- 'Work experience' is an unpaid short-term work experience taken by students in education and individuals from council supported initiatives, such as Yes Derbyshire and our Disability Employment Service.
- 'Placements' are an employment experience taken by students outside of school. Placements can vary in length and can last up to 2 years, depending on the type.
- 'Volunteering' is a way of giving up your time to do something useful in your local community without getting paid.
The following info tells you more about the different types of work experience we offer. Please read this before making an application.
School work experience
This is a week-long unpaid work experience if you're in the last 2 years of school (years 10 and 11).
You won't be paid and you won't pay tax or National Insurance contributions.
We're able to offer a small number of these work experience opportunities. We'll always do our best to support every application but we're unable to accept all requests due to the large number we receive.
How to apply
If you're a student, you're responsible for arranging your own work experience, although you may have support from your school careers officer.
If you're looking to do your week-long work experience with us, see our information about how to apply.
College and sixth form placement
This is a placement if you're a student, and it's a requirement of your college qualification such as T levels or BTEC.
These are unpaid and can either be in a block period of time, or a day or two a week spread over several weeks.
We normally expect that you'd be studying a course directly linked to the area in which you're looking for experience, and the work experience is a requirement of the course.
How to apply
If you're a student, you're responsible for arranging your own placement, although you may have support through your college or sixth form careers officer.
If you're looking to do your placement with us, see our information about how to apply.
Internships
The term internship usually means a longer, fixed period of work experience that falls outside your studies, but helps you gain experience within our organisation.
Traditionally, internships are formal placement opportunities for university students carrying out set tasks or a project, often over the summer break.
Internships are paid opportunities, which means they may also be advertised on our jobs website.
How to apply
If the internship is advertised on our jobs website, you should apply through that vacancy.
If the internship is not advertised, you should complete our online application form. See our information about how to apply.
Supported internships
Supported Internships are structured work-based study programmes if you are 16 to 24 years old with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and you have an education, health and care plan (EHCP).
Your college or learning provider will proactively help you gain experience with the aim of looking at future employment.
Students are not paid and will not pay tax or National Insurance contributions.
How to apply
We're currently designing our supported internship process.
Your college or learning provider should email cst.talent.development@derbyshire.gov.uk for more information.
University placements: industrial, sandwich, and 12-month placements
If you're a university student, this type of placement is for when you've completed 2 years of your degree and you're looking for one year of paid work before returning for your final year at uni.
The placement year should be an integrated part of your degree.
These types of placements are ideal for us as we'll benefit from the knowledge that you've gained at university. We find that students can bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm backed up with the latest skills and knowledge from their courses.
It also provides an opportunity for an extended trial period, and you may be a potential job candidate when you graduate.
This type of placement is paid.
How to apply
If the placement is advertised on our jobs website, you should apply through that vacancy.
If the placement is not advertised, you should complete our online application form. See our information about how to apply.
University placements for social work and occupational therapy students
Each year we offer placements to social work and occupational therapy students across the county as part of their professional training.
These are also known as statutory placements.
How to apply
Our practice development team works directly with universities to place students within our teams across the council. We don't accept direct applicants.
You should contact the appropriate team or individual at university if you're looking to complete a social work or occupational therapy placement with us.