You might find it useful to get voluntary work experience in a health or care setting.

You can apply directly to get into this job. Work experience in a healthcare setting will be useful, although not essential.

You'll normally need a good standard of literacy and numeracy. Some employers may ask for GCSEs in English and maths, or equivalent qualifications. Customer service experience can also be useful.

It might help if you have a manual handling or health and safety certificate, although your employer will train you on these when you start.

You'll need:

• sensitivity and understanding
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• to enjoy working with other people
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

In your day-to-day tasks, you might:

• move patients on trolleys or in wheelchairs between wards and departments
• deliver clean linen to wards
• collect waste, some of which may be hazardous
• move furniture and medical equipment safely
• transfer files, specimen samples and pharmacy boxes to different parts of the hospital
• move deceased patients to the mortuary
• deal with post and parcels

You could work in an NHS or private hospital.

You may need to wear a uniform.