A project which is leading the way for young people with a disability and autism celebrated 10 years this week at University Hospital Wishaw. The hospital hosted a virtual event as one of the first hospitals to support the project.
DFN Project SEARCH is a pioneering internship programme with partners including NHS Lanarkshire as the host business, New College Lanarkshire as the education provider, and North Lanarkshire Council as the supported employment provider.
The project celebrated 10 years of success in transforming the lives of young people with learning disabilities and autism with 78 students having graduated through the programme with places across NHS Lanarkshire and 55 going on to get paid employment.
Many now remain in frontline roles across NHS Lanarkshire, making a huge impact during the Pandemic, spanning laboratory assistants, porters, administration, catering, retail, domestics, waste management operators and customer services.
These amazing jobs have also transformed the lives of these young, bringing greater independence and widening their aspirations.
Amongst the graduates there have also been two weddings, three babies, ten now live independently, including three buying their own homes, passing driving tests and buying cars, and further education whilst in work.
The success is testament to the effectiveness of DFN Project SEARCH’s pioneering transition to work programme and the brilliant partnership in Lanarkshire, which equips its interns with so many employability skills for jobs that are making a difference to the country in a time of crisis.
The University Hospital Wishaw partnership shows how collaboration between the NHS, local authorities, colleges and schools and supported employment providers; partnered with the evidence-based DFN Project SEARCH programme, can be a force for transformative change in the lives of young people with learning disabilities.
The programme has been such a success with NHS Lanarkshire that it has been rolled-out to further sites at University Hospital Hairmyres and University Hospital Monklands.
Heather Knox, Chief Executive, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “I am delighted that NHS Lanarkshire has been able to support this brilliant project for the last 10 years.
“DFN Project Search offers work experience opportunities to young people with learning disabilities and autism and over the last 10 years 78 students have graduated from the programme after undertaking a range of roles across NHS Lanarkshire.
“I am also extremely pleased that more than half have obtained permanent positions within NHS Lanarkshire including clerical assistants, domestics, laboratory assistants, porters and clinical support workers.
“While we offer the opportunities, it is the young people themselves who are the inspiration to everyone they work with from their lecturers, job coaches, site mentors and the wider NHS family.”
Carmel McKeogh, director and programme specialist at DFN Project SEARCH, said: “We are very proud of the success of our programme in helping young people with autism and learning disabilities get great jobs which truly transform their lives.
“There have been so many inspiring stories during the past ten years that challenge the social hierarchy and show how young people with autism and learning disabilities can make a huge contribution to society.
“Most recently our graduates at University Hospital Wishaw have certainly risen to the challenge even further in frontline roles and continue to do amazing work within local communities.
“The success they are having is testament to the effectiveness of our pioneering transition to work programme along with the strength of our partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, New College Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Council.
“Society is now beginning to better understand the value and skill set that people with learning disabilities and autism can bring to the workplace and we now have a huge opportunity to transform workplace culture throughout the country and drive long-term change through supported internships that are proven to work in driving change and more fairness for all.”
