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Woman's job success after disability internship

Ellen Knight
BBC Radio Shropshire
BBC Lauren, who's wearing a navy blue porter's uniform, looking into the camera and smiling. She's got her curly brown hair held back by an orange patterned headband. On the left you can see an ambulance - Lauren is stood on the path leading to the hospital entrance. BBC
Lauren Clarke secured her job after an internship with the trust

Young people from Shropshire who have learning disabilities or autism have been able to secure jobs at local hospitals thanks to an internship project.

Lauren Clarke, 23, who is autistic and has moderate learning disabilities, was an intern last year and is now a porter at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).

So far, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust said the programme achieved an average employment rate of 60%.

This compares to the national average of 6% for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Ms Clarke's internship involved rotations across a number of areas across the hospital - but one in particular stood out to her.

"Portering was the only one I wanted to do," she said, adding that the team there "really helped me grow my confidence."

Hospital porters carry out a range of different tasks, from moving patients around the hospital to transporting medical equipment.

Ms Clarke said she was enjoying her new job because she "loves talking to different people."

Her favourite parts of the role were "taking on new jobs, trying new things, being confident, and talking to the patients," Ms Clarke said.

The portering team at the RSH was "like a family", she added, "they're so kind and helpful."

Lauren pushing a patient bed down a corridor; she's wearing a porter's uniform of a blue collared shirt with a navy gilet. Her yellow NHS name badge reads 'hello, my name is Lauren.' Her curly brown hair is held back by an orange patterned headband. Behind her, in the corridor, you can see a pair of double doors that have a sign above reading 'Trust Headquarters.'
Ms Clarke said she always wanted to work in a hospital

The internship scheme involves Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, disability charity DFN Project Search, Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Colleges Group.

It offers the young people a chance to get work experience, and eventually paid employment across areas like portering, catering, pharmacy, and radiology.

Charity DFN Project Search said the success of the internships showed that "young people with learning disabilities and autism can enrich the workforce and encourage greater diversity."

Ali looking into the camera and smiling; he's wearing a white collared shirt. Behind him you can see a hospital corridor with blue and white walls. To his right you can see signs directing visitors and patients around the hospital, but they're not in focus so you can't see what they say.
RSH portering and logistics manager Ali Beshir said Ms Clarke was a great addition to his team

Ms Clarke is one of a number of former interns who have gone on to secure jobs within the NHS trust.

Her manager Ali Beshir, the portering and logistics manager at RSH, said she had become a valued member of his team.

"She's such a breath of fresh air, and she's very popular with all the patients and the staff," he said.

Mr Beshir added that Ms Clarke went through "the full recruitment process" and secured her job "through her own ability."

Ian looking into the camera and smiling; he's wearing a black collared shirt. Behind him you can see part of a waiting area at the hospital, it's got blue and white walls with one brown chair just visible to the right of the picture. There's various signs on the walls, but they're out of focus so you can't read what they say.
The trust's head of logistics, Ian Morris-Jones, said the internship scheme was a roaring success

Ian Morris-Jones, the trust's head of logistics, said Ms Clarke and her fellow former interns were "amazing" additions to the workforce.

"Lauren's done all the hard work, she's invested herself in the internship and she's got out of it what she's put into it.

"And along the way, I think she's touched a lot of people's hearts."

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