Introducing the WATCCH Project - Widening Access to Careers in Community Healthcare

The Undergraduate Primary Care Education team in the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London has kicked off an exciting new work experience programme called WATCCH – Widening Access to Careers in Community Healthcare.

There is a shortage of work experience in the health sector for pupils, particularly for those who have no connection to healthcare professionals. WATCCH aims to open up work experience opportunities in the healthcare sector by offering placements for sixth form pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to shadow various allied healthcare professionals in general practices. These 16/17 year olds have completed their GCSEs with good grades, do not have placements elsewhere, and are the first in their family applying to university.

Pupils will attend a pre-placement induction at Imperial College's Charing Cross Hospital Campus, and will then have a 3-day work experience session at a general practice where they will observe a variety of allied healthcare professionals in the community, e.g. health visitors, phlebotomists, nurses and physiotherapists.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to help change pupils' perceptions of wider healthcare careers, how primary care works and to allow them to utilise their experience with you in their application form.

If you are a GP or other allied healthcare professional interested in participating in the WATCCH project, find out more by emailing watcch@imperial.ac.uk

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