Supported Internships

DfE publishes Supported Internship support contract

06/04/22

DfE has published details of its Investment in Supported Internships Programme support contract. The contract is split into 2 lots: one to strengthen delivery of the Supported Internship programme and one to deliver job coach training. Bids are invited before 13 May and must be submitted through the Jaggaer e-procurement portal.

The DfE wants to build the capacity of the SI programme and are aiming to double the number of SIs from c.2,250 internship enrolments per annum to c.4,500 per annum by 2025.

Supported Internship quality framework published

06/04/22

The Supported Internship Quality Framework has been published. It was developed for the Department for Education by the Education and Training Foundation and their centres of excellence. The framework has been developed over the last 6 months and aims to improve the quality of Supported Internships (SIs) provision and outcomes. BASE has fed into discussions and we have asked for a review of the framework in 12 months.

DfE tender: Strengthening the Supported Internships Programme

21/02/22

The Department for Education has published details of engagement on a tender exercise for a programme to strengthen the delivery of Supported Internships. Supported Internships (SIs) are a work-based study programme for 16-24 year olds with SEND who have an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, who want to move into employment and who need extra support to do so. SIs are designed to equip young people with the skills they need to secure and sustain employment through learning in the workplace.

The DfE is considering its commissioning approach for the delivery of the 'Strengthening the Supported Internships Programme' contract. We want to build the capacity of the programme and are aiming to double the number of SIs from c.2,250 internship enrolments per annum to c.4,500 per annum by 2025. We anticipate awarding contracts up to a total maximum value of £8,000,000 including VAT:

New DfE guidance on Supported Internships issued

01/02/22

The Department for Education has published new guidance for providers of Supported Internships in England. The government aims to double the capacity of the Supported Internship programme to provide thousands more young peo

Research: Supported internships as a vehicle for social inclusion

Publisher:

Other organisations

Topics:

Supported Internships

Year of Publication:

2021

Type:

Research

This research, from the University of Derby, wanted to find out how supported internships for people with learning disabilities helped them to feel like they belong in workplaces and society.

Project SEARCH data workshops

09/09/21

DFN Project SEARCH is running a series of workshops where they will present and discuss the data they collect around their Supported Internships. They use this data to to help them understand what's working well and what isn't. They've analysed this information for their 2020-2021 cohort and will share it at the workshops. Topics covered will include overall employment outcomes, average salaries and hours and Intern demographics and more.

The events can be booked through Eventbrite.

Liverpool seeks Supporter Internship job coaching provider

11/08/21

Liverpool City Council (LCC) is looking to commission an experienced supported employment provider (SEP) to deliver job coaching and oversight at two DFN Project SEARCH sites at Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust and Liverpool City Council.

LCC is also looking to develop a follow-on job coaching offer to support young people who have gained employment previously through a supported internship, if they need support due to a change at work, to apply for a new job or a promotion.

TfL market engagement on Supported Internship provision

30/04/21

Transport for London (TfL) has issued a market sounding questionnaire. It seeks to obtain market feedback in relation to the design, delivery and management of supported internship provision for the Steps into Work programme. The primary focus of the MSQ is to better understand market/supplier appetite, capacity and capability, as well as perceived risks and opportunities.

TfL's employability programmes provide work readiness skills and opens doors to employment to some of the most disadvantaged groups in society. Individuals who fall into these groups have been disproportionately impacted by the current pandemic and now face even greater barriers to employment. The employability programmes are currently undergoing a redesign to better support those that most need it, through partnerships with charities, delivery partners and business stakeholders.

CSJ Disability Commission report: Now is the Time

Publisher:

Policy & research organisations

Topics:

Disability, Supported Internships, Strategy, Supported employment

Year of Publication:

2021

Type:

Report

This year (2021) will mark 26 years since the Disability Discrimination Act and 11 years since the Equality Act passed into law. Despite this legislative change, progress towards greater equality between disabled and non-disabled people has been erratic and, in some areas, non-existent.

The Conservative Party made a manifesto commitment in the 2019 General Election to develop a disability strategy which, in the words of the Prime Minister, needs to be the “most ambitious and transformative endeavour for disabled people in a generation.”

Supported Interns able to continue into 2021-22 academic year

22/03/21

Department of Education have confirmed that Supported Interns who were not able to meet the core aim of their internship in the 2020-21 academic year may continue their internship into the 2021-22 academic year. This will also apply to 2019-20 interns who continued into 2020-21 and have not yet completed their internships.

We've now has confirmation that Access to Work will be extended to cover supported interns who are repeating their course.

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