My Care Leaver Internship Scheme experience

The Care Leavers Internship scheme offers care leavers an 18-month paid job role in a government department or agency. It’s an opportunity to develop work-based skills, increase confidence, and gain independence.

Kheron and his manager George talk about their experiences on the scheme, here at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Kheron:

When I applied for the Care Leavers Internship Scheme I was working full time. As I was already employed, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do an ‘internship’ as it seemed like a backwards step. But after speaking to people, I decided to go for it, and I joined DESNZ as an intern in May 2023.

I became part of the Briefings, Correspondence, and Stakeholder Engagement team in the Carbon Capture Usage & Storage (CCUS) directorate. I was initially unsure about what to expect from the role, but I’ve had some amazing experiences.

Within the first few weeks I visited the Houses of Parliament, where I saw the DESNZ minister use lines from a briefing pack that I had helped produce a few days before. I have also been invited to visit No. 10 Downing Street to celebrate the success of the internship scheme.

I feel that I have had the opportunity to grow as a professional during my time on the Internship Scheme. I am frequently given the responsibility of managing important communications, including requests from ministers, and I have also led on the production of briefing material for ministers to use in Parliament and at events with external stakeholders.

My manager has been a great help in my development, he trusts me and pushes me to perform to the best of my ability. I really value his support and his encouragement which has helped me foster a greater sense of self-belief as well as giving me the confidence to excel in my role.

I have since completed the scheme and been offered a permanent role in my team, and I am working with my manager to develop the skills needed to help me take the next step in my career.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the Care Leavers Internship Scheme. I would encourage anyone who qualifies to give it a go, it's a great opportunity and there is no harm in gaining valuable experience and learning new skills which are easily transferable.

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George:

My involvement in the Care Leavers Internship Scheme has been overwhelmingly positive.

My team works in a high-pressure, high-profile environment, producing the lines for Ministers and officials to use when discussing Government policy with the public and in Parliament. Therefore, we needed a high-quality individual to join the team to support this work.

Kheron has been a great asset from outset, exhibiting an exemplary desire to learn. He has progressed remarkably quickly, and now supports the team by managing our shared mailbox and by leading on the production of complex briefing and correspondence cases, working with officials across the department to deliver quality products in a timely manner.

The Internship Scheme has also been a great opportunity for me to develop my line management skills. Kheron and I have built a good rapport. It turns out that we both studied in Canterbury and that we are both keen footballers (we now play regularly together as part of our directorate’s five-a-side team).

It was amazing to be invited to No. 10 Downing Street to celebrate the success of the Internship Scheme and have the opportunity to meet other line managers and officials currently on, or who had completed, the Internship Scheme whilst we were there. Together, we shared our experiences and ideas for supporting interns to develop the necessary skills to help them secure a permanent position in the civil service.

In the end, it was easy to make the case for Kheron to become a permanent member of staff as he has demonstrated a natural aptitude. I look forward to further working with and supporting him as he seeks to build on his successful start to life as a civil servant.

I am proud to be a line manager on the Internship Scheme and I would encourage others in the Civil Service to consider taking part in this incredibly rewarding experience.

If you are interested in applying to Care Leavers Internship Scheme or want more information, visit the Civil Service careers page and look out for opportunities in 2025 and beyond.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/civil-service-care-leavers-internship-scheme/