Royal Devon University Healthcare 

NHS Foundation Trust

A supported internship with Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Project SEARCH is a supported internship for people with a learning disability or Autistic Spectrum Condition who want a job and are aged between 16 – 24 years of age. In order to join the course, you must have an EHCP and be motivated to work and learn on the job.

As a Project SEARCH intern, you will undertake three 10-week placements at North Devon District Hospital, where you will be taking on a real role in the hospital and will be supported to be up to speed within that role as soon as possible. The programme runs five days a week from 8:30am–3:30pm and is supported by two full-time onsite Project SEARCH staff as well as onsite mentors.

At the start of the course, there is a three-week settling-in period where you will receive all the training necessary to be safe and professional within the hospital grounds.

Whilst on placement there is comprehensive support available and you will be coached in new skills and reflect on your work at the beginning and end of every day in the project SEARCH training room.

The aim of Project SEARCH is to gain new employability skills with the goal of getting paid employment of 16 hours per week or more. As such it is entirely possible that you may complete the course early if you gain employment.

Project SEARCH has excellent employment outcomes for graduates. Through developing skills and gaining excellent references, interns gain employment both within the hospital trust and in the wider community. The employment rate for Project SEARCH graduates is currently 87% over 10 years. This compares with the 4.8% national average for people with a learning disability or Autism spectrum condition.

For more information click here: https://www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/news/project-search-has-landed-across-the-royal-devon-s-eastern-services/#