The first step in your career.

During my second year at uni though, I had a bit of a wobble and almost lost my nerve but then I thought, if I do this I’ll be pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and if it comes off things will be a lot less scary in future.

As it turned out, the application process wasn’t difficult. You apply in January and the placement usually starts in September. The School gave us a list of placements to apply to (you can apply elsewhere as long as it’s approved). I applied for options on the list and sent emails, cover letters and CVs to those I was interested in. I’ve always wanted to work with young people and one of the placements was in a children and young person’s mental health service. I was so excited when, following an interview, I was offered the role.

As a placement student, you worry that you don’t know enough, but I wasn’t treated like that at all. I was viewed as a new pair of eyes, who brought something different to the team. Wednesday was my busiest day. At 9.30 we’d have the multidisciplinary team meeting, where everyone came together to discuss the high-risk cases and cases where there were questions on the direction to take.”

“To begin with, I sat and observed, then I took the notes and would sometimes bring a case to the meeting, if the professional that I was observing couldn’t be there. In the afternoon, I’d attend an autism-adapted CBT group or a dialectical behavioural therapy group. Working alongside other professionals I’d help to create the content, then support the facilitating of the group and write up a summary afterwards.

It can be an intense environment and it’s important to speak up if you have any concerns. Part of the job is to be reflective and to be aware of how things can not only affect individuals accessing the service, but also the people who work there, so you’ll find the support is there if you need it.

My placement has been one of the highlights of my degree and definitely confirmed for me that working with young people is what I want to do; I’d love to return and work there after graduation.”