About us

At the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT), we’re all about quality. Our vision is simply to deliver the best quality and safest care to our community.

The commitment, care and compassion our staff hold is reflected in our Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection results. We’re one of a handful of trusts across the country to have been rated as ‘outstanding’ – and we are exceptionally proud to hold this accolade.

Serving a rural population of around 280,000, we aim to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time – whether in the hospital or community settings across west Suffolk. We deliver high-quality services in a variety of settings including people’s own homes, care homes, day centres, schools, GP surgeries and health centres, as well as the Newmarket Community Hospital inpatient unit and clinics, and our main site, the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

Working in the NHS

The NHS requires a wide range of roles to deliver safe and effective care to the community that it serves. Roles can be described as clinical and non-clinical.  Clinical roles deliver care directly to patients/relatives/service users whilst non-clinical job roles support the service.  Examples of these include catering, engineering, IT and finance. The WSFT fully supports health ambassador programmes to give potential employees a view of job roles available and an experience of the organisation.

• Clinical shadowing experiencing placements

Clinical shadowing placements are one to two days of shadowing/observing doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals. They are available to students over age 16, i.e. sixth form/college/post-grad. A structured programme is given to the student to ensure that they experience a wide range of learning opportunities. The student will be supported by the nursing directorate education team throughout their placement.

Students wishing to apply should email voluntary.services@wsh.nhs.uk for an application form. They should complete and return it with a copy of their CV and letter from their tutor confirming the student matches their requested placement. Students will need to complete a health questionnaire, and an individual risk assessment for under 18's will be undertaken. 

• Non-clinical work experience placements for year 10/11's

A small number of non-clinical work experience placements may be offered each year to year 10/11 students for one week only. Priority is given to local schools on a first-come-first served basis. Placements are offered in non-clinical departments, e.g. human resources and communications, medical library, estates and facilities. 

Students wishing to apply should email voluntary.services@wsh.nhs.uk for an application form. They should complete and return it with a copy of their CV and letter from their tutor confirming the student matches their requested placement. Students will need to complete a health questionnaire, and an individual risk assessment for under 18's will be undertaken. 

• Student volunteer programme

Our student volunteer programme is an excellent opportunity for sixth form and college students to regularly volunteer on a busy ward helping ward staff and patients. This is especially useful for any student considering a career in healthcare or hoping to study medicine at university.

We offer approximately 30 placements a year, with applications open in January for placements within that same year. 

Students will need to commit to 50 hours volunteering (a two hour session covering mealtime hours, once a week for six months), from June to December or September to March. This allows students to become a valuable member of the ward team, giving them an immersive and rewarding volunteer experience, while avoiding students having to volunteer during their school exams. 

Application forms are available for students; age 16-19, wishing to apply for a student volunteer placement - email: voluntary.services@wsh.nhs.uk

• Apprenticeships

Why consider an apprenticeship?

• earn a wage while you learn
• gain nationally recognised qualifications
• get paid holidays and bank holidays
• receive training and support in post
• receive a thorough induction and regular review sessions
• you will be designated a mentor to help guide your apprenticeship
• learn job-specific skills

Apprenticeships are available for clinical and non-clinical job roles within the WSFT. You will require employment within the Trust. For further information please email Apprenticeships@wsh.nhs.uk

Join us – what will you #BeKnown for?

The WSFT has recently launched a new recruitment campaign titled #BeKnown. It tells the stories of WSFT staff and what they’re known for among their close knit working community. Big or small, everyone makes a contribution to the Trust and its patients.

Whatever your role, whatever your ambition, we want to get to know new recruits, to help develop your career and help you to be the best you can be. We believe our Trust is a great and nurturing organisation and we welcome you to #BeKnown for whoever you are.

For more information, visit http://beknown.wsh.nhs.uk or follow #BeKnown and #WeAreWSFT on social media.

All vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website: www.jobs.nhs.uk