Description
Who we are...
Hackney Council’s Supported Employment Service helps people who live in Hackney and have disabilities and/or health conditions, find work matched to their individual needs and interests.
Other partners working on this Supported Internship programme are DFN Project SEARCH, Hackney Education and BSiX 6th Form College.
Watch this short film which offers you a virtual tour of both venues where the internships take place.
What we do...
Hackney Council’s Project Search Internship Programme helps young people with SEND (special educational needs and disability) develop real work skills, in a real work environment.
Young people on the programme will be based on site at Hackney Council and take part in 3 work placements in different departments throughout the academic year, September – July.
During the placements they will gain workplace skills as well as a qualification (Work skills Entry Level 3)
When the programme finishes, each intern will work with a Supported Employment Advisor; who will provide further support to make sure they find paid work.
How long is the course?
This Project Search Hackney Council Supported Internship is a programme lasting 10 month, term time, 9am-3:30pm daily.
Interns will be completing an employability skills training session for 1 hour in the morning (9am-10am) before going to their work placements until 3 pm.
At the end of the day a half hour session after the work placement from 3pm – 3:30pm provides an opportunity for interns to feedback on their day and talk through how they feel or raise any concerns related to the activities completed that day.
Interns complete a bespoke induction at Hackney Council for the first 2 weeks of the programme.
Each intern will be undertaking 3 different placements with the purpose of building the necessary skills to be able to get the job they want by the end of the programme.
Each young person accepted onto the programme will have a suitable placement arranged for them each term.
Is travel training included as part of the course?
Travel training is not offered as part of the course but the Job Coaches will be working with parents/carers to ensure that a plan is in place to support the young person to travel to and from the programme.
If eligible this may be support with applications for a Freedom Pass.
Do you provide job coaches?
Both Job Coach and Tutor for this programme are based on site and provide individualised support to the interns on placements. The Job Coach and Tutor will support learning on placements and within Hackney Council and on-site training room.
How are these staff trained to provide support for young people with SEND?
Project SEARCH delivers training in teaching and job coaching skills to staff on the programme. There are two different kinds of training, basic (coaches complete this before they start on the programme) and advanced (for coaches to complete after having experience of working with Project SEARCH interns)
Is the training the interns are receiving accredited and if so by who?
The training and qualification, Work skills Entry Level 3, are accredited and delivered by a local college (Bsix).
What skills will the young person be developing?
Project SEARCH interns are not volunteers and complete meaningful work in integrated work settings.
Young people on the programme will be developing skills necessary to acquire the job they want. This includes soft skills such as communication and confidence alongside development of specific skills attributed to a particular role such as data entry.
What work activities will the young people be taking part in?
Young people will take part in a variety of activities for example customer service, admin, and communications. They may be making phone calls, completing filing tasks, liaising with various departments including the Mayor's Office, HR and Hackney Museum
Different work placement are offered in different department and options may include:
● Admin
● Hackney Museum
● Executive Support
● Housing
● IT Systems
● Direct Payments
● Customer Service
● Planning
How is the interns progress evaluated?
Each department will be providing feedback twice every term which is then used to set targets for the development of the young person.
The coaches will also be meeting with parents and carers twice every term to discuss the young person’s progress and work collaboratively to ensure success.
At the end of the programme are young people supported with finding a permanent placement?
Each young person is supported throughout the programme to explore work opportunities.
When the programme is completed a Supported Employment Advisor will work with local employers to find the most suitable job for the young person.
If the young person doesn’t secure a job at the end of the course they will be helped by the Supported Employment Service to identify a suitable opportunity.
Progression or training options after the training are paid employment or an apprenticeship.
Record Last Updated on: 19/02/2020