Clinical Psychology

Autism Anglia Clinical Psychology Department is a developing service which can offer input to all clients within Doucecroft School, the FE Department, Adult Residential Services and Community Support.

The team, consisting of one part-time Clinical Psychologist, two full-time assistants and one part-time trainee are looking to expand further during the spring. As well as completing baseline assessments of sensory perception and behaviours, they accept referrals for specific consultations, individual assessments and treatment as appropriate.

The team offer in-house training courses to staff working for Autism Anglia on a range of issues, for example Asperger’s Syndrome, sexuality and challenging behaviour, and can deliver BILD (British Institute of Learning Difficulties) training courses.

Our lead clinician has affiliations with UEA (University of East Anglia) and Essex University Clinical Psychology Doctoral programmes and is an Honorary Research Associate of the Learning Disabilities Research Group at Cambridge University.

Speech & Language Therapy

Autism Anglia’s Speech and Language Therapists work with service users and staff from Doucecroft School, the FE Department and Adult Residential Services. They both have degrees in Speech and Language Therapy and have additional training in a number of communication methods including PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and Intensive Interaction. Bethan is also a Regional Makaton Tutor.

Working with our students, Bethan and Vicky provide speech and language assessments followed by treatment appropriate to the individual or group. Direct treatment is given in a one-to-one setting or working with a group. Indirect treatment is also provided, for example, writing a programme of work or advising members of staff on how they best assist the people they work with.

“Autism is characterised by the triad of impairment (communication, social interaction and imagination) and we work on improving skills in all of these areas by developing an individual’s communication and social skills, so ultimately the students and adults can be as independent as possible.”

Bethan Franklin, Speech and Language Therapist

In developing communication skills, students not only learning to express themselves, but also find it easier to access their environment. They are able to understand more of the things going on in the day to day life around them, in turn reducing the feeling of anxiety felt by many people with Autism. Improvements in communication allow them to share their wants and needs which in turn leads to a significant increase in their quality of life.

As with all aspects of our work, one of the main goals is to support individuals to gain an increased level of independence. Being able to communicate with those around them is a huge step towards this independence and can reduce much of the frustration felt by individuals and the people they meet.