We are pleased to advise that the GFiE Department for Education (DfE) Care Leavers Internship Scheme returns for 2024 and will launch on Monday 2nd September 2024.
Full details about the scheme and application process are detailed below, as well as some personal experiences from individuals who have taken part in the scheme previously, as to what skills they have gained and how being on the scheme has benefited their career prospects
What is the Care Leavers Internship scheme?
The Civil Service GFiE Care Leavers Internship Scheme is an award-winning GFiE scheme run by the Department for Education. It offers care leavers an 18-month paid role in a central government department or agency.
There is a possibility that interns can be made permanent after the first 12 months depending on their performance and the ability of the department to fund the role permanently.
Whilst on the scheme, interns will have the opportunity to gain work-based skills and increase their confidence in a professional environment. The scheme also offers financial stability as interns are paid the same amount as permanent staff who are their grade in the department. In addition, interns are also eligible for other Civil Service benefits such as a competitive pension, learning and development opportunities, flexible working, a holiday allowance and well being support.
"I started on the internship in November 2023 and am now a production analyst. When I started I can't describe how nervous I was! I was really excited for this new
chapter in my life… But definitely nervous, now in hindsight, I really didn’t have anything to be nervous about.In my role, I use a wide range of systems which allow me to gather and analyse data. I also attend meetings, additional training, answering emails and other activities to assist my development. Through these activities, I am improving my IT skills and knowledge of various systems and Microsoft packages.
What I enjoy most about my role is how every day brings a new challenge. I really enjoy being in work and in an environment where I’m surrounded by supportive people; this massively helps my confidence as every time I get through a new challenge it’s an accomplishment which is celebrated with colleagues. As a care leaver, sometimes we can feel that we don’t belong, and it takes us a while to break down the defensive walls we’ve built around ourselves. Not only do I feel like I’m making a difference, but that I’m a valued member of the team which is just so important.
My role is also helping me to build my confidence and social skills, and although this is an ongoing battle, I have seen such a change in myself and in what I am able to achieve because of the supportive nature of my working environment. I’m excited for what the future holds. I have recently finished my training which feels like a big milestone, when I told my team that I am out of training everyone clapped and cheered - my trainer brought me a cake which was just so lovely!
I would absolutely recommend the internship to other care leavers as there has already been a big change in my life which I am grateful for, so I would love for others to have the same opportunity. My advice would be to just take a chance and go for it, it may just be the fresh start that you need. Gabrielle - HMRC
Am I eligible to apply?
To be eligible for the scheme, you must meet the following criteria:
- Aged 18 – 30 as of 30/09/2024
- Eligible for a leaving care package
- Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.
To be eligible for a leaving care package, you must have been in care for a minimum of 13 weeks. Some of this time must have been after your 16th birthday. If you’re unsure whether you meet this criterion, please check with your personal advisor or local authority.
Please also note that you do not need any qualifications or prior work experience to apply for this scheme. You just need to demonstrate that you can meet the essential criteria in the job advert.
What is the application process?
Applications for this year’s scheme open on the 2nd of September 2024 and close on the 30th of September 2024.
To apply, you will need to make an account on Civil Service Jobs and search for the Care Leavers Internship Scheme. A link to the job advert will also be posted on our website once it is live Civil Service Care Leavers Internship Scheme.
When completing your application form, you will need to write a personal statement that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria in the job advert. We would recommend using the STAR approach to structure your response.
If you are successful during your initial application, you will be invited to an interview over Microsoft Teams. Interviews are currently scheduled to take place between the 23rd and 31st of October. During your interview, you will be asked a number of questions relating to the essential criteria in the job advert. If successful, we hope to match you to a job role from November onwards.
Please note that start dates for the scheme are subject to how long your pre-employment checks take to process. The length of time for these checks will depend on the level of clearance you need and how quickly you can send the required information to the security teams.
2024 application timeline
- 2nd to 30th September – Apply to the scheme via Civil Service Jobs.
- 16th October – Successful candidates invited to interview.
- 23rd to 31st October – Interviews take place via Microsoft Teams.
- November onwards – Successful candidates matched to roles.
Prior to joining the Care Leavers Internship scheme, I was unsure on what direction I wanted my career path to take, but after leaving university I didn’t want to be unemployed, so I worked for a year as an Usher in a cinema. However, I was feeling stuck in a limbo of wanting to do more with my life and pursuing a career. The opportunity arose and I joined the scheme to try further my career prospects and gain valuable experience.
When first starting my role, I was very nervous, wondering if I was going to be able to manage my role, overthinking about how I would get on with the team. However, I need not have worried about that as the team was very welcoming, friendly, and understanding, guiding me and helping me to understand how to properly fulfil my role to the best of my ability. As an Admin Support Officer, I help with administration support, maintaining customer information and customer service, as well as updating our website and helping with various projects.
The skills I have developed working in the Civil Service have been vast, having improved my confidence working in an office, improving my knowledge of Microsoft Packages, and having more confidence in presenting and speaking to a variety of people, even those in very senior positions.
The Internship is providing me insight into what career path I would like to pursue in the future, focusing perhaps on environmental and rural affairs where I think I could apply my degree in geography and interest in environmental sciences. My friends and family think the experience I am getting on the Care Leavers Scheme has helped me to mature into a more rounded person.
I would recommend the scheme to other care leavers who feel that they are in search of what they want to do in the future for their careers. The advice I would give to anyone thinking of applying for the scheme is to be yourself and to put all your effort into self-improvement and learning new skills within the scheme and take advantage of the chances it will give you. Toby - Welsh Government
GFiE Life Chance Schemes
The Civil Service has over 20 Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) Life Chance Schemes in operation across Government, using innovative approaches to recruitment and providing Individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, and who face barriers to employment, with opportunities and experience. You can find out more about GFiE at our Civil Service Careers Page www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/about-gfie/
If you would like to discuss providing life changing opportunities for live vacancies, or vacancies you have coming up in the future, please get in contact with us at GFiE@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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