We’re expanding how we help local young people find work, and finding innovative new ways to grow our own workforce, by introducing Project SEARCH across our hospitals.

DFN Project SEARCH is a year-long transition to work programme for young adults aged 17-19, with a learning disability (LD) and/or autism. It works as an internship in their last year of study to help them into the workplace, which is hugely important given that on average, people with LDs have less than a five   per cent change of gaining paid employment.

From September this year, we’ll be welcoming a group of eight to 12 interns who will work in a variety of roles including portering, catering, admin, medical records, and data entry, across a range of departments such as on our wards, x-ray and ophthalmology.

While with us they’ll be able to learn transferable skills, enhancing their career prospects. Increasing their chances of finding work brings a host of other benefits including financial independence, friendships and being able to live independently.

The interns will be supported by a full-time teacher while with us, as well as job coaches, managers and mentors. While helping to boost our workforce, our staff will also benefit from accredited autism and other relevant training, helping them support the young people and enhance their own skills.

Delphine Garr, our Head of Education Programmes and Lifelong Learning, said: “We are so proud to be involved in such an important project, and making a difference to young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

“For several years now we’ve been passionate about growing our own workforce locally and Project SEARCH helps us do that while providing key support to vulnerable members of our communities. We’re also pleased to be working in collaboration with some key partners, building working relationships which will create sustainable routes into work for young people.”

We’re working in partnership with DFN Project SEARCH, Redbridge Council and ASTRUM Multi Academy Trust, which runs special schools locally.

Introducing this project builds on our efforts to provide employment opportunities for local vulnerable young people. We recently renewed our Charter Mark for People With Lived Experience silver award, recognising initiatives including our work experience programme for local youngsters with experience of care and/or involvement in crime.

Project SEARCH started out in Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio in 1996 and has been operating in the NHS for 12 years, including at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. You can watch this video to see the positive impact it has had on young people and their families.