Supported Internships

A supported Internship for a young person with an EHCP is there to prepare them for supported employment to then eventually a job. It works on building their skills and experience to make them job ready. 

With support from the college, employer and a work coach, they will also have support around them. The work coach is there to have regular meetings/reviews with the young person, employer, and the college as a parent/carer you are also able to join if you have any concerns. 

Frequently asked questions

Is there a cost to the programme?

• Our programmes are funded by the Education & Skills Funding Agency and the Department for Education. We also work closely with and are funded by a number of local authorities.

How will they get to their placement?

• They will be required to travel themselves but there is funding through Access to Work for training on public transport available for them if required.

What is Access to Work Funding?

• Access to Work is a grant from the department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which helps pay for practical support so that disabled people can do their jobs.

How are placements found?

• It is based of the young persons likes, hobbies and what they have suggested they would like to do.

What if my young person doesn’t like their placement?

• Their work coach will have to be informed and we would look for a different placement which might suit them more.

Are you a business that can make a real difference to young people’s lives?

A supported Internship is an excellent way of helping a young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to get on the first step of their career ladder.

They offer valuable opportunities for young people with SEND as they transition from education to the workplace. By offering supported internships, employers not only contribute to the personal and professional growth of these young individuals but also foster an inclusive work culture. Through diverse hiring practices and providing support, businesses unlock hidden talents and create a thriving workforce.

Why you should take on a support intern. 

• They will attend college as well as placement, this gives them extra knowledge of the job they will be doing.
• The young person will have been carefully job matched to ensure it is helping both the intern and you.
• The intern will be supported by a Job Coach at the start which will be there not only for the intern but to support you as well. This support will slowly decrease as they have been on the programme but will always be contactable.

‘I think as a team we’ve benefitted. It’s good to see my colleagues show what mentoring skills they have, and how they go about teaching someone their role. We also know what tasks the intern can be left with, and know we’ll get good results.

Our intern was keen to learn, so didn’t want to take his holiday allocation as he didn’t want to miss a week!

Yes, I would definitely like to get another one – they were a valuable asset and slotted into the team really well. Would also recommend to other colleagues.’ - IT Team Leader

Frequently asked questions

How much will it cost me?

• The internship placements are unpaid, because participating in an extended work placement is part of the young person’s programme of study at their school or college. The primary goal of a placement is to help a young person with learning difficulties to develop the skills they need for paid employment.

Will the young person fit in to my workplace?

• If you are thinking about hosting a placement, we will work with you to understand the role you have available, to ensure the bet job match between the intern and you. We may also suggest ‘job carving’, which means working with you to tailor the extended work placement to best meet your business needs, whilst utilising the strengths and abilities of the young person.

What happens if things go wrong?

• If the placement starts going wrong, be honest and act quickly. Contact the job coach and explain your concerns, so that any issues can hopefully be resolved quickly.

What support will I receive during the internship?

• The job coach will work with you to arrange the induction and settling in period, and provide as much support as is needed throughout this time. The job coach will also support you to make any reasonable adjustments that may be needed. As the young person becomes more confident and able, the job coach will gradually withdraw their support, but you will still be able to contact them at the time if any issues arise.

What happens at the end of the internship?

• The aim of supported internships is to prepare young people with learning difficulties for employment. As the intern has been fulfilling a real business need in your organisation, you should consider whether you can take them on as a paid member of staff at the end of their internship. This wont always be possible: you may not be in a position to recruit, or the intern may not have met the required standards. You can still play an important part in helping an intern achieve employment elsewhere, e.g. by providing a reference, recommending the intern to other employers, or giving honest feedback about the skills and/or behaviours that the young person still needs to develop.

Do I need special insurance?

• Interns are covered by the employer’s insurance as if they were an employee.