Therapy

At Inscape House, we have a range of ways in which additional support for learning is provided.

• First, we have a team of specialist speech and language therapists who are a key part of our approach to working with young people with autism. The team currently consists of ten therapists and two assistants, including the Head of the Inscape Centre who is the head of Support for Learning in the school and manages the work of the team. Our speech and language therapists undertake a variety of different tasks and contribute to many aspects of Inscape House.
  
  Our highly experienced therapists take a holistic view of each young person’s social communication and emotional needs and employ a range of innovative and relevant strategies to develop communication, language and social skills. Our therapists work with young people in a variety of ways in a range of contexts:
  
  - Individual therapy
  - Small group therapy
  - Support in class
  - Joining educational visits
  - Advice to teachers
  - Developing individual programmes
  - Monitoring communication environments
  - Advice to parents and carers.
  
  Our therapy team is innovative and flexible in their approach and the details of each therapy programme are tailored to individual need. Our therapists are trained in a variety of different approaches relevant to young people, with communication and interaction difficulties and are able to draw on many years of practical experience.
  
  They have particular expertise in running social skills groups and in helping young people understand and come to terms with the implications of their autism. From a detailed initial assessment of a young person’s social communication skills, our therapy team monitor the progress made and adjust programmes accordingly.

• Many young people within the autism spectrum have sensory issues. They may be oversensitive to particular stimuli, they may fail to respond to others, or they may experience forms of sensory overload. Our staff are aware of these issues. They are supported by input from our own occupational therapist, who is able to make individual assessments and advise staff and parents about ways in which issues may be addressed as required.
   
• In addition, our own specialist educational psychologist provides psychological assessment of young people, directs therapeutic work with individuals, and offers advice to staff and families.
   
• We also have close links with other agencies and can call upon other professional advice as required including the Trust’s clinical psychologist.