DFN Project Search Wakefield

08/01/2026

Following a successful face to face project search recruitment open event we held at Wakefield College on the 8th of December, we will be running an online event on Wednesday the 28th of January from 6pm - 7pm on teams.
Project Search is a one-year supported internship programme designed for young adults aged 18–24 with an EHCP. It is delivered at Pinderfields Hospital through a partnership between the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, Wakefield Council, HFT Supported Employment Agency and Wakefield College.
The programme provides real workplace experience through job rotations within hospital departments. Interns gain hands-on skills while being fully supported by job coaches, mentors, and an on-site tutor who help them work towards independence.
Alongside work placements, interns take part in classroom-based learning covering employability skills, social skills, health and safety, and independent living. They also develop a CV and learn how to apply for jobs. Their day starts at 8.30am in the classroom, where checks are made to establish work readiness and any health or wellbeing issues, placement starts at 9am until 2.30pm, then there is an hour back in the classroom, after which the interns are free to leave.
Placements are personalised based on each intern’s abilities, strengths, and interests. The overarching goal is for every participant to progress into meaningful, competitive paid employment using the skills gained throughout the programme.
If anyone would like any further information, please don't hesitate to ask. Please feel free to pass this onto anyone who you feel may have interested parties.
Many thanks for your support.

16/12/2025

Well done to Korri who received the student of the year award for DFN Project Search Wakefield.

Korri had an amazing journey at Pinderfields Hospital and is now on an apprenticeship with YPO.

Congratulations!

26/11/2025

Aged 17-24 and have a current EHCP? Join us MONDAY 8th DECEMBER to find out how a Project Search placement at Pinderfields Hospital could help you secure meaningful employment!

📅Monday 8th December 🕕6pm
📍Seacole Building, Wakefield College
🎫To book your place: email projectsearch@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk or call 07483396212

01/10/2025

A proud moment!

At today's SEND Futures and Next Step Careers event, two DFN Project Search HQ graduates spoke confidently and eloquently about how supported internships helped them to find long term employment.

Jacob had taken annual leave to welcome visitors to the event and talk about his experience on DFN Project Search at Pinderfields Hospital.

Whilst David called into the event after his shift at work after seeing social media posts to help man the stall and talk to parents and carers about how DFN Project Search helped him in his career in IT.

The help was very much appreciated!

01/10/2025

If you're interested in finding about how DFN Project Search can support you or someone you know in their journey to employment, come down to see us at Wakefield Exchange.

We are here till 6pm.

If you've missed us or can't make it today, call 074833 96212 or email projectsearch@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk

27/08/2025

Celebrating another successful year, the Project SEARCH programme continues to transform lives by offering a year-long supported internship for young adults aged 17–25 with autism and/or learning disabilities.

Delivered in partnership with our Trust, Kirklees Council, Wakefield Council, Kirklees College, Wakefield College, and other local organisations, the programme delivers real work experience, employability training, and independent living skills.

At graduation events at Pinderfields and Dewsbury Hospitals where the internships took place, this year’s fantastic interns celebrated their successful completion of the programme. They were joined by their families, mentors, job coaches, curriculum leads, and NHS colleagues who supported their placements.

The family of one of this year’s Project SEARCH interns said:
“Project SEARCH has changed our lives! We did not know what the future would look like in regard to employment but can honestly say that it has been the best thing that could have come to us and at the right time.

“As a family, we did not know where to turn to next with education and employment, so to have not only secured a job but to have a career is amazing.”

If you or someone you know could benefit from taking part in the programme in 2026, please visit https://bit.ly/project-search-2025 for more information.

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

Today we celebrated Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust interns' graduation.

Congratulations to our 8 interns graduating today and we wish you all the best for your future.

Thank you to so many mentors, managers and partners who attended to celebrate all the group have achieved this year.

Also a huge thank you to Cllr Maureen Tennant-King for Featherstone Ward 6 for presenting the interns with their certificates and to previous graduates, Jacob and Courtney, for speaking about their journey.

More photos to follow!

Wakefield College Hft

26/06/2025

Congratulations to Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust intern, Korri! Today she left the programme to start her IT technician apprenticeship.

Well done on all your hard work and we wish you good luck in your new role!

Thank you to the IT team at Mid Yorkshire Trust for providing 3 excellent placements which have enabled Korri to get to where she is now.

Wakefield College DFN Project Search HQ

05/06/2025

Today we had a special moment at Pinderfields Hospital. One of our Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust interns on placement with the IT department worked with two DFN Project Search HQ graduates now employed by the Trust to install the new computer in the Project Search classroom.

An excellent example of graduates being given the confidence to support new interns on placement.

02/05/2025

We had a great morning at We Are Wakefield networking event held at the new WX Wakefield

We had the opportunity to meet local businesses and to raise awareness of some of the barriers our interns face finding employment.

28/04/2025

Pinderfields Hospital interns have been busy on their 3rd placements. Interns are on placements with the cleaning team, in IT, on wards and many more.

Interns on Project Search have the opportunity to take part in 3 placements at the hospital and around Wakefield.

Placements are dependent on an individual's career goals.