DFN Project SEARCH Supported Internship - Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

DFN Project SEARCH at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust offers a supported internship based at Charing Cross Hospital for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism. The programme is delivered in partnership with the College of North West London, Kaleidoscope, DFN Project SEARCH and Brent Council, and aims to help interns transition from education into sustained paid employment.

Each September the programme admits a cohort of 12 interns who complete three workplace placements matched to their interests. Interns undertake a blend of taught sessions and on-the-job rotations: mornings include tutor-led lessons in the base room (09:00-10:00) followed by workplace rotations until around 15:00, finishing with reflection sessions.

Placement areas include patient care (healthcare assistant roles), administration, patient dining, ward administration, laboratory support and medical equipment handling. Interns receive support from a job coach, a tutor and workplace mentors.

Graduates have progressed into paid roles across the Trust and beyond. Recruitment for the 2026/27 cohort opens in January 2026. Prospective applicants, parents and carers are invited to open events and can contact the programme lead for application details, site visits and to request application forms in alternative formats.