Influential work placement scheme for young adults with disabilities wins encouraging praise from Ofsted inspectors

A life-changing scheme that helps young people with disabilities gain jobs and independence has been rated ‘good’ in its first Ofsted report.

Health Education England’s Project Choice supported internships provide placements in healthcare settings and other NHS partner organisations to help young adults prepare for the working world.  

The internships are open to 16 to 24-year-olds with disabilities, learning disabilities, difficulties and autism, and aim to give them the skills and confidence to enter employment.  

Support is tailored to each young person, matching employment options to their skills. They spend a year learning employment skills in three placements of up to 12 weeks long. 

The Ofsted report, just published, rates the scheme’s behaviour and attitude categories as outstanding, with quality of education, personal development, leadership & management and provision for learners with high needs as good. 

It praises HEE and NHS managers for forming highly-effective partnerships which instill confidence in interns, and says learners benefit from “an ethos of social inclusion and equality of opportunity.”

It goes on: “They love going to work, and their enjoyment of life improves as they rightly feel that they are being prepared well for a safe and secure future.” 

Laura Roberts, Director of Skills Development & Participation, Health Education England, said: “I am incredibly proud of what the Project Choice team has achieved through its dedication and skill. 

“By co-operating closely with partners we have already created hundreds of learning opportunities for young people, and we will continue to strive to improve what is already a high-quality, life-changing programme.” 

The scheme is funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and managers work closely with nine NHS Trusts and local authority partners. 

Supported internships have so far helped more than 250 young adults since 2017, mainly working in hospitals across the north east and Yorkshire, with a further 128 people participating in the current academic year. 

Around 80 per cent have so far gone on to employment, volunteering roles or further education.