Information about Supported Internships for young people and families

A Supported Internship is a programme that helps to bridge the gap from Education into paid work by providing additional support to young people. The programme is designed to support young people with additional needs who want to gain paid employment but would require additional support to do so.

In order to be eligible to access the Supported Internship programme, you must be between 16 - 24 years old and have an Education Health Care Plan. There are no specific qualifications or grades required, however the young person accessing this programme, must want to work.

The goal of an internship

The main goal of an internship is to help a young person with learning difficulties to develop the skills they need to be able to gain paid work. We need to make sure we get the right young person into the right job role with the right employer.

Support from a job coach

The young person would be supported in their work placement by their job coach, who will help identify the job role you want which also fulfils the business needs of the employer. They will support the young person from the initial induction and settling in period and will  then continue to support through the duration of the internship. Support will gradually reduce throughtout the progreamme, as independence, confidence and skills develop.

The Supported Internship is your final year in educaton to support transition in to the workplace. At the end of the programme the young person will have an exit interview to discuss ongoing support needed when in paid work. Please be reassured that if the young person does not secure paid work, there are other supported employment programmes available. At this stage the EHCP will cease, this is because the young person will no longer be accessing education and will be on their journey towards paid employment.  

Supported Internship video

Experience shared about the Supported Internship programme in Cheshire East.

Parent talking about their experience of the Supported Internship Programme at the Graduation in 2023.