NHS Lanarkshire Careers

Find your Pathway

Vacancies

NHS Lanarkshire advertises all general vacancies on the NHS Scotland Recruitment website at https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/.

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Pathways

NHS Lanarkshire has a variety of full and part-time posts available whether you are looking to change your career or start fresh, we welcome people from all walks of life.

We recognise that people may have gained invaluable skills from other professions that may be transferable to NHS Lanarkshire so we welcome people from a range of backgrounds.

If you wish to discuss any of the Pathways in general, contact the Employability Team on: NHSLEmployability.HubTeam@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

To find the right qualification for you, please visit https://www.learningforcareersuccess.nhs.scot/

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Pre-Employment Programme

NHS Lanarkshire offer pre-employment programmes which providing an opportunity for candidates to learn new skills within NHS Lanarkshire and work closely in partnership with external organisations. Some examples of organisations you could work with are; Barnardo’s Work, Princes Trust Get into Healthcare and Project SEARCH.

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NHS Demonstrator Programme

NHS Lanarkshire’s Demonstrator Programme is a paid placement opportunity funded by Scottish Government, referrals come from Routes to Work partners in North and South Lanarkshire. Flexible working hours are offered to encourage more parents back into the workforce, this helps people get back into the routine of working and managing childcare responsibilities.

The Programme offers 6 months paid employment to unemployed/low-income Lanarkshire residents who fall into the eligibility criteria.

Picture: NHS Demonstrator Programme Induction Day

The types of placements on offer include portering, domestic assistant, healthcare support worker, catering assistant and clerical/admin assistant. During the individual’s time on the Programme, they are offered support and guidance from the NHS Lanarkshire Employability team who carry out 1-2-1 support as well as running networking sessions which include goal setting, CV Building and interview skills.

The Programme intake happens once per year in September and to be eligible to apply, you need to a registered client with Routes to Work Ltd or Routes to Work South. To find out more about upcoming Programmes, please contact your local Routes to Work office.

You can read more about our most recent Programme on one of our Pulse stories – https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/pulse-celebrating-nhs-demonstrator-programme/.

NHS Demonstrator Programme Case Studies

Nzube – Employability Team Clerical Assistant – Law House

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Hear from Katie one of the Project Search Lecturers and Jade a former student, talk about her time on Project Search:

There are no formal entry requirements, candidates are asked to attend an interview and an assessment process.

More information on Project SEARCH can be found on the New College Lanarkshire website – https://www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk/courses/supported-learning/dfn-project-search.

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Apprenticeships

We offer a range of apprenticeship opportunities to support individuals at different stages of their career. Whether you are leaving school, starting your career, or looking to develop new skills, our programmes provide a structured pathway into NHS careers.

Modern Apprentices 2025-2026

Modern Apprenticeship

A Modern Apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while earning a wage and working towards an industry-recognised qualification.

If you are aged 16–24, or up to 29 if you are care experienced or have a disability, you may be eligible to apply.

This pathway allows you to earn while you learn, developing both professionally and personally while gaining a recognised qualification to support your future career progression.

We welcome applications from school leavers or those with limited experience and look for those with a willingness to learn, enthusiasm and transferable skills.

We currently offer Modern Apprenticeships in:

• Healthcare Support
• Social Services and Healthcare
• Digital Applications
• Data Analytics
• Business and Administration
• Pharmacy
• Hospitality
• Professional Cookery
• Estates and Facilities Maintenance

We typically recruit two cohorts each year, with programmes lasting between 12 and 48 months, depending on the role and qualification level.

Stay informed about opportunities by joining our Mailing list

You will be notified by email when vacancies go live. All opportunities are advertised here: NHS Scotland Jobs Website

Support Available

All Modern Apprentices are supported by the NHS Lanarkshire Employability Team throughout their journey. This includes:

• One-to-one guidance and regular check-ins
• Access to networking opportunities
• Team-building activities
• Goal setting and personal development support
• Application and interview preparation towards the end of the programme

This structured support helps apprentices build confidence, develop their skills, and progress into employment within NHS Lanarkshire or beyond.

Case Studies

Foundation Apprenticeship

Foundation Apprenticeships provide senior phase pupils (S5 and S6) across Lanarkshire with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience within NHS Lanarkshire as part of their school curriculum.

These qualifications are equivalent to an SQA Higher and are recognised by employers, colleges, and universities. Pupils choose this as one of their subjects, combining academic learning with practical experience.

What the programme includes:

• Classroom-based learning, typically delivered at college
• A practical work placement within NHS Lanarkshire
• The opportunity to develop skills in a real healthcare environment

We currently offer placements in:

• Business Skills
• Social Services and Healthcare
• IT Software

How to apply

• Foundation Apprenticeships are delivered in partnership with schools. To apply, you must be a S4 pupil progressing to S5 or a S5 pupil progressing to S6
• Speak to your teacher or guidance staff, who will support you with subject selection and the application process.

Graduate Apprenticeship

Graduate Apprenticeships offer the opportunity to gain a university degree while working full-time within NHS Lanarkshire.

These roles are suitable for individuals looking to progress into specialist areas while earning and gaining practical experience.

Entry requirements:

Applicants typically require a minimum of four Highers or an HNC (or equivalent), with an interest in the subject.

Current opportunities, in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University and University West of Scotland include:

• Cyber Security
• AI & Data Science
• Business Management
• Project Management

Vacancies are advertised throughout the year, please visit NHS Scotland Jobs Website

To stay updated, you can also register your interest via our GA Mailing list.

Start your journey

An apprenticeship with NHS Lanarkshire is more than just a job; it’s the start of a rewarding career within Scotland’s largest healthcare workforce.

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Clinical Employability Programme

This is a practical 6-week training Programme, in partnership with DWP and New College Lanarkshire, aimed at those who wish to start a career within healthcare.

We run on average 5 cohorts per year with around 20 people on each Programme.

This involves some classroom learning at the college and in NHS Lanarkshire before moving onto placement in a hospital, learning to become a healthcare support worker.

At the end of the programme, individuals will be registered with NHS Lanarkshire’s staff bank and can take on shifts as a healthcare support worker.

To apply for the course, you can register your interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/6XqQa58Kc0 or speak to your local DWP office.

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Interested in becoming a medic?

Being a doctor is a highly rewarding career where you can make a difference to peoples lives by diagnosing and treating illness and disease whilst working as part of a team of medical professionals. Delivering the best possible healthcare to patients and their families is of top priority.

Before you apply to study medicine, you need to make sure you have the accepted grades to be accepted onto the degree programmes at university and you also need to sit the UK clinical aptitude test (UKCAT). More information on this test can be found on the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) website: https://www.ucat.ac.uk/

In Scotland, there are 5 universities that offer a degree in medicine which makes the application process very competitive. The entry requirements vary between universities. You can find what is required using the following websites;

• University of Aberdeen
• University of Dundee
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• University of St Andrews

Further information about medical schools in the UK can be found on the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service website: https://www.ucas.com/explore/subjects/medicine-and-allied-subjectsand Colleges Admissions Service

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Already studying medicine?

If you are already at medical school, you may be starting to think about your training after you graduate. Once you have passed your final exams and got your medical degree, you can then apply for foundation training. This is through an application process via the UKFPO National Programme.

Following graduation from medical school, the two year foundation training programme is the first stage of postgraduate medical training in Scotland. The foundation programme is designed to give you broad experience in a range of specialities, populations, geographical regions and also work within teaching hospitals and remote and rural areas. More information on the Scottish Foundation School can be found on the Scottish Medical Training website: https://www.scotmt.scot.nhs.uk/foundation.aspx.

Interested in training as a GP?

General practice speciality training is a popular career path providing many opportunities to develop your skills. GP’s treat common medical conditions of patients and can refer them to hospital or other medical services if specialist intervention is required. Information on GP training in Scotland can be found on the Scottish Medical Training website: https://www.scotmt.scot.nhs.uk/general-practice.aspx.

Hospital speciality training

NHS education for Scotland (NES) runs the delivery of training programmes for a range of specialities for training medics. All of content and curriculum for these programmes is approved by the General Medical Council (GMC). More information on this can be found on the Scottish Medical Training website: https://www.scotmt.scot.nhs.uk/specialty.aspx.

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Interested in becoming a nurse?

To become a nurse, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which you would gain after you graduate from university.

There are many paths to becoming a nurse, some of the following are below.

You may find it useful to undertake some relevant work experience within a healthcare setting via workplace placement. You could also get involved with our volunteering programme which is highly rewarding. More information on this can be found on our volunteering page. This would be great for your experience and help you when applying to university.

There are also both foundation and modern apprenticeships available which would help you gain knowledge and skills within healthcare settings. Please see below for more information:

• Social Services and Healthcare Foundation Apprenticeship
• Healthcare – My World of Work

You can study for a HNC in Healthcare Practice at college which could lead onto a pre-registration undergraduate nursing degree.

Fully-funded degree-level nursing programmes through the Open University are available if you’re an experienced nursing support worker who wants to become a registered nurse.

In Scotland, many universities offer undergraduate programmes in adult nursing, approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). A list of approved programmes can be found on their website: https://www.nmc.org.uk/education/quality-assurance-of-education/how-we-approve-education-programmes/programme-approval-visit-reports/.

Pre-registration undergraduate programmes usually take around 3 years full-time study. There are part-time options and distance learning opportunities may be available.

More information on our nursing careers can be found on the NHS Scotland website: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/careers/explore-our-careers/nursing/.

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Service leavers and veterans

If you’re an armed forces service leaver or veteran, you may already have the knowledge and skills we’re looking for. We are here to help you find the right job for your skills.

Armed forces qualifications

You may be unsure about how your qualifications and experience will be recognised in the NHS. When you’re applying for a role, we may ask for specific qualifications or equivalent experience.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) can help you understand your qualifications. You can find out more about the framework and the level of your qualifications on the SCQF Support for Veterans web page.

When searching for vacancies on our recruitment website, you’ll see that each job description includes minimum criteria. Knowing the SCQF level of your qualifications will help when you apply. Your qualifications and experience could also be suited to jobs you’ve not thought about before.

Transferable skills

Transferable skills are the skills you can use in lots of different jobs. You’ll develop them throughout your life, in education, in work and in your social life.

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Graduate Training Programmes

If you have graduated from University and are looking to start your career with the NHS, we offer graduate training programmes which offer salaried work and the opportunity to learn new skills.

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Management Training Scheme

We are always looking for ambitious and driven individuals and our management training programme aims to recruit individuals who are enthusiastic, talented and confident and would be committed future leader in the NHS. We pride ourselves in equal opportunities and our current and previous trainees come from a variety of backgrounds. There are some entry requirements which are listed below;

• Qualified to SCQF level 10 in any subject area
• Are of any age
• Have the right to work in the UK

More information on the programme can be found on the NHS Education for Scotland website – Management Training Scheme website: https://www.mts.scot.nhs.uk/

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Returning to Practice

If you have previously worked within NHSScotland and wish to return, we have opportunities available. Depending on how long you have been away, you may need to take a refresher course and update your registration.

Nursery and Midwifery

The return to practice scheme funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) provided support for former nurses and midwives wishing to return to practice by paying for their tuition fees. For up-to-date information visit NHS Education for Scotland’s website – Return to practice (Nursing and midwifery) page: https://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/our-work/return-to-practice-nursing-and-midwifery/.

GP Returner Programme

If you are a GP who has been out of general practice for two years and wish to return to practice, the GP returner programme is supported by the Scottish Government and financial aid can be provided. More information can be found on the Scotland Deanery website: https://www.scotlanddeanery.nhs.scot/your-development/gp-induction-and-returner-programmes/scotland-gp-returner-programme/.

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Volunteering

Volunteering is a selfless act and NHS Lanarkshire are proud to have around 160 people who give up their time and commitment as volunteers to a wide range of services and initiatives throughout NHS Lanarkshire.

Our volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the level of care and service patients receive.

To learning more about our Volunteering service, please visit our dedicated page: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/get-involved/volunteering/

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Contact Us

If you wish to find out more about our pathways, please contact the Employability Team on: NHSLEmployability.HubTeam@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk.

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