Care Leaver Internship Scheme 2026

Job summary

Please see the attached candidate pack for a definitive list of locations where we have vacancies available.

Your unique perspective makes all the difference to the way we work.

Our Care Leavers 18-month paid internship is one way the Civil Service is showing our commitment to Care Leavers. In 2025 over 100 care leavers were offered an internship across government.

Job description

The award-winning Care Leaver Internship Scheme is designed to serve as a launchpad for young people leaving care, helping them build essential skills and gain valuable experience at the beginning of their careers.

As an intern, you will work at the heart of government, contributing to a wide range of policies and projects that shape the nation. This 18-month paid internship offers a unique opportunity to develop professionally, gain insight into the workings of government, and build a strong foundation for future employment.

We are looking for individuals with curiosity, motivation, and a desire to learn. While the internship lasts 18 months, we hope many participants will be inspired to pursue a long-term career within the Civil Service.

Tasks will vary depending on where you work and the grade to which you are assigned.

Administrative Officer

As an administrative officer generally you will be working in an administrative role within a team, with no Line Management responsibilities. You will usually work within a supportive team structure, following policy and procedures under the direction of team leaders.

Executive Officer

As an Executive Officer generally you will be involved in problem solving, business planning and policy making, at the very highest levels of government.

You’ll usually work within a supportive team structure, under the direction of relevant team leaders. You may also hold individual responsibility for pieces of work within a programme or project using your own initiative and following departments policy and procedures.

Person specification

A major part of the role will be computer-based tasks and will use your communication and organisational skills in your everyday work.

In the job you may be asked:

• To take your own initiative with minimal supervision following departmental policy and procedures, knowing when to seek help.
• To identify priorities, resolving issues and manage your time effectively.
• To support the team to secure the most effective outcome.
• To manage diaries, arrange meetings and book meeting rooms.
• To effectively and accurately use multiple Microsoft applications and their functions.
• To provide effective customer service.

Can I apply?

Applicants must be aged 18-30 at the time of applying. Only those who are already 18 will be considered.

This scheme is open to applicants who were eligible for a leaving care support package when leaving care.

Young People on Special Guardianship Orders who qualify for advice and assistance as per the Children Act are also eligible to apply.

Young people from Kinship Care, formal or otherwise, are not eligible for this scheme.

No qualifications are required for this internship, however you will need to provide examples that clearly demonstrate the criteria listed.

You may be offered the option of an apprenticeship as part of your role and development depending on which department you are allocated to if successful.

How do I apply?

Apply online by clicking "Apply now" at the bottom of this page.

You will complete an online application form, which will ask you to provide a personal statement (500 words).

We will use this application to assess your skills for a job and invite successful applicants for an interview. Feedback will be given on your application.

Will there be an Interview?

If your written application is successful, you will be invited to a virtual interview where you will be asked questions by two or three people. The purpose of the interview is to assess your experience, strengths and suitability for the role and it will last about 45 minutes. Feedback will be given on your interview.

When will my internship start?

Please refer to the recruitment timeline in the attached candidate pack.

If we are unable to allocate successful candidates to a department immediately, we will hold your details on a reserve list for 12 months and will do our utmost to find a suitable role for you. All appointments will be made in strict merit order.

Can I request to work for a specific department?

Candidates will be allocated to a role based on their location and the grade to which they have been deemed appointable.

It is not possible to request a placement directly with any of the participating departments.

Location

When selecting your location preference please consider the financial impact on your commute and whether this is manageable for the duration of the 18-month internship.

I have a question how do I contact you?

Send us an email leavers.care@education.gov.uk

Further Guidance

More information is in the Candidate Pack at the bottom of this page.

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

You will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

Office attendance expectations will be confirmed by the department you are appointed to and will be dependant on your role and business need.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

Online Application

We ask you to provide a personal statement (500 words) telling us about your experience, aligned with the following essential criteria:

•Experience of using Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, MS Teams).

•Ability to identify your own learning needs and commitment to learning and continual self development.

•Effective communication skills, over the telephone, face to face and written.

•Ability to work to tight timescales, managing your priorities effectively while ensuring delivery of accurate and quality products.

•Ability to deliver excellent customer service at all times.

In order to meet the essential criteria, we’d recommend reviewing those listed above in the advert and providing an example covering each of them. You have the option to use 500 words and it's important that you do this to show the level of detail we need for the application. We would recommend providing detail, showing how you've met the points for example we asked about your use of Microsoft Word and Excel, you could tell us about times you’ve created a spreadsheet or drafted a letter or email. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Results) process will help achieve a structure.

Interview

If you are successful at application stage, you will be invited to a video interview where we will asked questions to assess you against the essential criteria listed above. You will also be asked to answer some strength-based questions.

The purpose of the interview is to assess your suitability for the role. It will usually last about 45 minutes.

Candidates that have already been successful for a Civil Service Care Leavers Internship are not eligible for this scheme.

Further information

AI in recruitment

We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.

A minimum of BPSS Security Clearance is required. Additional vetting including DBS checks may be required across various Departments. The level of vetting will depend on which department you are allocated to and this will dictate the length of time the checks will take.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs.

1. Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will be placed on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
2. Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries will be offered at band minima.
3. Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised terms and staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised terms. Salaries will transfer over but be capped at the band maximum for the department allocated to.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Care Leavers Internship Team via leavers.care@education.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
  
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
  

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

Civil Service Commissioner

As the criteria for this recruitment campaign will restrict applications, the appointments will be temporary and will operate under the terms of Exception 2 in the Civil Service Commission’s Principles and will not be considered as fair and open competition.

Successful candidates will not be eligible to apply for internally advertised posts within the Government department in which they may be placed or the wider Civil Service. However, they will be eligible to apply for externally advertised vacancies for the department in which they may be placed or wider Civil Service in the usual way.

There may also be the opportunity of a permanent position in the Civil Service for some candidates following 12 months in the role. For those who are offered a permanent position after 12 months, the above rules will no longer apply and you will be eligible to apply for roles advertised internally and across government.

Successful candidates will be placed in roles across different Civil Service departments. More information on the types of roles available, the participating departments and the application process are in the candidate applicant pack.

Candidates who meet the required standard at interview will be posted in merit order by their location preferences. Please note – We cannot guarantee you will be posted to your first choice of location, though we will make every effort to accommodate this where possible.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Care Leavers Internship Team
• Email : leavers.care@education.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : leavers.care@education.gov.uk

Attachments

Candidate Pack - Care Leaver Internship 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 892kB)Selection of roles 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 145kB)