An afternoon of celebrations was enjoyed by supported interns, their coaches, employers, and peers at the college’s Refined restaurant last week.
The supported internship programme is an employment project designed for young people who have a range of educational needs and hold an Education Health Care Plan.
This course enables students to gain employability skills with a range of local businesses ensuring they’re equipped with confidence and attributes ready for the workplace and sees them studying at college one day a week, with two days in the workplace.
This year’s group has worked a collective total of 2,402 hours on their workplace internships.
Specialist job coaches help students to gain jobs within an appropriate workplace and support them in a role which meets their needs and aspirations whilst building those skills needed to enter full-time employment.
Job coaches were praised for their dedication in delivering the ‘place, train and fade’ system of support which helps to promote independence in the workplace. They work in partnership with a mentor within each workplace and consist of a team of eight who support two programmes.
Coaches also help with students’ communication needs, training with travelling to the place of employment as well as helping students to break down the tasks in their jobs and creating resources and adjustments to allow them to be independent in their roles.
The ceremony saw 9 students presented with special awards for their progress over the last academic year.
Special awards were also presented, which included the most resilient award, which was scooped by Courtney Roberts, the employee of the year award which went to Kaycee Rose and most improved award was presented to both Carl Cabey and Sara Mallok.
Employers who have supported the programme by offering internship places were invited to the celebration event and included Mansfield-based companies Capita, Integrated Doorsets and Boba Shack and Nottinghamshire County Council’s in-house design and print team – Solutions4Data. (Solution4Data did not attend but made contributions).
Employability and SEND manager Louise Dakin said: “It’s been fantastic to see our interns flourish in their work placements this year, and most of the placements have been with new employers in new roles.
“Our interns change from the shy individuals who join us in September to confident, skilled people by the end of the programme. Through the supported internships they grow in confidence, learn new skills and prepare for life after college in employment.
“I’m so proud that two students have now secured paid employment at Capita and GXO Logistics, with three entering voluntary employment. We shall also be sending referrals to supported employment services to continue to search for work for our other interns through iWork or Working Well East Midlands.”