Supported Internships - Lessons from the pilot & moving forward Bev Jessop Vice Principal - Academic Queen Alexandra College.

Supported Internships - Lessons from the pilot &

moving forward

Bev JessopVice Principal - Academic

Queen Alexandra College

Supported Internships - Lessons from the pilot

• The college perspective

• The learner perspective

• The employer perspective

• Moving forward under the new funding arrangements

• Guidance & Pathways

The College Perspective

CHALLENGE 1

Employing the ‘right’ job coach

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

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 PerspectiveQAC 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 2: Additional

support funding

Element 3: Top-up funding

“Top-up” funding from the LA to meet the needs of each student placed

Contribution of £6,000 to additional support

required by a pupil or student with high needs

For example: Job coach support; mobility; mentoring

Element 1: Core

education funding

Qualification costs £4000+ For example – Workskills Entry to L3

Contribute to LSA support as needed

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?