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Supported internships for learners with an education, health and care plan

Supported internships are available to young people, aged 16 to 24, with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and who have an education health and care (EHC) plan. 

With support from a qualified job coach, supported internships help young people to secure and sustain employment. 

Interns are enrolled and supported by a learning provider but spend around 70% of their time learning in the workplace. They complete a personalised study programme with their school or college, which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, such as English and maths.

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Benefits for your business

By offering work placements for supported internships, you can: 

  • shape a job role for the needs of your business and the supported intern 
  • save on recruitment costs and improve recruitment prospects if you hire the intern at the end of the programme 
  • increase your confidence of employing individuals with additional needs 

Cost

You do not need to pay to host a work placement for an intern. You may have other business costs, such as time spent planning, training and supervising. You can also choose to pay the intern. 

Your responsibilities

If you host a work placement, you must: 

  • work collaboratively with the job coach to support the young person 
  • provide a safe work environment  
  • make workplace adjustments needed by the supported intern 
  • provide a line manager to support, supervise and mentor the student 
  • give an induction explaining relevant policies and procedures 

You should be committed to supporting the young person towards paid employment.  

If you have a suitable vacancy, you can offer them a job. If this is not possible, you should help them gain employment elsewhere.  

You will not be penalised if an intern completes their supported internship earlier than planned because they have entered paid employment. 

Find out more

To find out more about providing supported internships:

To get the contact information for your local SEND employment forum, contact the Internships Work lead for your region.

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Other resources

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Employing disabled people and people with health conditions

Guidance for employers to help recruit and support disabled people and those with long term health conditions in work.

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Support with employee health and disability service

This service gives employers and managers guidance to help support their employees and understand legal requirements.

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