Trust partners with South Essex College to offer Supported Internships
The Supported Intern programme, launching in September, is an ambitious new project which will see eligible South Essex College students take the next step into sustainable employment through internships at Basildon Hospital.
Supported Internships are structured study programmes based primarily in the workplace – in this case Basildon Hospital. A bespoke programme allows each student the training, support and work skills they need to help them get a job.
Interns will have the opportunity to work in a variety of roles over nine months and develop the skills they need to move into paid employment within the Trust.
It’s all about real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent-living skills to help young people with disabilities to make a successful transition from school to productive adult working life.
Students will be treated as an employee of the trust and will be supported by a job coach throughout the placement. They will build communication and problem-solving skills, as well as job-specific skills, through worksite rotations.
Job coaches will use the established learn, train & fade model to grow the intern’s resilience, confidence and independence.
Paul Sampson-Mileham, Head of Learning and Progression at South Essex College said: “This is a very exciting project which will see the college working closely with MSEFT to allow young people in the Basildon area to gain valuable employment and life skills which will help them to achieve sustainable careers and independence.
“Our job coaches offer full support to the interns. Because the hospital has many departments we will be able to draw on the expertise of the NHS staff in order to identify the right area of work to meet the intern’s aspirations.”
Rob Brunger, Head of Inclusion and Engagement at Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with South Essex College and Essex County Council on this programme. COVID-19 has taught us all that there is great strength in partnership working. The Trust’s size, reach and influence means it’s in a unique position to provide opportunities to the local communities it serves that go beyond being an excellent healthcare provider. It’s a privilege for us to be able to work closely with our local authority and Education sector partners to be able to improve life chances for local people”.
Suzanne Davis, Targeted Employment Manager at Essex County Council said “This was an excellent opportunity to bring together this partnership to increase job seekers with additional needs into employment. The Targeted Employment are passionate to support SEND jobseekers on their journey into employment, ensuring their vocational aspirations are heard, in order for them to have a bright ambitious future moving into the 21st century job market.”
For further information about Supported Internships, please visit www.southessex.ac.uk/supported-internships