Project SEARCH is a supported employment initiative for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. Within the UK, Project SEARCH is essentially a joint project between a local authority, a local college or school and a host employer. One of Project SEARCH’s most unique attributes is its emphasis on collaboration. Project SEARCH is driven by partnerships and a network of tutors, job coaches and job developers and business leaders that play an integral role in executing our goal of obtaining paid employment for individual with disabilities. Benefits of Project SEARCH:
Benefits to the Interns:
•Participate in a variety of internships to explore employment aspirations and interests
•Acquire competitive, transferable and marketable job skills
•Gain increased independence, confidence, and self esteem
•Obtain work based individualised instruction, coaching, support and feedback from job coaches and host business managers and buddy/supervisors
•Develop links to adult support agencies and community networks
Benefits to the host business and potential employers:
•Increased work capacity by carefully selected candidates who are ready for work, who match labour needs and improve performance and retention in some high-turnover or hard-to-fill posts
•On site trained and experienced disability employment specialists who can provide disability awareness training, advice on the Disability Discrimination Act and reasonable adjustments
•Help to develop accessible recruitment practices
•Enhanced business profile through increased local, regional, and national recognition
