CARE FOR A JOB? Recession? Health business is anything but ailing..

Byline: TRICIA PHILLIPS

PROSPECTS on the jobs front are grim at the moment with one healthy exception - healthcare.

At any given time around 20,000 jobs are up for grabs.

The NHS alone needs 250,000 new people every year, while private hospitals, nursing homes and councils are big recruiters.

Although twothirds of these jobs require medical training, that still leaves opportunities aplenty for workers with skills such as admin, accounts, cleaning and gardening.

"With the complex needs of a growing and ageing population, healthcare shows no signs of being affected by the recession," says Barry Pactor of HCL, the health and social care recruiter.

The NHS says more people are joining this sector in order to have a purposeful career.

It's becoming an attractive area to work in. While the work is demanding, the rewards and job satisfaction make it all worthwhile.

WHERE THE JOBS ARE

THE NHS, with 1.3 million workers, is the largest employer in the country and the fourth largest in the world. On average there are 10,000 jobs to be filled throughout the NHS - check out www.jobs.nhs.uk.

As well as medical posts there are a massive 350 different career opportunities - from scientists to gardeners, IT specialists to healthcare assistants.

If you're looking for an admin role we found an A& E administrator in Manchester (from pounds 15,190) a data input clerk (from pounds 12,922), secretaries (from pounds 15,264) and a finance assistant on the Isle of Wight (from pounds 15,190).

In maintenance we spotted a part-time caretaker (pounds 12,517), a gardener in Norfolk (pounds 15,190) and an electrician in Luton (from pounds 17,732).

There are thousands of jobs in general healthcare and support that don't need hefty qualifications.

For instance in just a few seconds we located four cleaning jobs in Shrewsbury from pounds 15,190, a kitchen assistant in Sheffield (from pounds 13,233) and an assistant head chef in Salisbury from pounds 15,190.

Hospital porters are always needed. Among others we found a porter's job in Sherwood Forest, Notts, from pounds 13,233. Meanwhile, security officers, for duties such as patrolling car parks, earn from pounds 12,922 to pounds 15,950. South Tyneside NHS Foundation, for instance, is looking for a security officer (from pounds 13,233).

There are thousands of jobs available with HCL (www.hclhealthcare.com and www.medical- professionals.co.uk) from admin and clerical staff to doctors and qualified social workers, specialist nurses and scientists to physiotherapists and medical secretaries.

"If you're qualified, ambitious and hard-working, then a good health recruiter can find you the right job - there are even opportunities to work overseas," says HCL's Barry Pactor.

"If you're looking for a career change, then training in healthcare means you'll find work even when times are tough."

It's always worth checking out temporary jobs if you need flexibility or want to see what it's like working in healthcare. Try www.reed.co.uk/temp zone where we found the likes of a medical records clerk for pounds 7 an hour or general admin staff for around the same rate.

APPRENTICESHIPS

THE NHS is looking for 5,000 apprentices in various areas between now and March 2010.

From bricklaying and tiling to engineering and accounts, from IT to cleaning and catering, local NHS trusts are always on the lookout for candidates at www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details//Default.aspx ?Id=501..

There are also opportunities for medical apprenticeships and cadetships in areas such as dental nursing, midwifery, and occupational therapy at www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx ?Id=2066

REALITY CHECK

DESPITE talks of future budget cuts within the NHS, don't be put off applying for a job.

"There is no sign of any dip at the moment," says Sian Thomas from NHS Employers. "Obviously we can't guarantee absolute job security, no one can these days. But as an organization we are resilient.

"In fact, in a recession, demands on the NHS increase. We are always looking for good, talented people."

RETRAINING AND NEW CAREERS

MANY people are being inspired to train or retrain for an entirely new career that will get them into healthcare.

Clinical support staff work in a huge variety of different settings assisting healthcare professionals and sometimes working alongside them.

They might be based in a lab, a hospital or clinic or visit patients in their own homes, assisting with treatment or providing general care.

Healthcare assistants and auxiliary nurses (from pounds 12,922) can be employed without qualifications and then have the chance to get an NVQ qualification in care up to Level 3.

Even if you're aiming for a full medical career you may not necessarily need a degree or diploma, although this is still the most common way in. Visit the Nursing and Midwifery Council (www.nmc-uk.org) or the Royal College of Midwives at (www.rcm.org.uk) for details. Nurses and midwives can earn from pounds 19,166 to pounds 60,880.