Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) were delighted to host a graduation day on Thursday 11 July 2024, to celebrate the incredible Project SEARCH interns completing their internship programme at the Trust.
Project SEARCH is a supported employment initiative for young people with significant disabilities, which HDFT has participated in since 2022. The project aims to support a transition into the workplace, allowing interns to gain skills and experience to help them move towards paid employment within the NHS.
Interns participate in an average of three, 11 week rotations across the year in departments matched to their skills, qualities and aspirations; completing up to 800 hours of on-the-job training.
Host departments have fully embraced the opportunity to be a part of these young peoples’ development, supporting the interns to make remarkable progress in terms of social interaction and confidence.
Some of the participating departments were:
- Medical Library
- Learning and Development
- Finance
- Waste Management
- Woodlands Ward and Special Care Baby Unit
- Catering
- Grounds Team
- Sterile Services
- Domestics
- Linen
This year, six interns completed the programme and some of the interns are now are securing full time work in roles across HDFT.
The graduation day was an opportunity to thank everyone involved in person, including the interns, mentors, host departments, job coaches, tutors, family and friends.
Interns also received a certificate of achievement, badge and a trophy for their achievements throughout the year.
Cheryl Davy, Hft Employability Coach said “The graduation day was a brilliant way of celebrating all of our interns and their fantastic achievements for the duration of the year.
“All the interns thoroughly enjoyed the day and it was a great opportunity for them to showcase the hard work and effort they have put into their internships.”
A new cohort of interns are due to begin the process again in September 2024 as HDFT continues to expand its workforce with talented, aspirational individuals.
Georgia Hudson, Volunteer and Charity Manager at HDFT said, “We are incredibly proud of this programme and for all the accomplishments of this year’s interns.
“Myself and my colleagues who support facilitating the programme within HDFT are so grateful to Harrogate College, North Yorkshire Council, Hft and DFN Project SEARCH for all their support in making the programme such a success and helps inspire our future NHS workforce, this programme is a privilege to be a part of.”
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For further information please contact:
Giles Latham, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557470.
Greg Dawson, Senior Communications and Marketing Officer, [email protected] and 01423 557732.