What could be more rewarding than helping to train, inspire, then see someone develop their skills and give back to your business?

A Supported Internship is an opportunity for employers to give a young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and an education, health and care (EHC) plan the chance to experience the world of work and potentially become your next recruit.

Read on to find out more about supported internships and how they can impact your workforce.

What is a supported internship?

Supported Internships were introduced by the government in 2013 to give a greater focus on preparing young people with SEND with the skills needed for adulthood and employment. Supported Internships are unpaid and wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme.

Supported Interns are enrolled and supported by a learning provider, but spend most of their learning time- typically around 70%- in a workplace. Every young person is supported in the work placement by a trained job coach, put in place by their education provider. 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.

Employer Information

Supported Internships are a great opportunity for employers to strengthen their workplace by taking on a SEND intern, gaining a valuable team member and providing them with practical exposure to a working environment . There are a number of benefits to working with an intern with learning disabilities:

• No additional cost – supported internships are government funded
• Allows you to apply for Disability Confident employer scheme- a highly regarded achievement
• Increased workforce diversity
• Playing an active role in improving future prospects of SEND students in your local community
• Often enhances an organisation’s public image as a leader in employing people with disabilities
• Interns may have skills currently lacking in existing staff, as well as being loyal members of a workforce

Disability Confident employer scheme

The Disability Confident scheme supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to your workplace.
Disability Confident employers of all sizes are:

• challenging attitudes towards disability
• increasing understanding of disability
• removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
• ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations

Have any questions?
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  • Littleton Street West
  • Walsall
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