Tender for the Provision of Supported Internship

LTE Group on behalf of The Manchester College is seeking bids from suppliers that can support with the delivery of a successful and high-quality Supported Internship provision.

Provision is for up to 80 students across 6 sites each academic year.

The cohort of Supported Internship students are aged 16-24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Suppliers will be expected to provide Supported Internship students with work related experiences that build skills and aspirations for future employment opportunities.

The standards required of the successful tender are aligned to the Supported Internship Quality Assurance Framework, 2022.

The supplier must provide appropriately trained and experienced members of staff for each Supported Internship site. The Supported Internship sites will be the main employment base for the staff members.

There is a strong focus on paid employment outcomes with an expectation that the supplier will source and secure paid employment opportunities for an aspirational outcome of 70% each academic year in line with the Supported Internship Quality Assurance Framework.

The supplier must be able to develop partnerships with local small, medium and large employers. They will network with employers and achieve strategic commitment.

The supplier will arrange and co-chair steering group meetings

The supplier is expected to support key events e.g., launch, recruitment, and celebration events. This includes support to The Manchester College with recruitment and assessment of applicants to the Supported Internship programme.

The supplier must complete a Vocational Profile or equivalent with each student, assessing skills, interests, support needs and aspirations.

The supplier must source and secure all work placements and work closely with the student and The Manchester College to match students appropriately to employer placements. It is expected that students will participate in up to three placements each academic year. Each placement is expected to be for 4 days per week for the duration of a term.

The supplier must complete a Job Analysis or equivalent and all Health and Safety checks for each work placement. Copies of these documents will be provided to The Manchester College.

The supplier must contribute to an Employer pack to be provided to each placement employer with key information about the Supported Internship, expectations, support available to employer and needs of the student.

The supplier must negotiate (and support with the provision of where required) any reasonable adjustments with the employer including job carving, training support, aids and adaptations.

The supplier must work with The Manchester College to support students with transition into work placements, route training, completion of employer induction/ training and provide ongoing support and liaison with students, employers, parents and carers

The supplier must complete work placement reviews with the student and employer – minimum of one per placement. Copies of the reviews will be provided to The Manchester College.

The supplier will be expected to support the collation of work-based learning evidence including for individual student targets/ EHCP outcomes as required for the College.

The supplier will be expected to attend and contribute to Education Health and Care Plan reviews.

The supplier will work in partnership with The Manchester College to ensure that all students have an appropriate and aspirational exit strategy and destination. They will support students with the transition into paid employment.

The supplier will support students and families with benefits better off calculations.

The supplier will be expected to work closely with The Manchester College to ensure students attend and engage.

The supplier must be responsive and reactive to college and student need.

The supplier must report safeguarding concerns directly to the College lead.

The supplier must protect all shared data on students in line with GDPR.

The supplier will be expected to contribute to an annual self-assessment of the Supported Internship provision in line with the Supported Internship Quality Assurance Framework.

The supplier will be required to support The Manchester College regarding Internal or External Quality Reviews, Local Authority, DfE or Ofsted visits or requests for information.

Suppliers must provide appropriate training to their Supported Internship staff, including Training in Systematic Instruction, Supported Employment Core Values Training, GDPR and Safeguarding.