We have been working in partnership with the Whittington Hospital and DFN Project SEARCH to deliver supported internships since 2019.

This study programme is for young people aged 16–25 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan who want to move into paid employment with extra support.

Interns are based at the hospital five days a week, completing workplace rotations, developing employability skills, and gaining confidence and independence to prepare for adulthood and work

Where you could work 

Interns work in a variety of departments. The roles include:

• Administration in clinics and departments (both patient-facing and back of house).
• Facilities roles like portering and stores.
• Patient-facing roles such as health care support worker or ward host.

What you will learn

At the Whittington Hospital, interns combine classroom learning with real work placements across different hospital departments.

Interns learn to:

• Build job-specific skills in roles such as administration, portering, ward hosting, and patient-facing support.
• Develop employability skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and time management.
• Improve English and maths, taught through real workplace tasks.
• Strengthen social and communication skills by working as part of a team.
• Grow in confidence and independence, preparing for adult life and employment.

In addition, interns have access to Whittington NHS Trust training, which includes topics on:

• Confidentiality.
• Manual handling.
• Data protection.
• Dementia awareness.

There are also opportunities to work towards vocational qualifications that support individual job goals, such as:

• Level 2 Care Certificate
• Food Hygiene Certificate

What happens after the programme

Many interns move into paid work after completing their supported internship. Some secure jobs at the Whittington Hospital itself, while others find work in other NHS Trusts or use the skills, confidence, and experience they’ve gained to secure jobs in the local community.

Who can apply?

To join the supported internship programme at the Whittington Hospital you need to:

• be aged 16–25
• have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
• be autistic or have a related learning difficulty
• want to move into paid employment in the future
• be able to travel independently, or be working towards travel independence
• be willing to undertake and pass a DBS check and occupational health check.