What is Internships Work?

Internships Work is a programme which aims to build capacity and improve quality and consistency in supported internships across England.

Launched in September 2022 and funded by the Department for Education, Internships Work has doubled the number of supported internships over the first three years of funding. It is designed to support more young people with additional needs to have greater choice and control over their future, opening up opportunities that prepare them for adult life and independent living.

Building on the work that began in September 2022, the programme has been funded for a fourth year to focus on continuing activities and building sustainability.

Resources for Young People & Families, Local Authorities, Employers, Providers/Colleges and Job Coaches can be found here: Internships Work: All Tools & Resources

IW webbanner strand1 SEN Dforum4 L As1 202212

NDTi will continue providing support to Local Authorities to establish and develop SEND employment forums as well as administrating and monitoring Section 14 grants to support them with this programme.

A list of NDTi's Regional Leads for Internships Work can be found here.

Internships Work: Resources for Local Authorities

IW webbanner strand2 opportunitygrowth1 202212

DFN Project SEARCH is leading on engaging employers and support them to offer high quality work placements by providing information, advice and training that enable growth in internships and job opportunities.

Resources for Employers

BASE is leading on establishing a sustainable process to improve the quality of Supported Internship provision, using the Supported Internship Quality Assurance Framework (SIQAF). The SIQAF will provide organisations with support on completing self-assessments and auditing so that they can work towards achieving a quality kitemark that shows that they are providing true Supported Internships that lead to real jobs

BASE will also lead on delivering Job Coach & Systematic Instruction training to 200 job coaches. The training is in line with the Supported Employment National Occupational Standards (NOS), National Occupational Standards - The British Association of Supported Employment. Due to high demand for the training there are some priority areas we need to work with first and then other people may access a waiting list. Please email training@base-uk.org.uk for further information.

The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi)

The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) vision is to support creating a world where everyone matters.

Our mission is to enable people at risk of exclusion, due to age or disability, to live the life they choose.

We exist to make change happen by celebrating what’s possible, supporting changemakers and building self-determination.

Internships Work General Enquiries: InternshipsWork@ndti.org.uk

Communications Enquiries: Lucy.Tsuchida@ndti.org.uk
DFN Project Search

DFN Project SEARCH is a one-year transition to work programme for young adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum conditions, or both.

Internships Work Enquiries for Employers: claire.cookson@dfnfoundation.org
British Association of Supported Employment (BASE)

The British Association of Supported Employment (BASE) is the national umbrella group for the supported employment sector; their purpose is to support, promote and develop the principles and provision of supported employment.

BASE is concerned with establishing collective action on national issues that cannot be addressed by individual agencies and members alone. BASE has helped to develop National Occupational Standards for Supported Employment, an accredited qualification and a framework of service quality standards. We want to see better quality support available to everyone who needs it.

Training Enquiries: training@base-uk.org.uk