fbpx
Students selected for Furness College’s DFN Project Search supported internship programme

Students selected for innovative work scheme

An innovative scheme led by Furness College to support students with learning differences and disabilities into jobs has recruited its first cohort of students in Barrow, developing and growing its supported internship offer to meet the needs of young people in the area.

Ten young people aged 18 to 23 will start their path to paid employment at Furness General Hospital after a successful interview process.

They have secured places on Furness College’s DFN Project Search supported internship programme, which is a new opportunity for students with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), learning difficulties and disabilities (LDD) in partnership with Right2Work, Cumbria County Council, Inspira and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust who are the host employer.

Adam Ashdown, Bailey Harding, Cavan Armstrong, Connor Smithers, Ella Shaw, Georgia Chesher, Jack Kelly, Lee Wharton, William Ryan and Zak Johnson were selected from 18 applicants and will start as interns at the hospital in September.

The college’s Assistant Principal for Curriculum Sue Hannan said they had all successfully passed a rigorous interview and assessment process with representatives from all the partners to get onto the scheme, which is the first of its kind in Cumbria.

“We tested both their practical and communication skills to assess their suitability for work and they did brilliantly. Our successful candidates will join the programme from a variety of different courses ranging from A Levels to construction.

“Having met the group, we are confident that they can do well in their internship and will go on to paid employment with a range of work-ready skills they will have developed.”

This week they had an introduction to their placements, which will range from administration, portering, catering, domestic services, pharmacy and facilities. They will work five days a week from 9am to 4pm supported by college staff and job coaches to practise essential skills in the hospital environment.

Adam Ashdown, said: “I am excited to join the NHS and I want to be a porter, today was a great day.”

Meanwhile Zak Johnson said: “Going to Furness General Hospital today has really piqued my interest, I liked learning about how the meals are made and I hope to work in the catering team as an intern.”

Bailey Harding added that his day was ‘an 11/10’.

The group, who all have educational health and care plans, will also continue to develop the literacy and numeracy skills that are required in the workplace and experience three different work rotations across the academic year.

Sian Foster, DFN Project SEARCH Programme Specialist for the North of England, said: “It was with great pleasure that I had the opportunity to meet all the talented, successful Interns, for this exciting new DFN Project SEARCH programme. The prestigious partnership between University of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Furness College, Right2work, Inspira and Cumbria County Council, promises to be a standout partnership.

“We are delighted that our first cohort of interns will begin their supported internship journey soon and will obtain valuable work experience that will help transform their lives. We can’t wait to see the fantastic work they will be doing here and can demonstrate how young people with autism and learning disabilities, when given the right support, can truly thrive and make a huge contribution to society.”

The scheme is also set to roll out across Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Westmorland General Hospital with support from Lancaster and Morecambe and Kendal colleges.


Channelside
Barrow-In-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 2PJ
Rating Lane
Barrow-In-Furness
Cumbria
LA13 9LE
Contact Us Tel: 01229 825 017 (Channelside Campus)
Tel: 01229 828 377 (Barrow Sixth Form College)
Email: info@furness.ac.uk
Business Support Tel: 01229 844 836
Email: businesssupport@furness.ac.uk
Belive Acheive Succeed!
Ofsted