Supported Internships and Work Related Learning
One of our work experience students Sean, completed several placements over his time in Columbia. We had amazing feedback from employers. He’s did himself proud and is an excellent employee. Sean was valued throughout the teams he's been part of. Sean was also fully independent travelling to and from his work placements.
Sean worked in Maintenance and Housekeeping teams at the Hilton Hotel Nottingham and through that experience gained paid employment, as well as securing a paid apprentice position at Nottingham University in their stores department.
Another of our interns Paige, completed several successful placements over her time in work experience. Paige loved cooking and being creative so excelled in placements focussed on these areas.
Paige gained skills and knowledge in all aspects of catering, including food and beverage service, food preparation and health and hygiene whilst working in the Cafe on-site at the Galleries of Justice. She created her own desserts to serve, independently took payments from customers, and used her barista skills to prepare and serve customers. Paige continued to volunteer in this placement post Foxwood as she enjoyed it so much. After gaining experience and skills this gave Paige the confidence to apply for Project Search. Paige secured a place after attending an interview at City Hospital.
Paige also became an independent traveller, an excellent achievement that made her feel so proud.
Across the 14-19 phase students identified as in their final year of education at Foxwood are offered the opportunity to participate in supported internships and undertake work placements as part of their curriculum. This is carefully aligned with their academic studies. The interns are supported to gain work experience in a variety of settings both on and off site. During the first half term they spend time with the tutor/job coach looking at skills, interests and aspirations and when they are assessed as ‘work ready’ are found placements matched to them.
In addition to their placement, most interns follow a work-related curriculum which is accredited by the Prince’s Trust. This involves creating a portfolio, creating a CV, Health and Safety at work and work-related skills. At the end of their course, they have the skills and knowledge to achieve an Entry 2 qualification. They will also have the opportunity, in some work placements, to gain an extra qualification such as Bike Maintenance at Bikeworks., Health & Hygiene and Barista skills. We will continue to access other courses that match interns skills and interests.
Throughout their placements, both on and off site, the interns are developing a range of transferable skills, such as communication and teamworking. They develop understanding of how different organisations work and build confidence in interacting with adults and in the community.
Work experience gently introduces the interns to the world of work. This will inevitably give them an idea of the skills they need to thrive in the workplace and help them identify their own skills and highlight the areas they need to work on.
Students will be encouraged to become as independent as possible, working at their own individual pace. We follow a TITAN programme that works towards independent travel, This is also followed at there own pace, Students are encouraged to apply for a driving licence to use as ID and for some, driving lessons.
Our main aim of Work Experience is to enable students to be work/college/apprenticeship ready and give them the opportunity to see their own potential and make the right choices for them on their journey post Foxwood.