City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust 

City Hospitals Sunderland is an NHS Trust providing a wide range of hospital services to the residents of Sunderland and the wider North East. Its vision is Excellence in Health, Putting People First and it aims to put patients’ right to choice, respect and dignity at the heart of its treatment.


 The Trust operates from four hospitals across the city as well as providing a substantial range of outreach and community based services.

With the support of funding from the Department of Health/North East Strategic Health Authority, the Trust has set up Project Choice, a work based programme, based in City Hospitals Sunderland, aiming to provide work based learning and experience for young people with learning disabilities.  The aim is to develop long term skills and support development of work based ethic for one of societies most marginalised groups in the labour market.

The project is divided into three stages.

Stage 1:  Work experience
Half a day a week for a six week period (one school term). We normally accommodate 16 to 21 year olds in this stage. The students work one to one with a mentor to help develop an understanding of work expectations and behaviours. This stage offers young people a variety of work based opportunities in a safe environment allowing the development and awareness of personal skills.

Stage 2:  An internship
The internship programme lasts one academic year and is unpaid.
Inters have a named mentor (any member of staff can be a mentor no qualifications are needed) but aim ultimately to work independently offering a positive supportive introduction to working life. Interns spend 4 days a week in work placement and one day in college undertaking an edexcell work skills qualification. Interns may undertake up to three placements in the year.

Stage 3:  Exit strategy
Potential to progress into an apprenticeship, job or further learning supported by existing systems/agencies.
The placements are tailored to meet individual needs and supported by Project choice staff.



Contact :         Stephanie Smith,     Project Choice Programme Manager

Email :             stephanie.smith@chsft.nhs.uk

Tel :                   01915656256 ext 42586

Address :       Trust Headquarters
                         City Hospitals Sunderland
                         Kyall Road
                         Sunderland
                         SR4 7TP

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