Ten year 13 girls have been given the opportunity to work in the Royal Group of Hospitals this year in order to get an NVQ Level 2 Qualification in Business Administration.

The girls will attend the hospital three days a week and work in an administrative setting in departments ranging from Medical Records to Maternity. They will work alongside mentors, from the Royal and will be learning the many duties that are performed in these busy offices.

They will then come into school for two days where they will work with tutors from Belfast Institute (BIFHE), who will help them gather the evidence they need for their qualification. The BIFHE tutors will also be visiting them on work placement where they will be assessed in the tasks they have to perform.

My thoughts....

Jordan McCarley, Year 13
This year I chose to come back and study the new Level 2 NVQ Business Administration course. It involves a placement in The Royal Hospital for three days every week. When I first visited the Royal and was told I would be placed in the Clinical Records department, I wasn‘t very pleased! However, it has turned out more interesting than I thought!

My role within this department is a Clerical Assistant, I work alongside my mentor Caroline to produce and update documents for the Pharmacy Department. I find this department very interesting. For a large part of the day I use Microsoft Excel to update patient records. I am looking forward to the rest of my time at the Royal, I really enjoy my role within the department, and the people I work with are really helpful and make me feel very welcome!

I would promote this new course to anyone who is interested in administrative work as it is very enjoyable and different to any other course in school. It is interesting working and meeting people who actually work at the job that I would like to do in the future.

Danielle McClean, Year 13
I am based in the Human Resources department which I enjoy very much. The people that I am working with are friendly and have really helped me to settle in well. I have just finished my 1st week and I really, really enjoyed it. It breaks the week up for me, as I am working in the hospital three days a week and only in school for two days.

I hope to gain a NVQ in Admin. I think this will help me to gain a good job in the future. Also this course will help me get a job because it will give me work experience and the Royal Hospital is a good place to gain a reference from.

Victoria McCann, Year 13
I have been carrying out work experience in the Royal Hospital. I am based in the Human Resources Department which is a very busy department. It is hard work but it is fun also. The duties which I carryout involve answering phones, photocopying, using computers, etc.

I work with Georgette and Julia who are both very nice. Georgette is my mentor for the time that I am there. I have only been there 3 days but it has been very good. I really enjoy working there, I am so glad I have been placed in this department.