The BASE Supported Employment Awards highlight the best practice taking place across Great Britain to enrich the lives of disabled, neurodivergent and disadvantaged people through high quality employment. The award categories reflect and recognise the achievements of individuals, teams and organisations in the inclusive recruitment sector. The Learner of the Year Award is awarded to those who have completed the Level 3 Certificate for Supported Employment Practitioners and have contributed to the workshops and completed workbooks to a high standard.
On winning the award, Carly said: “I’m honoured to receive the BASE Learner of the Year Award. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of my amazing team, my manager Tracy Noble, and the fantastic young people I’ve had the privilege to work with.”
Supported Internships are for young people aged 16-25 with additional needs who want to work but need support to do so. Services for Young People (SfYP) works in partnership with Hertfordshire's four further education colleges and employers throughout the county to provide Supported Internships which provide a bridge between education and employment.
Carly works with parents and young people, professionals who work with young people and employers by hosting Q&A sessions and the SEND Employment Forum, as well as offering one-to-one information, advice and support. She also coordinates the placement of interns at Hertfordshire County Council. This involves collaborating with teams to understand their requirements, conducting interviews, and carrying out detailed job matching to ensure that each intern is placed in the most suitable team and the internship fits the young person’s long-term career goals and working capabilities.
Supported Internships are designed to enable young people with additional needs to achieve sustainable employment by equipping them with the skills they need for the job. Most of the learning takes place in the workplace; interns are supported and given on-the-job training by job coaches and learn about work by being in work. For the employer, the internship meets a real business need. The internship ideally offers the potential of a paid job for the young person at the end of the programme of study.
Interns see many benefits, including improvements in their confidence, motivation and communication skills. The programme also demonstrates to employers what young people with additional needs can achieve.
To find out more, visit our Supported Internship webpage or join one of our upcoming Supported Internships awareness events.
