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Key details

Course area
Supported Learning
Student types
16 - 18 coursesCourses for 19+ students
Course type
Full-time Further Education course
Course level
Entry Level
Start date
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Location
Queens Medical Centre or City Hospital
Course code
Parent course code:C036079 Child course code: Q036081
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Course introduction

Project Search is a partnership between Nottingham College, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, Project Search, and the local authority (Nottinghamshire County Council). It is a programme that supports young people with autism, additional learning needs and learning difficulties to get into paid employment. 

The programme provides real work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills delivered in a business setting to help young people make successful transitions to productive adult life.

Opportunities are diverse and include logistics, catering, domestic services and more. Students participate in up to three internships throughout the course.

Each student has a network of support that includes his or her family, a tutor, job coaches and host business mentors with the aim of aiding the transition from college to work.

Core components of Project Search

  1. Outcome goal is full-time, paid employment.
  2. True co-production across partners is essential.
  3. Business-led program requiring total immersion in the workplace.
  4. Focus on serving young adults with significant learning disabilities who will need to receive follow-on services to retain employment.
  5. Partners must provide a consistent on-site staff team.
  6. Each agreement site has with a licensing agreement with DFN Project Search.

A typical day

A typical day includes (Monday to Friday): 
09:15 - 10:00 Classroom instruction in employability and independent living skills. 
10:00 - 14:00 Unpaid internship at a facility or department. 
14:00 - 15:30 Classroom time to discuss and debrief.

Interns have lunch with colleagues during their workday and participate in meetings and social events.

DFN Project Search benefits

  1. Internship training experiences.
  2. Competitive, transferable, and marketable job skills.
  3. Increased independence, confidence and self-esteem.
  4. Individualised coaching on the job and feedback daily.
  5. Building personal and professional relationships.
  6. Participation in a curriculum focused on soft skills required to maintain employment in addition to financial literacy, health and more.

Placements in the hospital

  • Cleaning services - sweeping floors, damp dusting, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning hotel rooms, etc
  • Food services – serving food and drinks to patients 
  • Procurement – receiving and delivering goods to wards and departments
  • CPU - re-packing meals for wards, picking and packing snacks, food storage, dietary labelling
  • Equipment library – delivering medical equipment to wards and departments
  • Patient movement - taking patients to and from wards and other departments around the hospital
  • Delivery - taking samples from one place to another and delivering chemists supplies and replacing oxygen cylinders
  • Linen services - using washing machines, drying, folding, ironing, and pressing machines
  • Elior restaurant - serving customers, preparing meals, washing dishes, cleaning tables etc
  • Administration – data input, filing, all administration work

Course information

1 year

You must be aged 18-24 and have an EHCP (Education, Health & Care Plan) or a recognised assessment of need from your Local Authority.

No formal qualifications required. We will invite you to sit an Initial Assessment and will be looking for a result of Entry Level 2 or Entry Level 3.

If your Initial Assessment results are lower than this, you may be suited to a different course, but don't worry, as after your Initial Assessment, we'll always clearly explain all your options.

You will carry out elements to achieve competence in each component of the course. You will be supported to produce a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your skills and achievements in every area of the programme.

Employment in your chosen area of work.

You can read more about how we support our learners here.
 

If you are aged 19 or over you may still be eligible for funding. Check out our Financial Help pages to find out more!

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National, please visit our EU Settled Status scheme page for more information.

Gallery

Supported Learning Provision
Supported Learning Parent interview 1
Supported Learning Parent interview 2

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