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19. Experience and qualifications of staff.
There is a high staff to young person ratio at Prior's Court School, with a large
staffing team.
All staff are trained to create a consistent team who support the young people.
The Education and Residential Care departments are supported by on-site multidisciplinary
and therapeutic professionals and further supported by ancillary and
administrative staff.
The expertise within Prior's Court School is supported and developed with a
strong focus on training, from induction and ongoing with training through the
year, with further personal and professional development positively encouraged.
A core programme of training includes mandatory health, safety and medical
requirements; safeguarding; the methodologies and practices within our
approach including structured teaching, communication, sensory integration
therapy, Team Teach and other training linked to autism knowledge and best
practice; courses to support the curriculum; and supplementary options
appropriate to specific roles such as management training.
To ensure consistency and best practice, a strong emphasis is placed on training
staff in structured teaching. Prior's Court has strong links with the University of
North Carolina, where the TEACCH system was developed. Staff attend TEACCH
training sessions on courses run by the University of North Carolina at Prior's
Court supported by senior members of staff. A number of staff are qualified to
TEACCH Advanced Consultant level. All of the leadership team, Home Managers
and Teachers are encouraged to complete the 5-day TEACCH course to provide
Prior's Court School with a very high level of autism expertise.
Prior's Court School has developed a successful Diploma programme which
supports Autism Practitioners in qualifying and working towards a Level 3
Diploma in Residential Childcare or beyond in line with the government's Quality
Standards for Children's Homes - many staff members are qualified well beyond
this level.
The Registered Manager has over 30 years of experience in social care, specialising
in autism, is a TEACCH Certified Trainer: Advanced Consultant level, Team Teach
Intermediate, Advanced and PLD Tutor, has NVQ 4 Health & Social Care Children
& Young People , NVQ level 4 Management, is a NVQ Assessor & Verifier, has
undertaken NSPCC Training for Trainers in Child Protection, is a Designated
Senior Person in Safeguarding Children trained (NSPCC), has completed Social
Care Top Leaders Programme and holds a MSc in Leadership & Management in
Health and Social Care.
Full details of staff qualifications are provided from the Prior's Court Learning &
Development team.