Less than 7% of adults with learning disabilities or difficulties are currently in employment within the UK* and they often face significant barriers to gaining employment. The WLA’s Supported Employment Programme was established to develop and commission programmes to support young people with learning disabilities and autism to gain the skills and experience required to move into employment. The programme raises awareness and expectations of employment with young people, families and education providers through a series of communications and events aimed at young people and employers. The annual Supported Internships Fair is one such event run by the WLA to promote the Supported Internships that are on offer and to meet young people who have taken part in previous internships and since moved into jobs. With over 550 young people attending in 2019, interest and participation continues to grow. We are also working in partnership with The North West London Health and Care Partnership to widen participation into employment within the Health and Care sectors. This programme is developing a range of pathways into employment including work experience, Supported Internships, Inclusive Apprenticeships and Traineeships. West London is recognised by the Department for Education as a leading region within the country for providing Supported Internship opportunities and successful transitions into employment. We actively participate in the national Supported Internship development group hosted by DfE.
*Source: Royal Mencap Society
Programme Aims
Gain Employment for SEND
To develop provision to maximise the number of young people aged 17-25 with SEND to gain and sustain employment
Raise Awareness
To raise awareness and expectations of employment opportunities for young people with SEND
Work in Partnership
To work in partnership with The North West London Health and Care Partnership to develop and implement a Pathways and Partnerships systems approach to employment within the Health & Social Care sector
What are Supported Internships?
The WLA Supported Employment Programme has facilitated and co-ordinated the establishment of Supported Internships programmes for young people with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) which has seen over 70% of programme graduates gaining paid employment. Supported Internships are structured Preparation for Employment programmes where young people spend 10 months at a host employer gaining an employability qualification and work experience in real jobs. They are partnerships between employers, schools and colleges, supported employment providers and local authorities who all have a role to play in setting up and managing programmes.
West London Boroughs have created a wide range of Supported Internships programmes across different business sectors with leading local employers including 5 NHS Trusts, GSK, Marriott Hotels, major retail outlets and local Councils. 120 young people take part each year and West London boroughs are increasing programmes to meet demand, working closely with employers to plan for real jobs.
Each year we publish a Guide to Supported Internships and host a Supported Internships Fair to enable prospective students, their parents and carers to learn more about the programme. In 2022, this took place virtually across two sessions, the recordings of which are available to view. Read the guide and watch the sessions now by clicking on the buttons below:
West London NHS Trust and Belvue School – Project Choice work experience
West London NHS Project Choice -Supporting young people prepare for employment
Our Supported Employment Programme Success Stories
Hounslow resident M’s story encapsulates the true essence of the value of forming a relationship of trust, and going the distance to support citizens’ long-term ambitions and goals. It spans a four-year period of support.
M has learning and physical disabilities, communicating predominately through Makaton signs. When we first met M, she was in sixth form at Oaklands School in Hounslow and about to turn 18. The first Makaton sign she communicated to us was “I want to work” and from that moment her ambition of securing paid employment was set. The barriers to employment were significant for M.
Work was undertaken with Oaklands school to develop their vocational skills programme and a work experience was organised for M at Hounslow Civic Centre to begin developing her employability skills. Running parallel to this she began to undertake travel training from the Travel Buddy Service to become an independent traveller. This took time, but after 18 months M had moved to West Thames College and had started to travel her two-buses, 45-minute journey independently. Another milestone towards employment achieved.
Two months later M secured a place on Project SEARCH, hosted at the Council, in partnership with West Thames College, which is part of the WLA’s Supported Internship Programme. During her 12-month supported internship M completed work rotations across the council (business support, library, mailroom) developing real skills for securing employment – timekeeping, team working, completing tasks. Shortly after graduating M was supported into a full-time paid job as a laundry assistant. This summer she will have completed two years of being in sustained and meaningful paid employment.
A Pre-Supported Internship programme at the College of North West London in Wembley, focusing on Catering, helped Niaz to build his confidence and work-related skills, including: industry level kitchen and front of house skills, team work and team leader skills, and to gain key vocational qualifications, for example, Health and Safety and Food Safety certificates. The Pre-Internship Programme helped him to confidently apply for and successfully gain a place on a Supported Internship based at Charing Cross Hospital.
Whilst on his SI at the hospital Niaz gained a range of real industry work-related experiences, training and qualifications. In his first department rotation he worked in the Histopathology Laboratory where he learnt how to take notes for doctors, use cassettes to seal samples in wax and how to label different specimens. In his second rotation Niaz wanted to try something different and he moved to the Outpatients reception where he learnt how to deal with customers and how to book and reschedule appointments on the hospital system. As Niaz really enjoyed his first rotation he wanted more Laboratory work so for his third rotation, he went to Microbiology where he learnt how to triage, how to scan and book-on specimens.
On graduation from the Programme Niaz was offered not one but two jobs within the hospital! He was offered a job working in the Outpatients reception but chose to accept a role as a Band 2 Medical Lab Assistant in the Microbiology department, where he continues to make excellent progress.
Governance
The West London Supported Employment Programme is funded and supported by West London Boroughs, The North West London Health and Care Partnership and the Department for Education.
It reports to the Local Authorities of West London via the Directors of Children’s Services in each participating Local Authority, and to the Economic Prosperity Board via the West London Skills and Employment Board.
Supported Employment Team:
Programme partners
Newsletter sign up
Sign up for our quarterly newsletter to learn more about our work and West London’s priorities.