Supported Internships

Some of the terms and people you may hear referred to include:

Supported Intern – The learner accessing the programme. Aged 16-24, with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and wanting to access employment.

Job Coach – The staff member supporting in the Workplace, trained in Supported Employment (SET) and Training using Systematic Instruction (TSI).

Employer/Workplace – The organisation you work for and the place where you work as an Intern, the staff here will also support you to learn your role and become part of the team. These people are your colleagues.

Provider – The education provider offering the study programme, this could be a college or similar training establishment and your Tutor will be based here.

In the workplace, you will be supported by a Job Coach who, having job matched you with a suitable Employer, will break down tasks, tailor your role to suit your needs and support you to develop the skills and confidence required to carry out your job role independently.

You will also spend part of the week with a Tutor at your Education Provider to develop employability and work related skills, as well as Maths and English.

A ‘typical week’ for a Supported Intern will consist of 2-3 days in the workplace with support from your Job Coach and one day at your training provider, with your tutor and other Supported Interns.

The Supported Internship can run from 6 months up to a year, depending on how long it is required.

A Supported Internship is about learning real skills, for a real job and so your study programme will involve skills and information relevant to your job role for you to transfer to your workplace.

Your Tutor, Job Coach and Employer will be in regular contact with each other, to support you on your workplace journey.

To apply for a Supported Internship in Suffolk, you must be aged between 16- 24 years old and have a current Education, Health and Care Plan. There are no entry requirements needed to access a Supported Internship, only the desire to be employed.

If you would like to find out more, please speak with your SENDCO or the careers adviser at your current education setting. If you are currently electively home educated, please speak to the Elective Home Education team for more information.

You can also contact the Inclusive Learning Department at your local provider directly. The following education and training providers in Suffolk are listed as offering Supported Internships:

Suffolk New College (Ipswich, Halesworth, Otley)

ONE Sixth Form College (Ipswich)

West Suffolk College (Bury St Edmunds)

East Coast College (Lowestoft)

WS Training (Ipswich, Lowestoft)

You can view more information about each provider by clicking the links below.