Care Day (Friday 21st February 2025) is the world’s biggest celebration of children and young people with care experience!
To Celebrate Care Day 2025, we would like to share with you a personal experience from an individual who has come into the Civil Service via the GFiE Department for Education Care Leavers Internship Scheme, and the impact that having this opportunity has had on them.
What is the GFiE Department for Education Care Leavers Internship Scheme?
What do Interns think about their time in the Civil Service
Before starting the Civil Service GFiE Care Leaver Internship Scheme, my work experience fell into a lot of different buckets. From hospitality (receptionist and waitress) to a Warehouse Operative to advocating for Care Experienced People in the Mayor of London’s office and in social justice charity work.
I began my internship as an Executive Assistant to the Special Advisers and the Principal Private Secretary in September 2022. Following an interview in June 2023, I was promoted to HEO as Creative Content Officer for the Osaka World Expo 2025.
I remember my first day on the job. I was super anxious and to be honest, I wanted to stay at home and give up the opportunity entirely. It was odd but also expected for me to have that thought process. Here I am with such an epic opportunity, and ready to bin it all. But it makes sense for survival instincts to kick in and wanting to give up when going into something new, at the risk of it not working out. Looking back, I am glad I didn’t bin this opportunity.
I joined my first role at during a departmental reshuffle, juggling diary management and overseeing policies in the making. Over time, my responsibilities expanded, and I became an Assistant Private Secretary.
I enjoyed working as part of a fast-paced team. No two weeks in the role looked the same, each one bringing new opportunities to collaborate with such different people. Now, in my role in a Global Events Team, I’ve found the perfect blend of what I enjoyed in my first position. Contributing to a long-term project has taught me invaluable lessons and working on World Expo 2025 has been incredibly fulfilling.
Every manager I’ve had genuinely cared about my growth and development. However, I often felt lost. Finding myself in the same position I was in during my LAC Reviews. When asked what I needed from my managers, I was “flashbacked” to a time where social workers would ask me the same question. What do you need?
I didn’t know what I needed. So, I assumed I didn’t need anything. Sometimes, when things aren’t completely falling apart, it’s easy to think you don’t need anything. But the absence of chaos isn’t good enough of a reason to be satisfied with the bare minimum.
After learning how to get the most out of managerial relationships, I have had opportunities to shadow and cover other teams across the department, and receive lessons in learning Japanese (for free!).
Since joining the internship, I have improved my office and corporate capabilities. Through my time in the civil service, I have realised I will most likely remain a Civil Servant for a long time, maybe even forever, given the range of jobs that Whitehall offers. The career stability is reassuring and the support network you can find in the Care Leaver community, and other communities you might fall into (the LGBTQ+ community for me), make the hard days a little easier.
I would recommend that every care leaver who has an interest in the internship should apply. There is a unique skillset that comes with having diverse experiences and each person can add so much value. The advice I would have when it comes to applications, is sourcing a 1-hour session with a work coach through your local authority to practice interview skills.
Jennifer
GFiE Care leavers / Care Experienced Schemes for individuals
There are currently three GFIE schemes specifically focused at supporting care experienced individuals - the Department for Education Care Leaver Internship Scheme, Cabinet Office Life Chance Scheme for Care Leavers and the Welsh Government Support for Care Leavers Scheme. Working with Departments across the Civil Service, the schemes aim to offer opportunities to people who may not otherwise have considered a career in the Civil Service.
We often hear from candidates, including those with experience of care, that they are not sure what a career in the Civil Service looks like or whether it would be for them. By working in partnership with Local Authorities and organisations supporting care experienced individuals, we aim to show that the Civil Service welcomes the perspectives they can bring, both as colleagues but also as shapers of future public services and policy.
We have seen the impact that care experienced individuals can have and want to build on this brilliant work.
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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