Supported Internships for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Supported internships are a way for young people with a learning disability/difficulty and/or autism to engage in a work programme that should lead to paid work.
We have collaborated with Mencap (www.mencap.org.uk) (a large charity working with people with such needs and their families) to offer supported internship programmes.
The aim is to develop routes into work with young people with SEND.
What is the supported internship scheme offering?
Mencap has developed two options for young people with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) who would like to work. Based on an assessment carried out by Mencap, learners will either take a 1 year or 2-year programme, recognising that some people may need more support than others.
How the two year supported internship programme works
Eligibility:
- Aged 16 to 24
- Have an EHCP
- Have a learning disability, learning difficulty or autism
- Have aspirations to work but might struggle with the demands of a supported internship with 300 hours of work experience.
The programme introduces young people to new experiences and will support learners to engage with employers and complete placements. The expectation is that this programme will prepare learners for progression onto a supported internship (essentially creating a 2 year programme). The structure of the programme will consist of 1:1 and group activities including elements such as:
Community Impact Project:
An opportunity for young people with SEND and members of their local community to come together as a team to identify, plan and deliver a project to benefit their local community. These projects provide opportunities for young people such as:
- working as a team
- building confidence
- learning new work-related skills
- developing communication skills
- delivering an outcome/product
Workshops:
- developing understanding of employment
- raising aspirations around employment
- building a CV overview
- understanding Supported Internships
- life skills
- money management
Employer engagement:
- speed-dating events or employer guest speakers
- employer premises/site visits/work tasters
- sourcing work experience placements
Individualised support:
- vocational profiling
- wellbeing
- CV building with the individual
- job coach support (for work experience placements)
Maths and English
- functional skills
- practical application
Family liaison:
- open days
- engagement events
- direct contact around work experience placements
How the 1 year supported internship programme works:
For those ready to progress straight onto Mencap’s supported internship programme (or from mid September having completed the pre-internship programme), a supported internship is a full-time study programme. The programme includes a minimum of 300 hours of work experience, supported by a job coach where required.
To be eligible, participants must:
- be aged 16 to 24
- have an EHCP
- have a learning disability, learning difficulty or autism
- aspire to work and able to complete 300 hours of work experience
- being able to travel and ideally work independently by the end of the programme
Interns will have an individual assessment and action plan to outline their bespoke support package. They will work with Mencap staff to complete a ‘vocational profile’ (a document that is all about the work skills you have and want to develop further), which will help determine the type of role, and the sectors that would be most suitable for a work experience placement.
What to do if you are interested in a supported internship:
Please contact your EHCP Coordinator directly, or you can email sen@southwark.gov.uk.
For further info on the Mencap Scheme you can also contact:
Ruth Collins
Supported Internship Programme Lead
General information on the Mencap supported internships please see links below:
Supported Internships
https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/employment/supported-internships
Link to our brochure:
Link to film from family perspective:
John-Jo’s story
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zbyt8xs
Link to film covering all aspects of the programme:
Patrick’s story
Page last updated: 01 April 2021
