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Mencap Supported Internship Programme Proposal
About Us
Mencap is a learning disability charity working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We offer a Supported Internship programme.
Proposal
The aim of the Supported Internship programme is to help progress each intern towards and ideally into work. The programme is the equivalent of a college course so runs from September to July each year and includes a minimum of 450 hours of work placements. The work experience placement will be in a real work setting, so supported interns can learn skills required in a real job.
Mencap will help each supported intern to complete a vocational profile, which will help identify the right placements according to their individual skills, experiences and preferences. The placement is structured to ensure every supported intern learns the skills and attitude required to secure paid work. Mencap will provide a trained job coach/assessor to help supported interns to learn on the job, at a pace that suits them, including how to apply English and maths in the workplace.
We hope to secure paid work for each supported intern at the end of the programme. If this is not possible with the work experience host employer, we will seek opportunities elsewhere and/or consider progression onto another programme, so the learner can continue to receive support, if needed, in order to achieve a positive outcome
What is a Supported Internship?
A supported internship is a type of study programme specifically aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), who want to move into employment and need extra support to do so.
The interns will be supported to develop skills and experience and to gain the qualifications they need to succeed in their careers. The majority of young people with SEND are capable of sustainable paid employment with the right preparation and support.
The internship programme includes identifying the skills that employers value and helping young people to develop them. Supported internships are structured study programmes based primarily at an employer.
The duration of the programme is one academic year and will include unpaid work placements within LBS and other partners. Through working in close partnership with the employer, the internship students will be able to transition into paid employment at the end of the programme.
The aim of the programme is for successful outcome in the following areas:
Supporting the interns to develop skills valued by employers
Interns to be able to demonstrate their value in the workplace
The intern to develop confidence in their abilities within the workplace.
Interns will be attending the programme for the full academic college year from September 2024. There will be a training room for the interns , the site will be staffed with Mencap staff to support the interns to meet their potential whilst on the programme and to gain paid employment after the course has finished
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, you will need to:
want to work
ideally have some prior work experience
be aged 16-24
have an Education, Health and Care Plan
Once the term begins
The first few weeks of the programme will focus on new employee orientation, hands-on skill assessment and familiarisation within the business environment. Interns will develop a career plan which guides the internship selection process and individualised job search.
Employment Skills Curriculum:
Interns will work on a personalised and outcome-focused programme of employability and transferable skills for approximately one hour of their day. During the learning time with the Lecturer interns will complete units of employability skills which will include: Team Building, Getting Around your Workplace, Workplace Safety, Technology, Social Skills, Communication, Presentation Skills, Interviewing Skills, Money Management, Health and Wellness, Job Search Skills and Keeping a Job.
Also included within the programme is English and Maths (embedded), CV writing, and independent travel training.
Internships/Worksite Rotations:
Through a series of targeted rotations the interns will acquire competitive, marketable and transferable skills and gain practical skills in the workplace to enable them to apply for a related position. On site Mencap staff will collaborate with LBS departments to provide ongoing support for the interns. Mencap staff will deliver the training to the Interns and develop job accommodations and standard of work procedures. Once the intern has mastered the core skills, additional skills are layered on to improve their employability.
How much time will the Intern spend in the workplace?
The intern will be based in the employment rotation for a minimum of four hours per day (two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon).
Support in Job Placements:
Trained Lecturers, Learning Support Assistants and Job Coaches will work alongside the interns with long term support and assistance aimed to secure a full time job.
At any stage within the academic year interns will be supported to apply for job opportunities when they have acquired the skills required this. Interns can apply for a job at anytime within the course as long as they feel ready and have acquired the necessary skills
Typical Day
9:00am
Employability Skills in the training room with OHC Lecturer
10:00am
Work rotations in LBS department (supported by Job Coaches and Tutors from OHC)
12:00pm
Break for lunch
1:00pm
Work rotations in LBS department (supported by Job Coaches and Tutors from OHC)
3:00pm
Return to training room for self-evaluation and feedback with OHC Lecturer
3:30pm
Depart
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