Supported Internships
- What are Supported Internships?
- Southampton Supported Internship Forum
- Who offers Supported Internships in Southampton?
- Information for Job Coaches
- Information for Employers
What are Supported Internships?
A Supported Internship is a work-based study programme for people aged 16-24 with and Education, Health and Care plan, aimed at helping learners to take the first steps from education to the world of work.
Supported Internships usually last for 1 year, including a 6 month work placement to help develop transferable skills and confidence in the workplace.
What can I expect?
- An unpaid work placement that lasts for at least 6 months
- Support from a qualified job coach, both in the workplace and in the classroom
- Opportunities to develop your skills, gain qualifications and work on your English and maths if needed
For more information about Supported Internships, visit the National Careers Service website.
Southampton Supported Internship Forum
Southampton City Council’s Employment Support Team has received funding to develop a Supported Internship Forum which aims to grow Supported Internship provision in the city in support of the national aim of doubling the number of Supported Internships by 2025.
The Southampton Supported Internship Forum is made up of providers, employers, schools, colleges, parents and young people and aims to raise the profile of high quality Supported Internships.
If you’d like to be a part of the forum and be involved in shaping employment opportunities for young people with SEND, please fill in the form below:
Southampton Supported Internship Forum – Terms of Reference
The next Supported Internship Forum meeting will be taking place in the 2023 Autumn Term
Who offers Supported Internships in and around Southampton?
Eastleigh College
This year long Internship will provide you with specialist careers guidance from experienced recruitment staff and on the job support to help develop skills needed to secure and maintain paid employment opportunities.
Minstead Trust
Minstead Trust offer a whole host of work and training programmes for people with learning disabilities, autism and other additional needs.
Sparsholt College
These are specialist programmes designed for students aged 16–24 who need to develop confidence and social skills. All of our courses involve working outdoors in all weathers and accessing the whole of the campus.
Totton College
This is a one-year programme designed to help you develop work skills in customer service. You’ll have the opportunity to work in placements both internally and externally.
Project Choice
Project Choice is a specialist College providing a supported internship course in partnership with NHS healthcare settings, local organisations and private businesses.
Brockenhurst College
This programme is designed to equip you with the skills and qualities you need to work towards gaining employment. This will include Maths and English classes.
You will participate in a variety of core units that will help you develop skills and you will participate in a weekly work experience placement.
Information for Job Coaches
The British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) are currently offering funded training for Supported Internship Job Coaches:
Funded Job Coach Training | British Association for Supported Employment (base-uk.org)
Guidance from GOV.UK on Staffing and Job Coaching: Supported internships – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) have created some useful resources and templates around Vocational Profiling: Vocational Profile – NDTi
NDTi have also developed a Job Coach Skills Audit tool to help you discover your skills and identify and gaps and training needs you might have: Job Coach Skills Audit – NDTi
Supported Employment and Job Coaching Best Practice Guide (base-uk.org)
National Occupational Standards | British Association for Supported Employment (base-uk.org)
Information for Employers
Fuelling Futures – this toolkit from the Careers & Enterprise Company is a practical guide to help employers provide workplace experiences that include supported internships and supported apprenticeships for young people with SEND. It also includes advice to help these young people with their transition into employment.