East Durham College Supported Internship Programme - A guide for learners, parents and carers

East Durham College Supported Internship Programme

A guide for learners, parents and carers

Creating Outstanding Futures

Tyler,

Providing young people with Special Educational Needs

skills and workplace experience they need to move into

Why are Supported Internships Important?

East Durham College is committed to improving the everyday lives of disabled people. We have high aspirations and ambitions for all our learners, no matter what their special educational needs or disability, to be able to reach their full potential and receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Supported Internships are a great opportunity to improve the life chances of young people with SEND, by supporting them into paid sustained employment.

Achieving paid employment not only brings the young person to financial independence, but it is also key to:

Building confidence and self-esteem, increasing health and wellbeing.

Gaining friendships and social experiences.

Them benefiting the local economy. employers, community and wider society. and immunity and wider society.

What is a Supported Internship?

A supported internship is a study programme aimed at young people, aged between 16 to 24, who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and would like to move into employment but may need extra support to do so.

The overwhelming majority of young people with SEND are capable of sustainable employment. Supported Internships are aimed to equip learners with the skills and experience to achieve employment after college.

Our programme includes maths, English and career development skills which are tailored to the young person to remove any barriers to employment, along with a work placement with an employer.

The supported internship is for learners who are at the end of their educational journey and ready to move into employment with support. On completion of the supported internship your EHCP will usually cease.

What can a supported internship do for you:

The aim of a supported internship is to help you to achieve future employment. The supported internship will support you to understand what it’s like to have a real job role and what the employer expects from you.

A job coach from the college will support you throughout your work experience placement. They will help identify any reasonable adjustments that the employer may need to make. You can contact them at any time if you have any issues during your time at work.

It will help break down any barriers you have to gaining employment, such as travelling independently, managing your own money, etc.

It will give you valuable skills and experience to put on your CV. And improve those allimportant maths and English skills employers value so highly.

What your typical week may look like:

The Supported Internship will start at two days per week, building up to three days per week.

In addition, you will attend maths, English and employability lessons for one day per week at college.

Supported internships last for a minimum of 36 weeks.

Supported internships are unpaid. However, after successful completion your employer may take you on as a paid employee. Otherwise, they can provide you with a reference and you will be in a much better position to find paid work elsewhere.

difficulties to reach their full potential in the workplace

Joe, Intern, Northumbrian Water Durham

Tom, Intern, Locomotion Darlington