Supported Internships - providing career options for young people with SEND
For young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) navigating further education and deciding ‘what’s next?’ after leaving school can be a daunting experience. Supported Internships are an appealing option to many young people in this situation as they provide a blend of hands on work experience and continued education. This mix of classroom-based activity and work provide interns with more options upon completion as they can either seek paid employment or continue to further education.
As part of the DFN Project SEARCH programme, ECL’s Inclusive Employment service has joined forces with USP College to deliver a Supported Internship transition-to-work education programme for young people with a current Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) between the ages of 18 to 24. This collaboration has brought about the Amazon Supported Internship, which offers 12 internship places for young adults aged 18 to 24 who have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). The goal is to help these individuals move from education to the workplace, combining training with real-life work experience at Amazon's fulfilment centre in Tilbury.
As the programme enters the second half of its first year, all involved have agreed that it has been a resounding success for both Amazon and the interns. This case study outlines how the programme works and share the experiences of two of the programme’s shining stars, Jake and Hayden.
The main aim of the Amazon Supported Internship is to help young adults with learning disabilities and/or autism find paid work and focuses on:
1. Giving real work experience in a supportive environment.
2. Teaching job skills through both classroom lessons and practical work.
3. Building confidence and independence in the interns.
4. Changing how employers view inclusive recruitment.
Interns are based at Amazon’s Tilbury site five days a week and get a mix of classroom learning and practical experience, all with support from ECL job coaches and Amazon mentors. This helps them build essential job skills and learn how to become more independent in the workplace.
The stories from the interns show just how impactful the programme is. Jake Lawrence, one of the interns, said: "I think my internship is going great. My favourite part is receiving the goods." He appreciates the opportunity to put his classroom training into practise, and thanks to travel training from ECL, his commute is now a breeze. Jake hopes to get a job at Amazon once he finishes his internship, showing just how much confidence he’s gained.
Hayden Osagie feels similarly positive about his experience. He enjoys the social aspect and has made friends that he says he will keep in touch with once the course is finished. He also relishes being productive, commenting “My favourite part of the course is the shop floor – we spend a lot of time on the shop floor, I like being productive, it feels good to get lots of work done. Some days are full days on the shop floor and some days we do a mix of classroom and shop floor. Class work is work skills and finding work, mock interviews etc.”
Hayden’s advice to anyone considering embarking on an internship is, “Give it a go even if you’re not sure it’s for you.” He added, “I didn’t really want to do the supported internship, but my mum said to give it a go, and now I want to work for Amazon when I finish."
Family support is crucial to encouraging young people to take part in these programmes and some of the families of current interns share valuable insights. Jake's dad, Simon, talks about how the programme gives his son options for the future. "It has increased his confidence so much," he says, reflecting on how the internship has changed Jake's outlook.
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The success of the programme can be attributed to the perfect combination of great interns and phenomenal job coaches and teachers. Andrea Smith, ECL Head of Inclusive Employment and Day Opportunities explains, "Supported internships can change the lives of young people with SEND by providing them with the right environment to thrive."
ECL’s Inclusive Employment Job Coaches all state that they have seen incredible progress in the interns.
Every single one of the students has come on leaps and bounds, and their confidence is just growing day by day.
ECL Job Coaches Kingdom Durogene and Diane-Flore Yeou are based at Amazon four days a week supporting the interns have seen the interns flourish in the last six months.
Kingdom said: “That the supported Internship has played a major role in the development of the students in getting them both employment ready and in developing their social and life skills. I have watched them transform into confident young people, full of new skills and ready to take on the world. I look forward to seeing how their journeys progress after the internship.”
Diane states: “The Amazon Associates on the shop floor are so impressed with our students and how hard they work. It’s lovely to hear the compliments they get from their Amazon colleagues. Their sense of teamwork is wonderful.”
Katie Connolly, ECL Mid Essex Inclusive Employment Job Coach added, “Their communication skills have improved so much that they are communicating directly with their line managers and other Amazon colleagues which just shows how ready for employment they are.”
What They Learn
The curriculum for the Amazon Supported Internship is designed to meet the unique needs of the interns. Classroom sessions cover essential skills like writing CVs, preparing for interviews, and conduct at work. They also learn about health and wellness, which helps them handle personal challenges like anxiety.
Natalie Cousins, USP College Tutor commented, “The reason students come to us to do supported internships in the first place is that they don’t like the traditional college environment and they want to get out into the workplace and gain practical experience. Having the classroom environment on site at the employer is a good alternative as it becomes part of their working day.”
Tina Carter, also a USP College tutor for the internship, highlights the positive impact of the programme for Amazon, mentioning, “It’s lovely to see the Amazon Associates praise our students on how well they work.”
The Amazon Supported Internship programme is a great example of how to create inclusive job opportunities. By helping young people with SEND bridge the gap between education and the workplace, it empowers them to aim for independence and paid jobs. The experiences shared by interns, their families, and educators all point to the programme's positive impact, proving that with the right support, young adults with SEND can achieve meaningful employment.
As the programme continues to grow, it serves as a shining example of how inclusion in the workplace can work, showing the importance of teamwork between further education, businesses, and support services. The Amazon Supported Internship offers hope and guidance to young adults as they step into the world of work, paving the way for a more inclusive future.
For more information on the supported internship programme contact julie.clark@uspcollege.ac.uk.
About ECL Inclusive Employment
ECL’s Inclusive Employment service supports adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to achieve their ambitions of paid employment, as well as working to change employers’ attitudes towards inclusive recruitment.
To date, the service, commissioned by Essex County Council has Supported 1234 people. Of these 91% of people with a vocational profile in the service have achieved paid employment which equates to 540 successful paid employment outcomes.