Supported Internships Lessons from the pilot &
moving forward
Bev Jessop
Vice Principal - Academic
Queen Alexandra College
Supported Internships - Lessons
from the pilot
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The college perspective
The learner perspective
The employer perspective
Moving forward under the new funding
arrangements
• Guidance & Pathways
The College Perspective
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CHALLENGE 1
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Employing the
‘right’ job coach
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The ideal job coach !
Experience supporting and
championing people with a
range of disabilities
Can handle rejection & has
resilience to keep going
Salesperson skills
Trained in systematic instruction
Excellent organisational skills
Experience of assessing and
recording progress
The College Perspective
CHALLENGE 2
Employer
Engagement
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Employers
Supportive attitude and values
Looking to match the intern’s career
aims with their needs
Need to be sold the benefits of
‘win/win’
Be prepared to listen
Getting to the right person
important!
The QAC Solution?
An external salesperson was employed who established 27 new leads with new
employers over 5 months
The College Perspective
CHALLENGE 3
Intern
recruitment
Recruitment
•Motivation to want to work is key
(from intern and parents/carers!)
•Making the process as real as
possible – setting up interviews,
job descriptions, CVs submitted...
•A good option for a final year
programme (restart)
•Connexions promoted for NEETs
•Understanding an internship is not
just another college course!
The Intern Perspective
QAC Interns 2012-13
Gym Staff
Seb Coe Fitness & Dodge Ball
UK
Disability Sports Team staff
at the
West Bromwich Albion
Foundation
Grounds keeper at
The Belfry Golf Course
The Employer Perspective
“Staff have commented on how pleasant and
enthusiastic he is and I have observed that he
interacts well”
“We are so impressed by the intern!”
“It is a job that needs doing and we are happy to
give someone an opportunity to get on”
Moving Forward
Element 1:
Core
education
funding
Qualification costs
£4000+
For example – Workskills Entry to L3
Element 2:
Additional
support
funding
Contribution of £6,000 to
additional support
required by a pupil or
student with high needs
Contribute to LSA support as needed
Element 3:
Top-up
funding
“Top-up” funding from
the LA to meet the needs
of each student placed
For example: Job coach support; mobility; mentoring
Supported Interns at QAC
2013-2014
• Supported Internships are now part of the curriculum
offer
• Part of the Employment Pathways at QAC
• Job Coaches are on 52 week contracts so Internships
do not ‘do’ college weeks (work through!)
• Different models for delivery possible – flexibility is key!
• SI is a study programme –Workskills/employability
qualification, functional skills, employment and job
preparation skills
Any Questions?