Support Services
The Centre has access to support services that both young people and staff can utilise should the need arise.
Psychological Services
The Open School has access to two Psychologists. Both are available to receive individual referrals that emanate from the residential or educational units within the school. Placing authorities can request Psychological input for young people at the point of referral or at any time during the placement should this input be deemed appropriate.
Psychological Services can provide input for staff on the management of individual or groups of young people. They will provide support and guidance to the Senior Management team and Units Teams on appropriate interventions to support the psychological well being of the young people.
The Psychologists will provide individual counselling sessions for young people if appropriate. If such an intervention is deemed necessary the Psychologist liaises closely with all involved in the care and well being of the young person.
The Psychologists can offer specialist services to placing authorities and statutory bodies, including work with the Reporters Department, Risk Assessment, Fostering Agencies and Education Departments. These specialist services although available to have, to be negotiated with the Senior Managers of the Centre and Psychological Services.
Psychological Services also provide in-service training for Good Shepherd Centre staff.
Programmes
The Open School has a dedicated Programmes Team. Young people take part in programmes on an individual or group basis. Evidence has shown that many of our young people have benefited greatly from interventions that have allowed them to develop skills necessary for young adult life. The Centre offers programmes in the following areas:
- Cognitive Skills
- Anger Management
- Change and Loss
- Self Harm
- Offending Behaviour
- Health and Well Being
- Substance Misuse
- A Transition from School to Community
Alongside the dedicated Programmes Team the Centre has a large number of staff trained in the delivery and coaching of many of our programmes. The Cognitive Skills Programme 'Reasoning and Reacting' is built into the curriculum as part of our Personal and Social Development course.