London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust
Rohan Popat
Background
DFN Project Search is a supported employment programme for young people with learning disabilities and/or those with autistic spectrum conditions. It is a unique business led programme that works in partnership with the host business (London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust), education establishments (Harrow college) and supported employment services (Kaleidoscope Sabre) and offers total workplace immersion. The programme facilitates employability skills, career exploration and hands on training through a series of job rotations within the host business.
How it works?
The programme runs for 5 days a week Monday - Friday, for a full academic year. Typically, interns complete three working rotation within the trusts departments lasting between 10-12 weeks in length. Interns will complete and follow a full trust induction, new employee checks and occupational health guidelines as well as upholding the trusts HEART values.
DFN Project Search | Location: Central Middlesex Hospital | Partners: London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust, Medirest, Harrow College, West London Alliance, Harrow College
Case Study
Rohan joined the programme from a local College in September 2020. Unfortunately the programme year was affected by Covid-19 and Rohan and the other interns were unable to get on site at Central Middlesex Hospital to complete rotations until April 2021. Due to this the programme was fortunately extended and Rohan was able to graduate the programme in July 2022.
At the start of the programme Rohan was very witty and talkative and enjoyed telling stories he was focused on completing his rotations in the Pharmacy department and hoped to get a job in the Pharmacy upon completing the programme.
Rohan’s experience
Rohan’s first rotation was working in the distribution department within the pharmacy at Central Middlesex Hospital. There were many tasks that needed to be done daily and plenty of medication deliveries that needed to be checked and restocked a quickly as possible so there was plenty to keep Rohan occupied. There were lots of opportunities to learn new skills and Rohan’s mentors were extremely helpful and always willing to go the extra mile for him. They were a great support in helping Rohan to achieve his weekly progression targets and enjoyed seeing Rohan become independent in a task. This has aided Rohan to begin to build a solid foundation from which could then develop further in a career within Pharmacy.
Rohan’s second rotation was a role within the dispensing department of the pharmacy. The pharmacy department is a very busy department as they dispense medication to other hospitals within the trust as well as patients and wards. Rohan was always praised for his can do attitude and willingness to help out the team to get a task completed even when his specific part of the job was completed. Rohan’s learned about the dispensing robot and due to his hard work and responsible and trustworthy nature was given a password to dispense medication from the robot independently. This was a massive accomplishment for Rohan and really boosted is confidence in his ability to obtain a job in the pharmacy.
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What has Rohan achieved?
While completing his second rotation within the hospital a job became available as a pharmacy assistant technical officer Rohan was eager to apply and was fortunately short listed for an interview. Rohan did really well in the interview and was very knowledgeable about the position he had applied for. Rohan was successful and he happily accepted the job offer and is now working full time as a pharmacy assistant technical officer, also completing a butterfly qualification alongside his employment.
What has the programme achieved?
The national percentage of people with learning disabilities in paid employment in the England is around 5.1%. DFN Project Search programme across the UK now have over 500 graduates in full time paid employment. London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust is an award winning site achieving 70% employment outcomes in the year 2019/20 and 100% employment outcomes in the years 2020/22.
Additional Information
If you would like to know more about the DFN Project Search Programme you can find more information here. Alternatively, please contact the Business Liaison:
Name: Sue Tarrant
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: 01895853593