Supported Internships
Supported internships enable young people aged 16-24 with a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN), or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to achieve paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.
Supported Internships are structured study programmes based primarily at an employer’s premises. They are unpaid and last for a minimum of six months, with the aim of supporting the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Alongside their time with the employer, learners complete a personalised study programme, which may include relevant substantial qualifications (where appropriate) and English and maths.
Every learner has access to a dedicated job coach who supports their pre-placement readiness and provides on-placement support. This support is tailored to the young person following an assessment of their needs, and may include travel training (route mapping and practice runs to and from site), demonstrations and modelling of workplace tasks to aid recall through repetition, use of visual aids, and opportunities for overlearning. Once a suitable placement is agreed and assessed, learners attend for a minimum of one day on placement.
Who can apply?
- People aged between 16 and 24, with a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and/or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
- Applicants must have an aspiration to gain employment.
- Applicants should be eager to become more independent and more confident.
Employers wanting to get involved
A diverse workforce creates many benefits for businesses. The UK has 10 million disabled customers, which equates to 20% of all customers, with a combined annual spending power of £80 billion.
Having a disability-inclusive workforce can enable employers to understand and access this sizeable market. There are many ways in which employers can increase the number of people with disabilities in their workforce, including supported internships. Every supported internship is different, as every young person has different abilities and career aspirations.
Play
Meet Luke
Meet Luke, a Supported Intern at Liverpool John Moores University’s Fab Lab. From assisting with 3D printer maintenance to supporting students and staff, Luke has grown in confidence, developed valuable soft skills, and even mastered independent travel.
Hear from Luke, his manager, and his job coach about his journey, the skills he’s gained, and the advice he has for future interns.
Where are they now?
Michael Hedges, working at Safe Regeneration.
“Thanks to support from the Learning for Life team and tutors from around the College, I have studied a range of different courses at Hugh Baird College. The tutors treat you as an adult and always listen to what you have to say. They are very calm when working with you and nothing is too much trouble. Any problems you may have, they will help you with. I am currently working at Safe Regeneration in Bootle as part of my Supported Internship. The job is great and get to learn so much. In the future, I hope to get a full time job and earn a wage. I’m sure the skills I’ve learnt at College will help me with this.”
