AROUND 25 young learners with educational health care plans met their potential future employer at a virtual presentation to find out more about supported internships.

Furness College held the online session in partnership with University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust (UHMBT), Cumbria County Council, Inspira and the charity DFN Project SEARCH.

Applications are now open for the project, which will provide up to 12 learners aged 18-24 with the opportunity to develop workplace skills at Furness General Hospital with the aim of securing paid employment.

The college’s Assistant Principal for Curriculum Sue Hannan described the internships as an ‘exciting new curriculum development’.

She said: “This is the first time we have met prospective interns for the programme and under this scheme you can make a huge leap forwards towards employment.

“I am really passionate about bringing this initiative to the town and using the services at Furness General Hospital to improve employment prospects of our young people, focusing on what you can do and what you can contribute.”

She was joined in the presentation by Sian Foster of DFN Project SEARCH, Hannah Monaghan and Iain Hook of UHMBT, Joanne Beech of Cumbria County Council and Ian Killip from Inspira.

It was attended by EHCP learners from both the college’s Channelside and sixth form campuses alongside students from Sandside, Beaumont and George Hastwell schools.

Hannah Monaghan, who is Careers and Engagement Project Facilitator at UHMBT, said the roles would include jobs such as clerical/administration, catering, pharmacy delivery and reporting, domestic services including infection control and portering on three rotations over 9 months.

She said: “We are in a position to really look after the interns who come through so as well as support from managers, colleagues and peers we do have an absolutely fantastic occupational health team who can help them with anything that may be medical or health related as well as people such as myself.”

She said the Trust would support interns to flourish and grow with the aim of them applying for a role at Furness General Hospital at the end of the placement.

Applications are now open on the Furness College website https://www.furness.ac.uk/supported-internships/ or for more information contact internships@furness.ac.uk.