lead to in person opportunities, look for the programmes marked as 'Virtual to Reality'. You will need to complete the virtual programme and declare your interest via the embedded form.
When will I hear if there is an in-person opportunity?
Our employer partner will contact you directly about any opportunities, timescales can vary Springpod won't be able to provide any updates on progress.

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