WP3173 - Supported Internships

Supported internships are defined as a specific type of study programme specifically aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 years, who have a statement of special education needs, a Learning Difficulty Assessment, or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, and who want to move into employment and need extra support to do so. Supported internships are structured study programmes based primarily at an employer and intended to enable young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to achieve sustainable, paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.

In March 2015 the Department for Education (DfE) announced an additional £5 million of a one-off shared grant for local authorities (LAs) to enable them to promote supported internships and other preparation for employment activity for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which is a critical aspect of SEND reforms.

The DfE’s aspirations are that local authorities should use the grant provided to; (I) increase the number of education providers offering supported internships, resulting in more young people with complex SEND getting work placements and ultimately entering paid employment; (II) build relationships with employers to agree work placements for young people with SEND on supported internships and other study programmes, and coordinate allocation of placements across education providers where appropriate; and (III) Support and challenge education providers to improve preparation for employment in study programmes for young people with SEND, including high quality work experience, resulting in more young people finding paid employment.

Walsall Council has received £30,000 of this grant and is looking to commission a one-off 12month project to commence in June 2016, building on the DFE’s aspirations, which will focus on the development of Supported Internships for young people with SEND in Walsall. The authority would like to hear from experienced and competent providers who would be interested in developing this project.

Additional information: Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No https://in-tendhost.co.uk/walsallcouncil/aspx/