Purpose

The proposed Supported Internship programmes
would create opportunities for young people with an EHCP to gain
valuable employment experience across a 12-month period to enable
them to gain meaningful employment.
We are seeking approval to go out to tender to procure for
preferred and approved providers to deliver supported internships
as the existing procurement that has been in place since 1st August
2019 will end on the 31st July 2024.

Decision

Approval to undertake a re-procurement
exercise for supported internship providers across North Yorkshire
to create a new approved provider list (APL)

Reasons for the decision

The supported internship is a study programme
specifically aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 who have an
Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), who aspire to move into
employment and may need extra support to do so. They are intended
to enable young people with learning difficulties and/or
disabilities to achieve sustainable, paid employment by equipping
them with the skills they need for work through learning in the
workplace. Internships normally last for a year and include unpaid
work placements of at least six months. Wherever possible, they
support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of
the programme. Students complete a personalised study programme
which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, if
suitable, alongside English and mathematics to an appropriate
level.