Supported Intern not wasting this opportunity
Thursday, November 26th, 2020This post is in: News
After successfully gaining several qualifications at Greenbank College and taking on a placement opportunity at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Ifti, who has a diagnosis of autism, needed a little extra help to move on into the workplace. The Supported Internship programme was an ideal opportunity for him to do be able to do this.
Ifti started his Supported Internship in September 2020. After going through a few weeks of induction, he was matched to a Waste Operative Assistant role based at Broadgreen Hospital. The role includes safely collecting waste and delivering new waste units to and from ten departments around the hospital. This requires him to be able to follow instructions, use colour coding and labelling, follow a routine and remember codes for access. He has a work mentor with him whilst he undertakes the work who is there to offer help and support to be able to carry out the required work.
As well as gaining valuable on-the-job work skills, Ifti also takes part in classroom training on-site at the hospital where he learns about a variety of relevant topics including code of conduct at work, COVID infection control, understanding and managing work related anxiety, mental health, goal setting / CVs, health & safety signage, communication in the workplace and health & wellness for work.
Talking about his internship, Ifti said:
“I am feeling very happy on my Internship, getting to meet lots of new people, developing positive working relationships and it is giving me an insight to the working world. I enjoy getting to know the different wards and the structure and routine of working life.
I have developed key transferable skills which I can transfer to any other potential job roles, and to a certain extent, have overcome my lack of self-confidence.”
Job Coach, Jenny Lamb said:
“I have seen Iftihar grow in confidence and when observed out on his rounds with his colleague he is polite and says hello to staff and is able to engage with his colleagues. This is something he would have struggled with in September, his confidence has grown.”
