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Supported Internships
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Supported internships for employers
For information on supported internships for employers, please visit our Supported internships for employers webpage.
What is a supported internship?
A supported internship is a structured study programme based primarily at an employer. The internships enable young people aged 16-24 who hold an Education, Health and Care plan with a learning disability and/or Autism to make it easier for them to enter the job market by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.
Supported internships are unpaid and last for a minimum of six months. The main goal is for the young person to move into paid employment. During their time at the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes English, maths and employability skills.
During their time at the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes English, maths and employability skills.
How does a supported internship work?
Interns work for an employer for a minimum of six months to learn the role and tackle the tasks needed to become suitable for paid employment.
Each intern will receive on-site training from a professional job coach who will support the intern to learn the skills required for that workplace or task and encourage them to become involved in support systems such as co-workers.
Support will then be gradually faded as and when the intern achieves independence in the workplace. This is known as the learn, train and fade model.
What is a Job coach?
Job coaches support young people with disabilities to learn and perform their work duties.
The job coach will work with local employers and job-match the interns with a suitable employer depending on their interests and aspirations.
The job coach will monitor the intern’s progress throughout their internship and review/discuss opportunities with the employer.
The job coach will monitor the intern’s progress throughout their internship.
What are the benefits?
Supported internships will benefit the intern by raising confidence, developing independence & resilience and exposing them to a working environment. They will also gain other life skills such as travelling to and from work if appropriate.
The intern will:
- Gain invaluable experience and learn new skills in the work place
- Further develop their English and maths skills
- Improve their chance of gaining paid employment
Contact us
For further information please contact: supportedinternship@southessex.ac.uk
