Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, DE22 3NE
The Project SEARCH @ Royal Derby Hospital programme is a supported internship, training and employment opportunity for young adults who have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP), aged 18-19, who are looking for a year-14 education pathway, who have autism or learning difficulties. The programme takes place at the Royal Derby Hospital site, as well as the opportunity to complete placements at Derby University. The project provides real life work experience, combined with training in employability and independent living skills, as well as formulating a CV to equip interns with everything they need to be successful in finding employment.
What support is available?
The interns are matched to their placements in terms of skills, abilities, and interests, and this differs for each young person. The interns are supported by the tutor, job coach and their mentor, who work alongside them in each department, helping them to learn the skills required in each placement until they can perform the tasks independently. The tutor and on-site job coach also support them in placement and help them to develop an employability plan, CV and write letters to employers. Once interns have completed their programme, they are supported by 'Transition 2' - a Derby based college. 'Transition 2' will help to support young people to maintain employment.
What does a typical day look like?
Your time on the programme will be spent with an induction period (usually 6 weeks) for specific training to take place, e.g., NHS Trust training and health and safety. Placements will then begin after the first half term, and Monday to Friday will consist of 2x one-hour classroom sessions at the start and end of the day, with work taking place in the centre.
- 9am to 10am - Classroom
- 10am to 3pm - Placement
- 3pm to 4pm - Classroom
Classroom activities include workplace skills, maintaining health relationships, appropriateness in the workplace, communication, self-advocacy, employability skills, and teamwork.
Rotations
Project SEARCH has been running at Royal Derby Hospital since September 2019. Ten interns are taken onto the programme each academic year, where they gain thirty weeks of placement experience in different departments in the Royal Derby Hospital and/or the University of Derby. During a one year programme, and alongside employability skills training, interns participate in 3x ten-week placement hosted by various teams across the Trust, ISS and the University of Derby. Placements are always being developed. Project SEARCH are always looking at new areas to develop. Example of previous placements include:
- catering
- portering
- cleaning
- ward hosting
- receipts and distribution
- administration
- pathology
- clinical engineering
- reception
- charities
Brighter Futures
Project SEARCH is there to help young people with learning difficulties to make successful transitions from school to productive adult life and independence. The goal for each student is competitive employment somewhere in the community using the transferable skills they have acquired at the Royal Derby Hospital and the University of Derby.
The Ideal Candidate:
- is aged 18-19
- has a current and active EHC Plan.
- can commit to a 5-day week programme.
- can commit to working full-time (at least 16 hours/week) at the end of the Project SEARCH programme
- has the potential to develop skills required to meet the needs of a business, host or in community.
- is within travelling distance of Royal Derby Hospital, and are an independent traveller.
Contact Details
If you would like to find out more about Project Search @ Royal Derby Hospital, please contact:
Email: Jo.Lambourne@stmartins.set.org
Website: Supported Internships - St Martins School