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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, Learning and
Wellbeing Managers, Team Managers and Learning Specialists 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.
Sarah Butcher; the Responsible Individual 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.
The Registered Manager(s) have over 30 years' experience collectively working
within autism, residential settings, and special schools. Their experiences have
varied and below is a summary of both.
Lisa Pothecary has over twenty years' experience supporting young people with
autism at Prior's Court School. During this time, Lisa has carried out several roles
which have provided her with a deep understanding of direct care needs. These
roles have encompassed delivery of care and upholding the Children's Home