Gloucestershire’s approach to funding job coaches for supported internships

Structure and Funding Model

Supported Internships in Gloucestershire are delivered collaboratively:

• Coordination: A full-time Supported Internship Coordinator has been in place for over a decade, ensuring continuity and wraparound support. This role provides this support through conducting vocational profiling with young people, assessing their suitability for the internship, coordinating delivery of the supported internship, and ensuring smooth transitions into the supported employment service where needed. The coordinator also tracks the young people and interns are always able to return for support if circumstances change.
• Providers: Two FE colleges and one independent provider work in partnership with the local authority’s Supported Employment service.
• Delivery: Colleges deliver the academic component (typically one day per week), while employing job coaches to support interns in the workplace.
• Funding: The local authority funds the internships like any other college course, using a banded structure (Bands 1–6) based on each young person’s support needs. This funding comes from the high needs budget, covering tutoring and job coach support.

Moving away from Access to Work

Previously, colleges were encouraged to claim Access to Work (AtW) funding, but this proved inefficient due to administrative burdens and minimal financial return. Instead, Gloucestershire opted to fund job coach support directly through their high needs funding, avoiding delays and ensuring consistent provision. Gloucestershire shares that this is flexible and if there are significant support needs then AtW may be claimed. Although AtW is not routinely claimed for supported internships, it is pursued when interns transition into paid employment, allowing employers to access support without complications.

“Supported internships are good value courses, which means we can fund it directly like any other college course.” – Sarah Poultney, Post 16 Lead for Education, Gloucestershire Country Council

What’s Worked Well

Several key factors have contributed to the success of Gloucestershire’s model:

• Access to High Needs Funding: By making a strong business case for the long-term employability outcomes of Supported Internships, the local authority secured consistent funding.
• Fully Funded Supported Employment Service: Interns can transition seamlessly into the supported employment service post-internship, and even return for support later if needed.
• Strong Provider Relationships: Regular meetings between providers foster open communication, shared problem-solving, and collaborative planning. This includes joint efforts to deliver core subjects like maths and English and to explore creative employment routes including self-employment in pet care or art.

“Recently we had a young person who wanted to work in animal care but there were no employers available in their area. In a group meeting, another provider shared their experience of supporting young people into self-employment pathways. They suggested this as an option for the young person, such as dog walking or pet sitting in their area. This collaborative problem solving allowed the providers to think creatively and offer a meaningful alternative tailored to the young person’s interests and local opportunities.” – Sarah Poultney, Post 16 Lead for Education, Gloucestershire Country Council

• Early and Person-Centred Planning: Through early engagement and personalised planning with young people, Gloucestershire’s ongoing work with young people in earlier years leads to many of the young people’s support needs being lower. This ensures funding is used efficiently and support is tailored.

Lessons for Other Local Authorities

Gloucestershire’s approach offers a practical and adaptable model for other areas facing challenges such as AtW backlogs or limited funding. While recognising that each area has its own structures and constraints, Gloucestershire has openly shared how they’ve built their model—and how others might do the same. Their experience demonstrates that with strategic planning, strong partnerships, and a clear business case, it’s possible to deliver high-quality Supported Internships that lead to lasting employment outcomes.

• Build a Business Case: Demonstrate how Supported Internships lead to employment, reduce long-term dependency, and represent good economic sense.
• Invest in Relationships: Develop strong, trust-based partnerships with providers. Regular meetings and shared problem-solving are key.
• Use High Needs Funding Strategically: Advocate for banded funding structures that reflect actual support needs and allow flexibility.
• Fund Job Coaches Directly: Avoid reliance on AtW during internships; instead, ensure consistent support through local funding.
• Think Creatively: Explore alternative employment routes, including self-employment, and tailor placements to individual strengths and circumstances.