Prepare for your intern or placement student arrival:

• Share joining information (e.g. where they should report to on their first day, dress code, what they will be doing on their first day, anything they can read in advance, etc)
• Meet/speak with your intern or placement student to understand their expectations, your expectations and what you are both looking to achieve, discuss the project or day to day tasks, understand any concerns
• For shorter periods, prepare a Work Plan – including training to support them in their role, projects, activities and other tasks. This is a key way to ensure this produces the best outcomes for you and the student, so don’t forget to ask colleagues for their input
• Prepare their induction programme (see below)
• Schedule time in for regular reviews (especially in the first few weeks and if working remotely)
• Brief colleagues who will be working with the intern or placement student
• Consider practical elements such as a workstation, identity card, telephone, checking insurance, enrolment on payroll, any documents for signing around Confidentiality, GDPR briefing, access to IT systems and equipment if hybrid/remote working, if necessary, any adjustments for disability, etc
• Assign a buddy to answer any 'silly questions' and assist with integrating into the team and developing professional networks, and/or a mentor to support questions around career choices and share their journey
• Answer any outstanding queries from an HR/employment perspective at www.gov.ukLink opens in a new window
• Where possible, meet with a placement student, recent intern, graduate or recently appointed member of staff.

A good induction includes:

1. Information on the organisation – its history, structure, values, business objectives
2. Introduction to key contacts, senior staff, relevant teams and other intern/placement students
3. Tour of your facilities – break-out areas, where to get food, location of toilets, fire exits
4. Health & Safety information is a legal requirement. You will need to share any risk assessment explaining risks and how they are controlled and advising them on how to raise Health & Safety concerns. A new risk assessment should be carried out if there is not already one in place which covers the activities to be undertaken. You may also take the opportunity of hosting an intern or placement student to review your existing risk assessments, particularly if they present any new factors to consider, or if you are making reasonable adjustments
5. Expectations – time keeping, taking and receiving telephone calls, absence, use of internet and email etiquette, smoking and eating, dealing with difficulties.
6. Behaviours – that are expected such as; professional, respectful, listening, asking for help, working with others
7. Duties, day-to-day activities and project objectives
8. Meeting their buddy, if appropriate
9. Hear from a previous or newer member of staff about their experiences, what is expected and about how best to transition into your organisation and their team. Involve current intern/placement student in handover
10. Share relevant policies - e.g. flexible working, work from home, wellbeing, equality and diversity
11. Think about how to keep connected to other staff and foster learning through social and staff networks, virtual coffee catch ups and WhatsApp group.

A well-designed induction is time well-invested, as your intern/placement student will transition and become productive much more quickly.

Arriving to start may be an intimidating experience, so a good induction should seek to familiarise the student with the organisation and its culture, answer any questions and clearly set out your expectations of them. You can always use the feedback about what they found most useful or would have liked to have known.

It should also introduce them to the people they will be working with, and the social environment they inhabit.