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It comes as a health chief says the number of young people getting jobs is “shockingly low” as he
Young people with such problems have been enrolled onto a new transition into employment programme by Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley College and Barnsley Council.
Nine young people aged 17 to 24 are gaining vital work-based learning opportunities and experience in a number of different roles with Barnsley Hospital, in partnership with DFN Project Search, to help them secure meaningful long-term paid employment.
The interns, who are students of Barnsley College's Learning for Living and Work Department which supports students with additional needs, will be given extensive training and be taught competitive, transferable skills as part of the programme, whilst being given an employability curriculum to develop these skills.
Chief Executive, Richard Jenkins for Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said it was a good move.
He said: “We’re all very excited to welcome these fantastic young people to our business and to help them develop their skills and confidence.
“The number of young adults with learning disabilities in employment is shockingly low.
"I’m pleased that we will be able to make our own contribution to help address that, and I really hope that some of the interns will be able to find jobs with us as well as other local employers.
"That way the business community will benefit from the development of this untapped talent pool.”
Coun Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said it was part of a plan to have an inclusive economy.
He said: "It's great to hear about the partnership working that has gone into this project to open new opportunities for people with learning difficulties and autism.
"It shows how we are working with anchor organisations like the hospital to ensure we have an inclusive economy in Barnsley.
“There are many benefits to work; it provides people with a renewed sense of purpose and belonging, supports good health and helps connect people.
"Through these types of projects more people can unlock the benefits of work, regardless of their background or starting point."
Stacey Greenman, Learning for Living and Work Programme Manager at Barnsley College, said: "I believe education changes lives, and we aim to provide our students with the best opportunities to progress into further or higher education, training or employment after their time with us.
"The opportunities provided for our young people with special educational needs at the hospital so far have been fantastic. It is such a supportive environment where they are flourishing and learning transferable skills, preparing them for work.”
The DFN Project Search programme runs across the UK and since its launch it has supported over 1,475 interns with learning difficulties and autism to secure full time employment, with the view of supporting 10,000 over the next decade.
DFN Project SEARCH CEO Claire Cookson said: “We are very proud to be launching our programme here in Barnsley.
"We can’t wait to see how when given the right support, young people with autism and learning disabilities can truly thrive and make a huge contribution to society.”
You can learn more about DFN Project SEARCH at https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org/.
The news comes after a House of Lords committee report called for access to tailored, one-to-one careers guidance for every disadvantaged young person, which should be assessed by Ofsted.
An “independent young people’s commissioner for youth aged 16 to 24”, with a specific reference to youth unemployment, education and skills. The purpose of the role would be to interrogate government policy in a similar role to that of the children’s commissioner.
The committee argued youth unemployment had “long blighted” society and found that young people in the UK were not receiving enough support to get into work.
Lord Shipley is due to lead a debate on the subject on Wednesday.