Growing Futures: The Value of Work Experience for School Students
At Spa Nursing Home Group, our mission goes far beyond care — we’re about cultivating meaningful connections, growth, and joy in every corner of our homes.
That’s why we proudly offer work experience opportunities to school students, helping them glimpse what it means to work with compassion, understanding and positivity at the core.
Why Work Experience Matters
For young people, their first experience in a work setting can be transformative. Especially in care, they discover:
Empathy in action as they interact with residents and observe the thoughtful work of staff.
Essential life skills like teamwork, active listening and respectful communication.
Real-world training exposure, from hygiene and safeguarding protocols to person-centred engagement.
A sense of purpose in roles that value kindness as much as competence.
It’s not just work experience — it’s people experience.
Living Our Values Every Day
Welcoming students into our homes reflects the values that guide every decision we make:
Compassion: We offer patient, personal support throughout the placement, making each student feel seen and valued.
Understanding: We meet students where they are, adapting our guidance to help them feel safe, informed and empowered.
Positivity: We create joyful, uplifting experiences that spark curiosity and confidence.
These values aren’t just taught — they’re lived and felt by everyone in our homes.
What Students Say
Some go on to study nursing, health & social care, speech & language therapy or other social care subjects. Others simply carry the experience forward into future roles, equipped with a better understanding of people and community. One student said:
“The best bit was making someone smile just by being there. You learn how important that is really quickly.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Building Bridges
We actively work with schools and colleges to make placements accessible, educational and reflective of real-life care. Our structured programme includes orientation, mentoring and feedback so students leave with skills — and stories — that last.
Whether it’s a week, a term or a summer, we see student placements as a vital part of our commitment to growing futures with empathy and excellence.
If you’d like to know more or arrange a placement, visit ‘Work Experience’ on our website – we'd love to have a conversation!