Supported internships

To take part in a supported internship, you must:

• Be aged 16 to 24 years old
• Have an Education, Health and Care plan (often referred to as and EHCP)

Supported internships are delivered through partnerships between education providers and employers. Interns usually spend:

• Up to five days per week in a work placement
• With learning delivered at the beginning and end of each day to reinforce workplace skills

Work placements vary in duration:

• Some run across a six-month period with scheduled days each week
• Others are shorter placements, lasting around ten weeks with different rotations across the year.

Interns spend the majority of their time in the workplace, gaining hands-on experience while continuing to study English and Maths, where appropriate.

We currently have the following Supported Internships:

• Bromley Council Supported Internship
• NHS Supported Internship at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) – Project Search
• ISS @ Queen Marys Hospital – Project Search
• London South East Colleges Supported Internship

Each intern receives tailored support, including access to a 1:1 job coach, if needed, to help build skills and confidence in the workplace. Supported internships offer:

• Real-world work and life experience
• A deeper understanding of the world of work
• Support in developing a CV and professional identity
• Opportunities to build skills, confidence, and independence
• Raised aspirations for interns, their families, and employers
• A chance to explore whether a chosen career path is the right fit
• Ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition into the workplace

The ultimate goal of a supported internship is to help the intern move into sustainable paid employment. Interns leave with:

• Valuable experience
• Improved confidence and workplace skills
• A clearer sense of career direction
• A stronger foundation for independence and adult life

Read Will’s Story

Project SEARCH interns win awards - Bromley Mencap

Read Erica’s Story

Project SEARCH success at the PRUH | King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust  

Read Jonathan’s Story

"My colleagues are very supportive. It's a friendly pharmacy team"

 This year we continued our partnership with DFN Project SEARCH and local organisations in Bromley to deliver an internship scheme at PRUH to provide work experience for young adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Jonathan Pang was one of 12 interns who have recently graduated from Project SEARCH at PRUH. Jonathan celebrated completing the internship scheme with a full-time paid role at the Trust as a pharmacy runner, becoming the fourteenth intern to join King's since Project SEARCH started at the Trust in 2021.

Jonathan said that taking part in Project SEARCH contributed to him becoming a member of Team King's, and said that the help he received from Bromley Mencap was invaluable in helping him with job applications: "My confidence grew whilst doing Project SEARCH." Jonathan said: "I really enjoyed meeting new people and I loved working with my job coaches from Bromley Mencap, who were really friendly and supportive.

"I learned lots of different practical skills which helped me gain paid employment at PRUH."

To deliver Project SEARCH at PRUH, the Trust partners with London South East Colleges Bromley, Bromley Council and Bromley Mencap to help young people with learning disabilities and/or autism gain work experience and help them find employment post-education.

Since joining the pharmacy team at PRUH, he has become an important member of the team; delivering medication to the different wards and ensuring all the wards have the correct medication.

Laura Ford, Advanced Pharmacy Technician at PRUH and Jonathan's line manager said: "We were delighted to offer the role of pharmacy runner to Jonathan. He initially joined the pharmacy team in September 2024 through the Project SEARCH internship scheme and everyone in the team was really impressed with his work ethic and kindness and he made a positive impression on everyone.

"When a role became available we were really pleased that Jonathan decided to apply. He has now been in post for a few months and he is a wonderful addition to the team."

Jonathan added that his colleagues have helped him transition from the internship to full-time work: "I enjoy working in the pharmacy.

"My colleagues are very supportive. It's a friendly pharmacy team."

You can find out more information about Project SEARCH at King's on  our website .

For more information about supported internships in Bromley, including how to apply or connect with local programmes, please contact SEND.Employment@bromley.gov.uk