Provide supported internships to help your students move into paid employment
You know the importance of supporting young people to unlock their potential both during and beyond education. But do you have a course offer that helps those aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or equivalent to develop their confidence, independence and support their transition into the working world?
Our supported internship programme gives you a proven and structured way to help young people transition into meaningful paid employment. Our supported internships combine learning with on-the-job experience. Interns spend most of their time in the workplace, doing real jobs and learning real tasks, but they will also spend time learning essential life and employability skills with you.
Working in partnership with us, an employer, a supported employment provider and the local authority, you become part of a collaborative team focused on helping young people with a learning disability and/or who are autistic develop the skills, confidence and experience they need to succeed in the workplace.
Why become an education partner?
By offering our supported internship programme, you will:
Offer a positive progression route
Support more young people to move from education into paid employment through an inclusive, evidence-based programme.
Support young people’s development
Deliver life and employability skills that combine classroom teaching with real employment experience.
Strengthen employer partnerships
Build lasting relationships with local employers and create opportunities for future interns.
Support inclusive education
Provide a personalised learning experience for your young people that develops independence, confidence and employability.
What’s involved?
As the education partner, you’ll enrol interns onto the supported internship programme and deliver the essential learning – from life and employability skills to English and Maths – that complements their supported internship experience. You’ll work closely with the host business and supported employment provider to ensure each intern receives a personalised approach that develops their chance of future employment.
How does it work?
Interns spend most of their week in the workplace, supported by job coaches while completing three work rotations across the host business. You’ll deliver the learning element of the programme, including employability skills and regular reviews to ensure learning aligns with interns’ long-term career goals.
What support do education partners receive?
You’ll be part of a dedicated partnership, working alongside a dedicated DFN Project SEARCH Programme Specialist, the host business, supported employment provider and, often, the local authority. We provide a proven programme model, resources, training and ongoing support to help you deliver a high-quality supported internship that helps young people transition into paid employment. You’ll also be supported by our expert team and will be matched with a dedicated Programme Specialist, who will be on hand to help set up the programme, coordinate partners and provide specialist advice and guidance.
Curriculum, toolkit and resources
Training
Coaching and consulting
Communities of practice
Audit and continuous improvement
Interested in becoming an education partner?
If you want to work with us to help young people gain the skills, experience and confidence they need to move into meaningful paid employment, then get in touch today.