Preparing for work: Young people with learning disabilities

This seminar, part of the Learning Disability Services Series, was led by Ian Kessler, Professor of Public Policy & Management and Deputy Director of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce at King’s College London.

Young people with disabilities face formidable challenges in finding paid jobs, reflected in the fact that well under ten percent are in employment. This seminar explored an initiative designed to address these challenges and help prepare them for work: supported internships. Findings from a review of supported internships across hospital trusts in NHS London were presented and discussed. Attention was drawn to why, how and with what effect supported internship are introduced, exploring these issues from the perspective different stakeholders: the interns themselves, their co-workers and their employers.