Greenwich supported internship programmes

This supported internship is for 5 days a week at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Interns will gain experience in 3 different roles and departments at the hospital, gaining different work skills from each one. 

This internship is particularly suitable for students with learning disabilities or autism spectrum conditions who want to be employed. 

Key benefits

• Employability Level 1 qualification: Interns will work towards an employability qualification, enhancing their CVs and boosting their job prospects. 
• Hands-on experience: Through various rotations, interns gain practical skills in multiple fields. 
• Personal development: Interns receive tailored support to develop both professional and personal skills. 
• Mentorship and guidance: Experienced mentors provide guidance throughout the internship, ensuring each intern maximizes their potential. 

Rotations and activities

Front-of-house catering 

Restaurant tasks related to stock maintenance, using till and serving customers.  

Back-of-house catering 

Unpack deliveries for the stock room, freezers and kitchen, packing orders and cleaning. 

Linen 

Receiving cages of clean linen, delivering to wards and storing the linen. 

Library services 

Returning books to shelves, logging, tags on book and helping customers.  

Pharmacy dispensary 

Maintain stocks for dispensing, and booking and tracking prescription and medication for the driver to take to wards. 

Pharmacy stores 

Ensure stock is in the right location, check the rotation of stock and use the computer system to check for expiry dates.  

Chaplain administration 

Cross-check current patients against chaplain register and NHS register to allow allocation of chaplains.  

Using IT 

Excel, printing and scanning. 

Healthcare Assistant, McMillan Brook Unit 

Porter duties throughout the day and helping in the wards.

Testimonials

Joanna and Miguel, mentors for front of house catering: “We love having her in the team. She is a very fast learner and completes her tasks very quickly once she is showed how to do things.” Other members of the team have commented on how much everyone enjoys having her and the real value she adds to the team, even expressing a desire to be able to keep her on permanently. 

Parent:  “…programme has been a very positive experience” for her and her son. He can see how he can be an asset in the workplace and at home. She sees a growth in his confidence and how he is expressing himself.

Intern: “The word that I would use to sum up my DFN Supported Internship journey is “brilliant!” This is because I had the best support which has helped me to get a full-time job here at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Parent: When he started within the first couple of weeks we saw the change in him. He was happy. He made friends. He instantly became close to his tutor Sonia and job coach Zak. His confidence levels grew; within a month there was a different person. He said he got that one-to-one support he had always wanted.

Contact the Supported Internships team

Email: special-needs@royalgreenwich.gov.uk  

Telephone: 020 8921 8029