How do Supported Internships work in your Business?

Supported Internships are study programmes for young people aged 16 to 24 with special educational needs and disabilities. This combines ‘on the job’ learning with other skills to support work readiness.
The young person will have progressed through education to the point where they are considered able to prepare for full time work and the Supported Internship gives them the opportunity to learn employability skills at their college/training provider and undertake on the job training in the workplace.
For businesses these provide a fully supported work placement, lasting between 6 and 12 months, to help achieve a suitable job match as an outcome. This extended training opportunity allows the young person chance to develop the required job skills and the potential to job carve to suit a business need.
Providers will discuss with you how the right young people can match the available roles in your business.
The young people are registered and funded as still in full time education (with this identified as their last year before moving into work) so they are not employed by your business.
There are no costs to the business. There is no expectation that the intern will be paid during the Supported Internship.
Young people are selected for a Supported Internship based on criteria related to being capable of being ready to work, with the support of the programme, for up to twelve months.
Your company, with provider support, should then be involved in an adapted application and interview process, before agreeing the days and times of the placement.
The provider remains the point of contact for any queries and needs that you may have.
Providers support interns to apply for ‘Access to Work’ funding which can be used to overcome barriers, such as transport to work or specific equipment required.
The interns have job coach support at the workplace, provided/or organised by their training provider.
In order to qualify for a Supported Internship, the young person must have an Education, Health and Care plan. This means their skills and support needs are already documented and the job coach will know their individual needs.
It is expected that a supported intern joins the workplace for up to 70% of their week, though exact days and hours are arranged by mutual negotiation, depending on the young person and your business needs.
In the remaining time they are undertaking a personalised study programme to increase their relevant qualifications and work skills. These will include relevant English and maths but can also be directly related to the job, for example, health and safety or food hygiene certificates.
The placement must work for both the employer and the young person. Young people on Supported Internships are expected to comply with real job conditions, such as attendance, time keeping, appropriate clothing and suitable conduct.
The job coach will support your existing workforce in feeling confident to mentor and guide the young people as they progress.
The aim is that the young person can gain full time employment (above 16 hours per week) at the end of the Supported Internship. It is hoped that there may be an opportunity for this at their host employer; this should be based on a real business need (allowing for any ‘reasonable adjustments’ required by individuals).
Following the Supported Internship interns can still apply for support through the DWP ’Access to Work’ should they continue to require some additional support in the workplace.