Project SEARCH

​Project SEARCH is a one-year supported internship programme for young people with additional needs who are looking to enter the world of work. It is a programme that has been developed in Cincinnati, USA and is now successfully replicated across the globe, with over 60 provisions in the UK. Fosse Way School was the first school in the UK to offer a Project Search, back in 2009.  

Interns spend the year working in various placements across the Royal United Hospital and University of Bath, developing a wide variety of employability skills that prepare them for the world of paid work. Being able to work in a variety of departments, completing different tasks and working with different colleagues provides interns with the skills, experience, knowledge and confidence to find and secure paid employment at the end of the year.  

Throughout the course, close support is provided by job coaches who can model tasks, support with social skills and team dynamics, and empower interns with the ability to develop their working independence and resilience. A curriculum is provided alongside work – including maths, English, PSHE and employability skills. Interns are supported with developing key employability skills such as CV development, completing job applications and interviewing. 

Our employer partners, the RUH and UoB, are employers at the forefront of inclusive recruitment and workplace practice. Interns on our programme are able to access work placements across a wide variety of areas and job roles such as: administration, catering, retail, site/estates maintenance, cleaning, portering, data management and more.  

The aim of the programme is that, upon graduation, interns will secure paid employment of at least 16 hours per week. Of the cohort from year ’22 to ’23, 100% are now in part or full-time paid employment.  

If you would like to find out more about DFN Project SEARCH, or if you have any questions, please contact Ben Skinner by emailing bskinner@thepartnershiptrust.com

Useful Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-search-bath-and-north-east-somerset/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553019699787