On Our Mind

Posted on 17 Jun 2024

Kyra recently completed a work experience placement with the Trust’s Communications team. Hear about her time with #TeamNottsHC in her blog…

 

"For my first day at Notts Healthcare, I learnt all about what the Communications team and digital team do.  I saw how they create posts for recruitment, how to advertise their services, what they are currently working on in the team, and how their branding is used throughout what they create to make it recognisable.

The Team gave me my creative brief for a CAMHS project, where I can create a poster, social media asset and action plan. In the middle of my first day, I watched how a team meeting normally takes place and how they cover every topic, with specific people covering their own topic. During the last few hours of my first day, I learned about staff surveys, how they implemented sustainability within the Trust, site developments and media monitoring.

I was then given a task to create my own press release around the Green Plan and was shown what they have currently done for the Trust through their connect page, which was insightful to see, with the impacts that has already taken place.

For my second day, I started to use a new platform that I have never used before called Canva. I was shown how to create social media assets for the start of my day.   

For most of my day, I was shadowing the digital communication team on photography and videography. We went to take pictures of the CAMHS team in Bulwell, who have been nominated for the OSCARS award.  I was able to use a camera to take my own photographs.  After, we headed to Highbury Hospital to film a video of one of the directors for International Nurses Day, where I met some executives. Then, I got to experience how to use a tripod to film a video of one of the executives.

I started my CAMHS project at the end of the day to make a poster, social media assets and an action plan.

This is an example of one of the pictures of the CAMHS Team I took: 

On my third day, I continued to do my project using Canva and Clipchamp. On Canva, I was able to create posters and social media assets to target 7-18-year-olds. Using Canva, I could animate the Instagram posters and add sounds. My poster is based on a phone that is ringing from the CAMHS landline and I did a separate poster for specific topics such as exam stress, which is a very current topic.

I made QR codes and added links for accessibility, then I made a final video whilst recording my voice on top of the Instagram posters I made. This was my first time recording a voiceover for a video, and I got to edit my voiceover on top of my poster using Clipchamp and then I finalised my posters and brief action plan, got some feedback for my press release, which I worked on for the end of the day.

For my last day of work experience, I was able to write a newsletter around my project and was shown how newsletters are normally made as well as leaflets. After, I finalised my detailed action plan.

I thought about the whole process of creating the Trust’s CAMHS helpline with additional services and how to advertise the phoneline and other services. Through promoting the phoneline, I added in my action plan to do research and development within schools, where this phoneline could be useful for students. This would be helpful to know what students themselves would like to see, as the CAMHS phoneline service is targeted towards them.

I also edited an OSCARS award picture after watching how the Digital team edit their photos by removing the background of the picture and layering it on top of a blurred picture underneath.

From this week, what I have enjoyed the most was learning the variety of different areas of work in a communications team. This has allowed me to apply new skills from everyone I have met within the team throughout the week.

During this week, I was able to do different things within the team from photography to editing my own video to making a press release and newsletter.

I really enjoyed learning the variety of different skills there is within the Communication Team as I’ll never know when I would need these different skills for the career I will have in the future. I think for anyone who doesn’t know what they want to do in the future, doing your work experience in the Communications team will be very helpful because of the diverse range of work you learn about. The Communication team is very helpful when supporting you with your project, as anyone is willing to help.

They all talked thoroughly about what communications entails and how it links to their specific job by showing examples of what they have created in the past or in the present moment. This has made me really understand what the Communication team does because when I first came, I wasn’t really informed of what the team do for the Trust but now I have a deeper understanding of what a day-to-day basis is like for the Communication Team. 

Kyra Mandac, work experience student."

 

Toni Smith, Head of Communications said, "We were delighted to have Kyra join the Communications team for four days. Kyra brought fresh ideas and great energy, making a big impact in a short time. We were impressed by her enthusiasm and dedication.

“Work experience placements like this are incredibly valuable, as they provide students with a real insight into the industry, help them develop practical skills, and inspire the next generation of professionals. We wish Kyra all the best for her future studies.” 

If you would like to find out more, visit the Care4Notts website, which includes a directory of work experience offers for all health and social care partners across Nottinghamshire.  

Wanting to kick start your NHS career? View our latest vacancies, along with our fabulous staff benefits and development opportunities on our recruitment website. Join #TeamNottsHC and help make a difference!