Originally published here.

This guidance sets out what education providers need to know in order to set up a supported internship programme. It provides practical guidance on developing and delivering supported internships, including information on:

Funding

Programme design

Staffing

The various partnerships on which supported internships are founded

The guidance draws on the 2020 Cooper Gibson research on supported internships as well as the experiences of providers and local authorities who have been running successful supported internships programmes to support young people with education, health and care plans into employment.

Introduction

The National Disability Strategy sets out the actions the government will take to improve the everyday lives of all disabled people. We want all children and young people, no matter what their special educational needs or disability (SEND), 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.

With the right preparation, the overwhelming majority of young people with SEND are capable of sustainable paid employment. All professionals working with them should share that presumption and provide the career advice and support that help young people to develop the skills and experience that they need to succeed in their careers. However, evidence in post-16 education and labour market activities, pathways and outcomes shows that pupils with SEND are less likely to be in sustained employment 15 years after key stage 4 than their peers.

Supported internships are a great opportunity to improve the life chances of young people with SEND by supporting them into sustained, paid employment. Achieving paid employment not only brings young people financial independence, but it can be key to:

Building confidence and self-esteem

Increasing health and well-being

Gaining friendships and a social life

There are also benefits for the economy, employers, families, the local community and wider society.

What’s involved

Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme for 16 to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan. The core aim of a supported internship study programme is a substantial work placement, facilitated by the support of an expert job coach.

Supported interns are enrolled and supported by a learning provider, for example, a school or college, but spend most of their learning time - typically around 70% - in a workplace.

The internships provide the opportunity for young people to achieve sustained, paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.

Supported interns are in full-time education and their supported internship work placements are part of their course. There is no legal requirement or expectation that the supported intern will be paid. Supported internships are exempt from the National Minimum Wage regulation.

Supported internships last for a minimum of 6 months, and up to a year.

The supported internship should contribute to the long-term career goals of the young person and match their capabilities. Alongside their time with the employer, supported interns complete a personalised study programme delivered by the school or college, which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, if appropriate, and English and maths at an appropriate level.

Every young person is supported in the work placement by a trained job coach, put in place by their education provider. The job coach provides in-work support that tapers off, if appropriate, as the supported intern becomes familiar with their role. Job coaches also work with employers, increasing their confidence in employing individuals with additional needs and helping them to create and support a diverse workforce.

Aims of a supported internship

The aim of supported internships is to support young people with EHC plans to gain paid employment by:

Supporting them to develop the skills valued by employers

Enabling them to demonstrate their value in the workplace

Developing confidence in their own abilities to perform successfully at work.

The measure of success of a supported internship is a transition to sustained and paid employment.

Difference between a supported internship and a traineeship or apprenticeship

Supported internships and traineeships are work-based study programmes that aim to support young people into employment. Apprenticeships are paid jobs that include off-the-job training.

Supported internships are specifically for young people with an EHC plan, and as such, they are expected to require a different level of support compared to a trainee or apprentice. They will have a job coach to support them in their workplace learning.

Supported interns are expected to need a longer programme than a trainee. Traineeships usually last between 6 weeks and 6 months with the aim of progressing people to an apprenticeship or employment as quickly as possible. Supported internships last for at least 6 months, and up to a year.

There are no entry or completion requirements for supported internships, and each learning provider will work with their supported interns to develop a personalised programme that meets their needs and provides progression and stretch.

Benefits of offering supported internships

Offering supported internships to young people with EHC plans, can help learning providers to:

Offer a positive progression route to employment from their existing provision in order to support young people with SEND into paid, sustainable work

Evidence that their provision is personalised and outcome-focused, in line with Ofsted expectations

Demonstrate their responsiveness to the full range of learners in the local community

Address the issue of ‘learner churn’ or ‘revolving door syndrome’, where learners complete one programme and re-enrol on another programme at the same level, rather than achieving positive progression

Show their commitment to equality and diversity

The Children and Families Act 2014 required local authorities to work in co-production with children and young people with SEND and their parents and carers to develop a Local Offer of the services they expect to be available. This means that local authorities must find out what children, young people and parents want from the Local Offer. The Local Offer sets out the range of services available and supported internships are expected to be a key part of this.

Planning and designing supported internships

Key principles

Education providers are free to design their supported internship programme to fit their local circumstances and to meet the needs of their learners. However, we have set out the following principles, which should be followed.

Principle 1

A significant majority of the supported intern’s time is spent at the employer’s premises in a work placement. Whilst at the employer, the young person will be expected to comply with real job conditions, such as timekeeping, shift patterns and dress code.

Principle 2

Supported interns follow a personalised study curriculum alongside their time at the employer, including relevant aspects of English and maths.

This will be a bespoke package that is delivered by the provider and should support their progression to paid employment. It should give the supported intern the opportunity to reflect on their learning journey.

Principle 3

Job coaches are central to the study programme and provide support to both the young person and employer. They should be trained in line with the national occupational standards for supported employment.

Principle 4

The primary goal of the programme for the young person is paid employment. Work placements must work for both the young person and the employer.

For the young person, the job must fit with their vocational profile, contribute to their long-term career goal and be flexible enough to address barriers where necessary.

For the employer, they should meet a real business need. The employer should be committed to supporting the young person towards paid employment.

Laying the foundations for a successful supported internship

Successful completion of a supported internship should lead to paid employment, and therefore the ceasing of the EHC plan. It is therefore important that the supported internship follows on from high-quality education provision with a focus on preparation for employment, including tailored advice and guidance, and prior experience of the world of work.

The statutory careers guidance sets out that all young people in secondary school get a programme of careers advice and guidance that is stable, structured and delivered by individuals with the right skills and experience. This includes those with special educational needs and disabilities. We recognise the importance of work placements in supporting all young people to prepare for employment.

The SEND code of practice explicitly states that all children and young people with SEND should be prepared for adulthood and that this preparation should start early. This includes preparing for employment, but also for:

Independent living, including choice and control over:

Housing options

Good health in adult life

Participating in society, including:

Having friends and supportive relationships

Contributing to the local community

For this to happen, there needs to be an explicit focus on preparation for adulthood within the EHC plan from year 9 annual reviews onwards.

You can read the complete guidance here.