Imagine all the areas of a hospital or Trust which need non-clinical staff - estates, catering, laundry and domestic, computing, clerical and secretarial, telephonists, porters, sterile services and stores. Some of these areas involve direct contact with patients, while others work behind the scenes at the hospital. Without them, the health service would not work so smoothly.

Managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of catering departments.

Managers: Degree, HND/BTEC or equivalent HCIMA qualification or practical experience of catering services.

Others: None specified.

Managers: Hotel Services Development Programme.

Supervisors: City and Guilds 706/1 and 2 or Certificate of National Examinations Board for Supervisory Studies or relevant supervisory experience.

Vacancies are advertised in the local and/or national press, trade journals and Jobcentres. For details of Management and Supervisory Development courses write to: Hotel Services Training Unit, David Salomon's House, Broomhill Road, Southborough, Nr Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0TG.

Clerical staff work in patient areas and offices, performing reception duties and maintaining patient records.

Vacancies are advertised in the local press and Jobcentres.

Managers plan and organise the work of supervisors and more junior staff who carry out cleaning and other housekeeping tasks which are required for patient and staff care.

Managers: Degree, HND/BTEC or equivalent HCIMA qualification or practical experience of domestic services.

Others: None specified.

Managers: Hotel Services Development Programme.

Supervisors: City and Guilds 764 Cleaning Science or Certificate of National

Examinations Board for Supervisory Studies or relevant supervisory experience.

Vacancies are advertised in the local and/or national press, trade journals or Jobcentres. For details of Management and Supervisory Development courses write to: Hotel Services Training Unit, David Salomon's House, Broomhill Road, Southborough, Nr Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0TG.

Estates staff include: architects, engineers, estate managers and planners, gardeners, operation and maintenance staff, painters and decorators, project managers, skilled tradesmen, surveyors and technicians. Responsibilities include strategic long-term planning, design and construction of buildings and the upgrading, operations and maintenance of the existing estate.

Entry requirements vary - ranging from those normally needed for craft apprenticeship, through various levels of achievement at GCSE and City and Guilds, to technical and professional qualifications for management posts.

Training requirements vary with each job but staff are individually counselled to ensure that training, the job and career are properly matched.

Personnel departments of health authorities, hospitals and Trusts. For full list click here. Also, The Institute of Hospital Engineering, 2 Abingson House, Cumberland Business Centre, Northumberland Road, Portsmouth P05 1DS.

Laundry services are looked after by linen services and laundry managers and their laundry operatives.

Managers: Need four GCSE subjects including maths, physical science and English with one at GCE A level (or equivalent).

Managers and Supervisors: In-house and external training courses are available.

Vacancies are advertised in the local and/or national press and Jobcentres. For details of Management and Supervisory Development courses write to: Hotel Services Training Unit, David Salomon's House, Broomhill Road, Southborough, Nr Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0TG.

Medical secretaries deal with consultants' correspondence.

Secretarial skills are essential.

Some hospitals/Trusts provide training during employment.

Personnel officer of your local hospital/Trust. For full list click here and advertisements in the local press or Jobcentres.

Porters have a range of duties such as moving patients between wards and departments, as well as the collection and delivery of a whole range of supplies.

None specified.

Vacancies are advertised in the local press and Jobcentres.

Sterile services managers are responsible for the provision of sterile supplies required for patient care and the disinfecting of medical and patient-associated equipment. Assistants undertake the preparation of instruments and equipment which need to be sterile

Managers: Aged 21 with five GCSEs, or equivalent passes, including maths, English language and a science subject.

Assistants: None specified.

Managers: Institute of Sterile Services Management, Sterile Services Department, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW.

Stores staff look after general stocktaking and the collection and delivery of stores to wards and departments.

None specified.

During employment

Personnel officer of your local hospital/Trust. For full list click here. Advertisements can be found in the local press and Jobcentres.