Over the past eight years patients at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, as well as staff and visitors, have benefitted from a variety of valuable services provided by sixth form students with special educational needs.

The students have participated in an initiative spearheaded by Fosse Way, the ‘outstanding’ special school in Radstock, in collaboration with the hospital as well as Virgin Care. While undertaking their duties at the RUH the students have also been able to develop vital work-place skills, essential to success in today’s competitive job market.

‘Project Search’ as this venture is known, has its origins in the Children’s Hospital Medical Center in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1996, Erin Riehle, director of the facility’s Emergency Department, had the compelling idea that since the hospital provided services for people with developmental disabilities, it should make a commitment to providing employment for young people in this sector.

In particular, Erin was keen to discover whether it might be possible to provide training for such employees to take up roles involving complicated and systematic tasks, such as ensuring supply cabinets were correctly stocked. Since its successful launch in the Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Project Search has opened at over three hundred locations across the United States as well as Australia, Ireland, Scotland and England.

Tony Kelly, the project’s co-ordinator at the Royal United, said: “Project Search enables young people with special educational needs to develop the skills necessary to succeed in the modern workplace. The aim is to support them to access competitive employment and increase their independence and sense of self-worth.”

A now familiar sight in their distinctive purple T-shirts, the students make an important contribution to a number of key areas including the maintenance department, the pharmacy, sterile services and the Surgical Short Stay Unit. As well as internships at the hospital, the course enables students to pursue academic qualifications to help them to secure paid employment.

Students receive expert coaching from both Fosse Way and Virgin Care staff in writing eye-catching CVs, completing application forms and performing well in interviews.

Eager to build on the success of Project Search at the Royal United, Tony Kelly is now looking ahead to the academic year beginning this September. Tony welcomes applications from any young people who will be entering years thirteen or fourteen, have an EHC plan or a statement of special educational needs, and are interested in a full-time internship.

To find out more about what the project has to offer, please contact: [email protected]