Supported Internships

Explore Supported Internships

The Bridge offers a customised matching service for businesses looking to recruit Supported Interns across Essex, Southend, and Thurrock.

Once connected, businesses will receive FREE inclusive training and ongoing support whilst on their inclusive journey.

A local educational provider will provide full support in establishing a supported internship placement. For more information, please refer to our Business Q&A infographic in our resources section.

Group Of Students Looking At Peice Of Work

What will my business need to offer?

Induction Process

Conduct a comprehensive workplace induction for interns, similar to that provided to new employees. The Job Coach will collaborate with the employer to organise the induction and settling-in period, ensuring ample support is available throughout this time.

Skills Development

Offer genuine job placements that enable interns to develop skills that are transferable across various roles and work environments.

Mentorship

Assign a mentor to assist the intern with workplace integration and skills development, working in conjunction with their Job Coach.

Progress Reflection

Involve managers and mentors in evaluating the intern's progress through informal discussions with the Job Coach and formal review processes or supervision.

Department Rotations

If appropriate, provide the intern with up to three rotations in different departments to broaden their skill set.

Skill Enhancement

Ensure interns encounter new challenges and take on greater responsibilities as their skills advance.

Uniform Provision

Supply a uniform if required for the role or the business.

Retention Plan

Plan to retain interns through Accessible Apprenticeships or Supported Employment pathways.

What will we need to do as a business?

Interview Process

Conduct an interview with the intern before placement, with the support of the Job Coach.

Line Management

Provide line management to the intern as you would with any employee.

Open Communication

Maintain open and honest communication with the intern and Job Coach.

Concerns Sharing

Share any concerns with the training or education provider and the Job Coach.

Reasonable Adjustments

If the intern requires reasonable adjustments to perform their duties, the Job Coach can assist. Costs for these adjustments can often be covered by Access to Work government funding. These adjustments may also benefit current staff members.

What happens at the end of a Supported Internship?

The aim of supported internships is to prepare young people with additional needs for employment. As the intern has been fulfilling a real business need in your organisation, you might consider whether you can take them on as a paid member of staff at the end of their internship.

This won’t always be possible: you may not be able to recruit, or the intern may not have met the required standards. You can still play an important part in helping an intern achieve employment elsewhere, e.g. by providing a reference, recommending the intern to other employers, or giving honest feedback to the college about the skills and/ or behaviours that the young person still needs to develop.

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