Secondary school students have been learning about a career in the NHS and care by following the story of a teenager who had been in a road traffic accident. A specially created film follows the story of 18-year-old Jay Perez from his journey from emergency care, through surgical intervention and during his aftercare both in the hospital ward and at home. The film, launched by the South Yorkshire Integrated Care System Schools Engagement Team, uses NHS and care staff, although Jay himself is played by an actor, to give young people the opportunity to see what sort of roles there are in the NHS and care and see what they do to care for patients on their journey to recovery.
The virtual simulation video follows on from the success of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals annual “We Care - into The Future” careers event at the Doncaster Dome which comprises a live, simulated patient pathway. Creating a video version allows insights into the featured careers to be accessed by many more pupils across a wider geographic area and supports inclusion and widening participation with this valuable tool.
Funded by Health Education England, partners across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw worked together to show a snapshot of just how many people can be involved in one person’s patient journey. Actual Health and Social Care staff members took part in filming, to make the simulation as close to real-life as possible. Only the patient, Jay, was played by an actor. Filming took place in authentic NHS and Social Care settings such as GP surgeries, theatres and the emergency department.
Christine Joy, Chief People Officer at NHS South Yorkshire, said: “We are committed in South Yorkshire to attracting our future health and care workforce from our local schools and communities. The patient journey video spotlights a range of careers and helps young people to better understand the roles on offer and think about the right career for them.
“We want young people to be able to imagine themselves having a career in our sector as not only can we provide a multitude of a varied and rewarding careers, our young people will play a crucial part in contributing to the health and wellbeing of our population.”
The simulation has already been piloted at a secondary school in Barnsley where feedback has been very positive. One pupil said: “the video was entertaining; I want another one to be made!”.
Classroom resources have been created to be used alongside the video to aid understanding and are being made available via www.syrechealthandsocialcarecareers.co.uk. The video will be available both in one full length video but also as four individual videos so that, alongside the resources, the simulation can be delivered as a lesson.
The video will be streamed live on Wednesday 21 September 2022 12pm – 12:30pm via YouTube and will be made available via the SYREC Health and Social Care Careers login area after it has premiered.
YouTube Premiere: https://youtu.be/lqW2zpI9wxs
Full Access to video(s): https://www.syrechealthandsocialcarecareers.co.uk/login
Health Education England will be having a live launch for the video on the Thursday 23 February 2023 when Jay’s Story will be launched as a National Resource, putting South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Health and Social Care providers on the map.