Could your team benefit from a supported internship?

Sutton Council are working on the development of two supported internships within the borough for September 2021. 

Aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the programmes provide students who have special educational needs or disabilities the real life experience needed to move on to paid employment. Interns will work for one year, completing up to three placements, and will be supported throughout by Orchard Hill College or Mencap. 

Orchard Hill College Programme

At present we are looking for managers across the Council and it’s providers to come forward and find out more about offering placements within their department. Employers can benefit greatly from having a supported intern within their teams. In addition to providing young people with the opportunity to develop real transferable workplace skills, employers gain an additional member of staff for free. Interns take on real work and duties that need doing and are fully supported to do so by job coaches from Orchard Hill College. 

More information about the programme and offering a placement within your team is available on this microsite or you can email [email protected] with any questions.

Mencap Supported internships

Royal Mencap are currently looking for local employers in Richmond, Kingston and Sutton who would be interested in exploring the opportunities of working with Royal Mencap on their supported internship programme. Royal Mencap have run the programme successfully in other areas across the country and are now looking to develop the programme in the Sutton area. 

For more information about the Mencap programme and to offer a placement within your team please email [email protected] 

Both programmes will be starting in September 2021, with a period of induction of up to six weeks. Internees would therefore be expected to start in the workplace by October. COVID-19 restrictions will be observed and support put in place by job coaches to look at blended working patterns where needed.