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Intern to Work - Supported Internships

Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme for 16 to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an Educational Health Care Plan. The core aim of a supported internship is a substantial work placement, facilitated by the support of an trained job coach. Supported internships last for a minimum of 6 months, and up to a year. Alongside their time with the employer, supported interns complete a personalised study programme delivered by the school or college, which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, if appropriate, English and maths. 

Every young person is supported in the work placement by a trained job coach, put in place by their education provider or a supported employment agency. The job coach provides in-work support that tapers off, if appropriate, as the supported intern becomes familiar with their role. Job coaches also work with employers, increasing their confidence in employing individuals with additional needs and helping them to create and support a diverse workforce.

The aim of supported internships is to support young people with EHC plans to gain paid employment by:

  • supporting them to develop the skills valued by employers
  • enabling them to demonstrate their value in the workplace
  • developing confidence in their own abilities to perform successfully at work.
  • The measure of success of a supported internship is a transition to sustained and paid employment.

 

Difference between a supported internship and a traineeship or apprenticeship

Supported internships and traineeships are work-based study programmes that aim to support young people into employment. Apprenticeships are paid jobs that include off-the-job training.

Supported internships are specifically for young people with an EHC plan, and as such, they are expected to require a different level of support compared to a trainee or apprentice.

Supported internships are a great opportunity to improve the life chances of young people with SEND by supporting them into sustained, paid employment. Achieving paid employment not only brings young people financial independence, but it can be key to:

  • building confidence and self-esteem
  • increasing health and well-being
  • gaining friendships and a social life
  • There are also benefits for the economy, employers, families, the local community and wider society. 

Department for Education Supported Internship Guidance

 Find out more information on Educational Health Care Plans  

Internships Work project is funded by the Department for Education and will double the current supported internship provision in England. It is designed to support more young people with additional needs to have greater choice and control over their future, opening opportunities that prepare them for adult life and independent living.

National Development Team for Inclusion, Internship Resources

Information available on Preparing for Adulthood  

Preparing for Adulthood Tools and Resources  

 

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Intern to Work - Supported Internship Programme

What type of internships are available?

Intermnships are available at the following sites

  • Site Name: Liverpool City Council
  • Location: Cunard Building, L3 1AH and various sites across Liverpool
  • Business Sector: Government administration
  • Age range: 16 to 24
  • Must be travel trained: Yes, or willing to explore travel training.
  • Previous work experience needed: No but some would be preferred.
  • DBS check: Yes, depending on placement.
  • References sought – including attendance record: Yes
  • Number of interns on programme: 8
  • Rotations available: 3 rotations per intern
  • Offer external rotations: Yes
  • Contact information: interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk

  • Site Name: Liverpool University Hospital and Alder Hey Hospital
  • Location: Broadgreen Hospital Thomas drive, L14 3LB
  • Business Sector: NHS  
  • Age range: 16 to 24
  • Must be travel trained: Yes, or willing to explore travel training.
  • Previous work experience needed: No but some would be preferred.
  • DBS check: Yes, enhanced, must have ID.
  • References sought – including attendance record: Yes
  • Number of interns on programme: up to 24
  • Rotations available: 3 rotations per intern
  • Offer external rotations: Yes
  • Contact information: interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk

  • Site Name: HMRC
  • Location: India Buildings , L2 0RD
  • Business Sector: Civil Service   
  • Age range: 18 to 24
  • Must be travel trained: Yes, or willing to explore travel training.
  • Previous work experience needed: No but some would be preferred.
  • DBS check: Yes, enhanced, must have ID.
  • References sought – including attendance record: Yes
  • Number of interns on programme: up to 12
  • Rotations available: 3 rotations per intern
  • Offer external rotations: Yes
  • Contact information: interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk

  • Site Name: Various 
  • Location: Various
  • Business Sector: Animal care, land based.   
  • Age range: 16 to 24
  • Must be travel trained: Yes, or willing to explore travel training.
  • Previous work experience needed: No but some would be preferred.
  • DBS check: Depending on placements.
  • References sought – including attendance record: Yes
  • Number of interns on programme: up to 12
  • Rotations available: 3 rotations per intern
  • Offer external rotations: Yes
  • Contact information: interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk

How to apply for a Supported Internship?

You can apply directly to a Post 16 education provider below:

Greenbank College . – Opportunities available Liverpool City Council/NHS hospitals

City of Liverpool College  - Opportunities available NHS hospitals / HMRC

Myerscough College  - Various

Contact local schools for information on their Supported Internship programmes

Abbots Lea School  

Bank View School

Childwall Abbey School.

Sandfield Park School.

Support for employers

Free one hour  webinar for Liverpool City Region employers and organisations delivered by Knowsley Council and Liverpool City Council to raise awareness of Learning Disabilities and Neurodiverse conditions including Autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dyspraxiacontact interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk for more information and how to register 

Videos and case studies

Ellie - Princes Primary

Tom - Schuh

Charlie - Liverpool Heart and Chest

Tom - Bank View School

Oliver - Booker Flowers

Angela - parent/carer view

Supported Intern Campaign

Reverse Jobs Fairs

Liverpool City Region Supported Employment Forum

Aim – bring together all people in Liverpool City Region working in supported employment to learn about each other’s projects, where they overlap and how we can work together to increase the number of people with additional support needs being supported into paid work.

Frequency - the forum will meet monthly.

We are following guidance from the Department for Education – Preparing for Adulthood on setting up a Supported Internship Forum as detailed below.1

The aim of a local supported internship forum is to bring together all the local partners who can develop and deliver supported internships in a local area, with the goal of creating routes that will support more young people with SEND into paid employment.

Key players should include some of the following:

  1. Local authority representatives from the SEND department and adult social care department.
  2. Employers who are prepared to offer employment.
  3. All schools and colleges in the local area, including mainstream, special, private, post-16 education and training providers.
  4. Parents and carers, for example through the local Parent Carer Forum.
  5. Local voluntary and community sector organisations.
  6. Supported employment providers.
  7. Local entrepreneurs who are used to making change happen quickly, thinking out of the box and can have networks and connections to influential decision makers.
  8. recruitment company, as they will know what is going on with individual employers, and are constantly in contact with employers.
  9. Local Job Centre contact, e.g. the Disability Employment Advisers.
  10. Key person to facilitate the meetings: someone with passion, drive and ambition for the project.
  11. Young people with SEND, for example through a children and young people’s forum.

Contact - for more information please contact us on interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk

Who to contact

Contact Name
Chloe Foran
Contact Position
SEND Employment Support Officer
Telephone
E-mail
interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk
Website
Supported Internships Website
Notes

For any enquiries regarding Liverpool’s supported internship project – Intern To Work – please contact us at interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk

We use Twitter to post updates please follow us on @intern2workliv

Other Details

Availability

Other notes

Internships Work is a new project which will enable 4500 young adults, aged 16-25 with additional needs, to benefit from a supported internship per year by 2025.

The project is funded by the Department for Education and will double the current supported internship provision in England. It is designed to support more young people with additional needs to have greater choice and control over their future, opening up opportunities that prepare them for adult life and independent living.

Internships WORK

Local Offer

Links
Supported Internships
Local Offer Age Bands
Young Adults (16 to 25)
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