Support Services
New Options (Barton) Autism School benefits from specialist support services for the autistic children including;
Speech and Language Therapy
The service is provided by a full time Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, and a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. The team works closely and collaboratively with staff working in New Options (Barton) School and Children’s Home taking a holistic approach to the individual needs of the autistic child. The aim for each young person with autism is the development of functional communication skills which can be used meaningfully throughout their life experiences. Appropriate strategies are identified through assessment and then introduced- building on individual strengths and motivations. Where on admission the young person has an effective and/or preferred means of communication this will be valued, supported and developed to its potential. The S.A.L.T. service has a key role in promoting an environment that is conducive to communicative success for all our young people with autism.
Psychology Services
The Professional Support Service works in partnership with and as a critical friend to the New Options (Barton) School, to enable this school for children with autism and complex needs to achieve the following specific goals:
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To function as an exemplar of Best Practice.
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To ensure that the practice within New Options (Barton) School is evidence based and that approaches and methodology are validated by respected practitioners.
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To support New Options (Barton) Autism School to enable them to provide value for money to the purchasers.
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To work with New Options (Barton) School to assist them to be recognised as effective and proficient by inspection and accreditation teams.
The Support Division ensures that the New Options (Barton) Autism School has a named support person who has both a specialist professional background and expertise in Autistic Spectrum Disorders. This individual is the Support Coordinator, who provides the interface between the New Options (Barton) School and the Support Division, with the ability to call upon a wide range of regional and national colleagues. This enables that this specialist school for children with Autism and Complex Needs has access to high quality professional expertise provided by a group of specialists functioning as an integrated multi-disciplinary team, to meet identified needs in an imaginative and effective way.
Specialist Training Department
Staff continuing professional development and training
The Options Group seeks to offer and deliver to all staff training and development opportunities of the highest quality, reflecting the latest thinking and practice in Autism, Education and Care. This is made available through a multi disciplinary team consisting of highly experienced and qualified trainers and consultants in the above areas.
Autism training and consultation is provided by Geoff Evans who is an expert in the field with more than 23 years experience of working with children and adults with autism and their families. He has considerate experience of training and lecturing in autism in this country and abroad to a variety of professionals and parents.
The staff development team
The team offers a variety of qualifications to staff and other professionals including NVQ at levels 3 and 4 in Health and Social Care, in house management courses and externally accredited courses in Autistic Spectrum Disorders at all levels up to Masters.
The aim of the team is to ensure that all staff are fully equipped with the latest knowledge and skills needed to support children and young people Autistic Spectrum Disorders to achieve the maximum potential in all areas of their lives.