PROJECT SEARCH

From Sept 2022, Ellesmere College has embarked on an exciting new project with DFN Project Search linked with the Leicester Universities Hospitals Trust. This will be an available option for our Y14 students who will spend their final year with us on a supported internship with the NHS, Voco Hotel or Leicester University.

Project Search is an International Programme with 500 programmes running in 9 countries since 1996.

The chief aim is to get people with Learning Difficulties into paid employment.

How does it work at Ellesmere?

• We run two DFN Project search programmes one based at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and a second based at both Voco Hotel and Leicester University.
• Students spend ten weeks learning a full job at one venue before transferring to another area to develop skills or learn another job. They complete three rotations over the academic year.
• Students are supported by a tutor and job coach who are employed by Ellesmere but based fulltime at both the hospital and hotel.
• At the end of the year students complete a working assessment where they demonstrate they can do a job rather than competing at an interview. If they can prove that they are able to do a job where there is a vacancy then they are employed.

Success to date

As a consequence of DFN Project Search the following students are now in employment:

Employed since 2022 
- Decontamination Assistant 30 hours per week 

Employed since 2023 
- Logistic Porter 40 hours per week 
- Post Room Worker 30 hours per week 
- Retail Catering Assistant 16 hours a week 

Gained employment in 2024 
- Domestic Assistant (Childrens A&E) 20 hours per week 
- Patient Catering Assistant 18.8 hours per week 
- Patient Catering Assistant 21 hours per week 
- Medical Records Assistant 37.5 hours per week 
- Waste Porter 24 hours per week 
- Maintenance Assistant 24-40 hours per week 
- Room assistant 18-20 hours per week 
- Room Assistant 30 hours per week 
- Food and Beverage Assistant 18-20 hours per week 

Why do we want to be involved?

• 70% of interns completing a Project Search program go on to paid employment within 9 months of graduation.
• Being employed provides an economic benefit, social support from friendships and positive wellbeing through the sense of purpose and achievement.
• We think this provides the best possible life outcomes for our students.

Project search contacts