School Leavers > SEND: Futures and Cross College Supported Learning (CCSL)

Supported Internship

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Courses Code

QFESU

Study method

Full Time

Location(s)

Off Site

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Is this course for you?

Supported internships are a study programme aimed at young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health & Care plan (EHCP) to gain experience in the workplace within a supported environment and provide a platform for the young person to further develop their skills and experience in a structured way.

The supported internship programme is open to both internal and external applications. Previous learning level isn’t of crucial importance as suitable placements will be attempted to be sourced for the wide variety of learner ability levels and interests.

This is an exit course from college with the aim that the learner progresses into paid or unpaid employment. Therefore, learners should have completed all they desired to at either college or school before applying for this course.
Required qualifications

Qualifications needed will be dependent on both the learner’s aspirations and the companies that we are working with that current year.

As a minimum we would look for learners to have entry level 3 or above in both maths and English for them to be accepted onto the course.

If you don’t have these grades, please see our Routes to Vocational Education or Routes to Independence & Employment as alternative courses.
What skills will I develop?

Learners on a supported internship are placed within a working environment and given a job role within the company, either filling a current vacancy or a ‘job carved’ opportunity. Learners will learn skills and develop knowledge in their area of work at that organisation.

They will receive the training and induction process needed for them to work safely and have the same opportunities as the employees at the organisation (organisation dependent). A college job coach will support to find a placement and guide the learner to work independently with less aid from the job coach over the course of the supported internship.

Learners will also be able to apply soft skills developed previously at college within the ‘Routes to’ provision, such as communication, listening to others, taking on roles and responsibilities, self-management and development, and apply them to the work environment. Learners will become more resilient and be able to work under pressure, learning new strategies for improvement and coping to enable them to enter the world of work.
Careers

The aim of the supported internship programme is for the learner to complete 1 academic year (up to 10-12 months) on placement with one of our partner organisations, partaking in specific job roles (either 1 for the whole placement or multiple dependent on the learner and partner organisation). After the programme, the aim is for the learner to be offered paid employment within that organisation if possible.

If employment isn’t possible, the job coach will refer the learner to the careers team at the college and we also hold jobs fairs in which the learner can attend and if requested support can be given to discuss job opportunities with the companies present.
Work experience

Learners take part in the programme with one of our partner employers and spend up to 30 hours a week (organisation dependent) working in different areas to gain valuable work experience with the support of an on-site college job coach. Interns are onsite at college one day a week to undertake their maths and English qualifications suitable to their level.
English and maths

Learner dependant. Any learner with an EHCP must strive to achieve progression in their maths and English up to the age of 25.

If a learner is currently working at a Functional Skill level of entry level 1 to level 3, they will complete their maths and English lessons within one of the ‘Routes to’ groups. If they have previously achieved a GCSE grade, or if that is their next step, learners will be placed in an appropriate GCSE or Functional Skills level 2 group to assist and support their continued development in maths and English.
Other important information

Learners should ideally be able to travel independently to and from the work placement. The one day a week at college will be at the campus closest to the learner’s home address.

Upon successful application/progression to a supported internship, the team will be in touch to arrange a needs assessment for the learner with working towards the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to ensure the learner has all support (person or technology) to enable them to successfully complete the placement. This may take place over the summer period.

Is this course for you?

Supported internships are a study programme aimed at young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health & Care plan (EHCP) to gain experience in the workplace within a supported environment and provide a platform for the young person to further develop their skills and experience in a structured way.

The supported internship programme is open to both internal and external applications. Previous learning level isn’t of crucial importance as suitable placements will be attempted to be sourced for the wide variety of learner ability levels and interests.

This is an exit course from college with the aim that the learner progresses into paid or unpaid employment. Therefore, learners should have completed all they desired to at either college or school before applying for this course.
Required qualifications

Qualifications needed will be dependent on both the learner’s aspirations and the companies that we are working with that current year.

As a minimum we would look for learners to have entry level 3 or above in both maths and English for them to be accepted onto the course.

If you don’t have these grades, please see our Routes to Vocational Education or Routes to Independence & Employment as alternative courses.
What skills will I develop?

Learners on a supported internship are placed within a working environment and given a job role within the company, either filling a current vacancy or a ‘job carved’ opportunity. Learners will learn skills and develop knowledge in their area of work at that organisation.

They will receive the training and induction process needed for them to work safely and have the same opportunities as the employees at the organisation (organisation dependent). A college job coach will support to find a placement and guide the learner to work independently with less aid from the job coach over the course of the supported internship.

Learners will also be able to apply soft skills developed previously at college within the ‘Routes to’ provision, such as communication, listening to others, taking on roles and responsibilities, self-management and development, and apply them to the work environment. Learners will become more resilient and be able to work under pressure, learning new strategies for improvement and coping to enable them to enter the world of work.
Careers

The aim of the supported internship programme is for the learner to complete 1 academic year (up to 10-12 months) on placement with one of our partner organisations, partaking in specific job roles (either 1 for the whole placement or multiple dependent on the learner and partner organisation). After the programme, the aim is for the learner to be offered paid employment within that organisation if possible.

If employment isn’t possible, the job coach will refer the learner to the careers team at the college and we also hold jobs fairs in which the learner can attend and if requested support can be given to discuss job opportunities with the companies present.
Work experience

Learners take part in the programme with one of our partner employers and spend up to 30 hours a week (organisation dependent) working in different areas to gain valuable work experience with the support of an on-site college job coach. Interns are onsite at college one day a week to undertake their maths and English qualifications suitable to their level.
English and maths

Learner dependant. Any learner with an EHCP must strive to achieve progression in their maths and English up to the age of 25.

If a learner is currently working at a Functional Skill level of entry level 1 to level 3, they will complete their maths and English lessons within one of the ‘Routes to’ groups. If they have previously achieved a GCSE grade, or if that is their next step, learners will be placed in an appropriate GCSE or Functional Skills level 2 group to assist and support their continued development in maths and English.
Other important information

Learners should ideally be able to travel independently to and from the work placement. The one day a week at college will be at the campus closest to the learner’s home address.

Upon successful application/progression to a supported internship, the team will be in touch to arrange a needs assessment for the learner with working towards the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to ensure the learner has all support (person or technology) to enable them to successfully complete the placement. This may take place over the summer period.

Testimonials

“We feel that the course is a great opportunity for young adults to develop transferable skills into employment or work experience, to take into the world of work. It is great to see the leaps and bounds of the learners and watch them grow in their independence.”

Samantha Ryall (left) and Sarah Clarke (right)

Junior Job Coaches

“I received regular support from Sarah and the college team who visited me on placement every week, and I still went to college on Wednesdays to improve my maths and English. I was taken on permanently by CTS Toners at the end of the placement. The Supported Internship course has been a good way for me to find a job.”

Josh Paget

Completed Supported Internship at CTS Toner Supplies

“Jake worked so hard on his placement that his colleagues nominated him to Support Staffordshire Volunteers Star Awards 2022, which Jake was crowned the winner of. On completion of the Supported Internship, the work experience at Stafford Gatehouse has led Jake to employment with an outside body.”

Jake Bond

Completed Supported Internship at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

Chris Nash (Middleton Equestrian Centre) 380x380

“Chris has been working at Middleton Equestrian Centre who are a five star veterinary and equine service. Chris carries out a range of duties including mucking out, weighing and bagging the hay, washing the horse’s food buckets, grooming the horses and leading the horses to and from the fields. Chris is being kept on by his placement and is very happy with this.”

Christopher Nash

Completed Supported Internship at Middleton Equestrian Centre

“Sarah has completed her Supported Internship at George & Bertie's Café, where she has gained skills with the support of job coach Sarah and colleagues on her placement. The internship has gained her employment with the company. Well Done and all the best for the future.”

Sarah McIntosh

Completed Supported Internship at George & Bertie's tea and coffee shop Cannock

“Lucy has her youth worker qualification as well as Makaton sign language 1, 2 and 3. Lucy will be working at Liberty's following her Supported Internship as a Trainee Youth Worker, and will be part of the opening ceremony in the Commonwealth Games.”

Lucy Atkins

Completed Supported Internship at Liberty Jamboree

“Chris is going to be helping run a café where he will have a Job Coach from Liberty’s to support him. Chris is also going to be part of the opening ceremony at the Commonwealth Games and has learnt Makaton sign language whilst at Liberty’s.”

Chris Hardwick

Completed Supported Internship at Liberty Jamboree

“Liam is a computer whiz and loves marketing and promotions. Liam is going to be Liberty's Marketing Executive where he will produce a range of marketing materials and help organise events. Liberty's will also give Liam the opportunity to complete marketing courses.”

Liam Carnell

Completed Supported Internship at Liberty Jamboree

“It's built my confidence both in the workplace and travelling. The travel side had been a problem for me as I don’t like getting on a busy bus, but now I am getting better. My time keeping and time management have improved, and I can now prioritise my workload. I would definitely recommend the course, as it helps you understand the working world and gain lots of new skills.”

Jake Betts

Completed Supported Internship at The Green Room Café, Lichfield Garrick Theatre

Dom Birch, Supported internships student holding a box on work placement

“I loved every minute and it's the best course I’ve ever done, I don't want it to end! I love being part of the team and I would 100% recommend the course. It's helped me with my confidence, I now understand more about health and safety in the workplace and about sticking to the rules and understanding why they are so important.”

Dominic Birch

Completed Supported Internship at Bristan

Apply for a course

Supported Internship

Off Site

Start Date: September

Code: QXFESU

Full Time: 35 Weeks

Day(s): Usually 3-4 days per week

Apply

Supported Internship