Supported Internships

A Supported Internship is for young people aged 16-24 who have learning difficulties/disabilities or who are on the Autistic spectrum and would not be able to access work without support. To access the programme you must have an Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan. 

Young people in Hartlepool can access a Supported Internship Programme via Choices College, a national programme ran by Health Education England at Hartlepool College of Further Education or at Catcote Academy who run a smaller Internship Programme as a progression route for young people. 

The Internship programme runs for 1 school year (September to July) and young people are offered up to three placements within a working environment, each lasting 1 academic term (12 weeks) during their internship to allow them to access a variety of different work experience. Throughout the week 4 days are spent on work placements and 1 day in the classroom studying function skills. 

When in the work young people are supported by Job Coaches who help build confidence and skills within the work place, as confidence grows the Job Coach will reduce or increase their support dependent upon the young persons needs. 

A Supported Internship is not an Apprenticeship and is an internship model and an education programme, there is no annual salary. You will be able to apply for a bursary, if eligible it will mean you will have some money to help with travel and food. 

After completion of the Internship, young people are supported to apply for jobs or further study, the programme has a very high success rate of getting young people into employment or meaningful work experience or volunteering.