WATCCH: a multiprofessional approach to widening participation in healthcare careers

Abstract

Background: Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are underrepresented in higher education and healthcare careers. Whilst most healthcare-related widening participation schemes focus on one healthcare profession, the Widening Access to Careers in Community Healthcare (WATCCH) programme at Imperial College London supports participation in a range of community healthcare careers. We aim to evaluate the impact of WATCCH on students' perceptions and aspirations towards community healthcare careers.

Method: WATCCH provides educational and application support to 16-18 year-old students interested in a variety of community healthcare careers via work experience, educational workshops and mentoring. The programme was evaluated by focus groups using semi-structured questions to explore the impact of WATCCH on students' healthcare career perceptions and aspirations.

Results: Five themes were identified from the focus groups: increased awareness and understanding of a range of community healthcare careers; improved insight into the realities of healthcare careers enabling reflection on career aspirations; altered perceptions of healthcare professionals and acquisition of new role models; increased confidence in achieving a career in healthcare; and valued access to previously inaccessible work experience.

Discussion: WATCCH is a multi-professional widening participation programme that has supported students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds interested in entering healthcare careers by increasing insights into varied healthcare careers, provision of role models, and increasing students' confidence of ability to enter healthcare careers. Similar programmes in other institutions could support large numbers of aspiring students to enter varied community healthcare careers in the future.

Keywords: Widening participation; healthcare careers; primary care careers; widening access.