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Support for children aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
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Supported Employment

Supported employment helps young people and adults with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) find and continue in work.

Support might include help with:

  • looking for a job
  • completing job applications
  • attending interviews
  • starting a job

The links on this page provide information and advice about supported employment and how it can help people with SEND find and succeed in work.

SWRAC has a supported employment pathway. Classroom in the Heart of Industry (CHI) is an employment and education training programme for 16 to 19 year olds. Find out more by following the weblinks on this page.

If you live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, you can get help from Up in BCP. You can also get support through Jobcentre Plus and from the SENCo or inclusion lead at your education setting.

If you’re disabled or have a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job, you can:

  • talk to your employer about changes they must make in your workplace
  • get extra help from Access to Work, including mental health support

Find out more about Access to Work from gov.uk

The BCP Supported Internship Programme

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council’s supported internship programme is an exciting opportunity for young people aged 18 to 25 years with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). Our internship model is aimed at students with an EHCP who have completed their formal education and are now looking to receive final support before they enter the world of paid employment.

Young people accessing the BCP Council supported internship programme attend tutor lead sessions hosted within BCP Council Civic Centre where they enhance and develop transferable employment skills. Alongside classroom-based work, the interns also work alongside BCP Council staff across a range of council departments, and they are supported during these placements by experienced job coaches.

The BCP Council supported internship programme takes place over the course of an academic year (September until July). Interns who graduate from the course may go on to apply for employment within BCP Council or they could choose to apply for work across the local area. Ongoing job coach support is offered as the interns transition into the world of employment.

Applications are open for the next cohort of supported interns to start in September 2024. If you are interested, please complete this application form. BCP SI Application Form 2024

Some key dates for application

  • Parents and Carers Information Event – Monday 22 April 2024
  • Young Person Assessment and Information Centre – Tuesday 21 May 2024
  • Summer Meet and Greet – Thursday 15 August 2024

Further information and contact details

Watch the video below if you would you like to know more about what our supported interns get up to.

Watch this video if you would like to hear positive feedback from managers who hosted our interns last year.

BCP Council are proud to be delivering this project with partner organisations DFN Project Search, SWRAC and  Discovery-UK. Further information about Project Search can be found at www.dfnprojectsearch.org

For further information, please contact Helen Lewis (BCP Council’s Supported Internships Project Officer) at supportedinternships@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

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