Access to work

How the funding works whilst on the Supported Internship programme

Access to work provides funding for job coaching and travel training in the workplace for interns whilst on the Supported Internship.

The education provider delivering the Supported Internship will apply for this funding, to enable the intern to be supported whilst on the programme. However, before the education provider is able to utilise any of this funding to support the intern, Access to Work will write to the intern/ appointee to inform of this funding application and gain consent to share information.

All education providers work in partnership with qualified job coaches, whose priority is to support interns in the workplace.

The role of the job coach is to complete a task analysis of the job role, and break down the tasks. The Job Coach then trains the intern to develop their skills, confidence, and independence through a training method called ‘Systematic Instruction Training’. The job coaching usually starts with 100% support, and then fades as the interns develops their sills, confidence and independence in the work place.

The aim of the programme is for the intern to develop the skills required for the job, and for the support from the job coach to fade, to enable the intern to be working independently, with the goal of achieving paid work by the end of the programme.

Support available whilst in paid work

Access to Work is also available to anybody in paid work, whether they have progressed into paid work from a Supported Internship programme or not.

Access to Work is available to anybody who is facing barriers whilst in paid work.

Practical support with your work

Access to Work could give you a grant to help pay for things like:

• specialist equipment and assistive software
• support workers, like a  British Sign Language interpreter, a job coach or a travel buddy
• costs of travelling to work, if you cannot use public transport
• adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work
• physical changes to your workplace

Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time.

It does not matter how much you earn. If you get an Access to Work grant, it will not affect any other benefits you get and you will not have to pay it back.

You or your employer may need to pay some costs up front and claim them back later. 

You can find out what Access to Work is and how to get support if you have a disability or health condition.