YEOVIL NEWS: Project Search success at hospital

CELEBRATIONS were held last week at Yeovil District Hospital for interns who have completed their placements and graduated from the Project Search initiative.

The Trust was delighted to have launched Project Search within the hospital, in partnership with Yeovil College and Somerset County Council, providing internships for local young people with a learning disability and giving them the skills to gain long-term, paid employment.

The Project Search interns completed three ten-week placements in different departments across the hospital over the academic year.

The interns worked as a member of staff undertaking tasks in their allocated department, supported where necessary by a job coach, along with on-site job education.

PHOTO - TOP: The interns and officials involved in the Project Search campaign at Yeovil District Hospital.

The hospital hosted eight interns - Aled Cadwaladr, Oliver Robotham, Billy Martin, Ben Hurman, Zoe Hunt, Bethany Roney, Michelle Blair and Gordon Ip, who joined the Trust on September 16, 2013. The interns worked in a number of different departments, including logistics, sterile services, catering, medical electronics, maternity and pharmacy.

Yeovil Hospital chief executive, Paul Mears, said: “We have really enjoyed hosting the interns at the hospital. They have all been enthusiastic and highly-motivated, with a real appetite to work and learn.

“For us, this has not just been about providing workplace experience for our interns; we have benefitted enormously from their hard work and enthusiasm, and the new dynamic they have bought to each and every department they have worked in.

“We are very proud of all they’ve achieved over the last ten months and wish them all luck for the future.”

Harvey Robotham, parent of Ollie, one of the interns, said: “Through Project Search we have watched Oliver grow in confidence and independence. The team have been so supportive and together with the Aspire team, have enhanced his prospects of moving into employment greatly.”

College principal, John Evans, added: “We are delighted to work with the hospital and the county council on Project Search - a truly innovative scheme which uses each partner’s particular expertise to offer great opportunities to our students.”

For more information about applying for Project Search, please visit www.yeovil.ac.uk.

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