Clinical Team and Therapeutic Support
As a school with an in-house clinical team, therapeutic practise is embedded throughout the school.
All students receive our Universal Offer (green stripe). Should a student require additional clinical support, (our Enhanced or Specialist Offers), then a referral can be made to our Clinical Team, which will start the process for an assessment to be made, which will identify what kind of therapeutic support will best meet the student’s needs, and who of our clinical practitioners will be best suited to oversee this.
Please click on the PDF attached to have more information about what the Universal, Enhanced and Specialist offer may look like. Clinical-Offer
Support at the Universal Level could include emotional and mental health first-aid, ongoing welfare programmes as required from our Pastoral team, access to our team of highly skilled teaching and support staff, advice and training from our trained therapists/clinicians. All students have a Communication Profile and a My Sensory World to ensure staff know in the young person’s words how they would like their communication and sensory needs and preferences to be supported. Utilising our lovely grounds and great resources on site such as a recording studio, woodwork room, car garage to name a few, our school makes sure that activities, therapy and counselling are easily accessible in the right surroundings to every student.
Every student also benefits from having a dedicated Key Worker who works with them to mentor, inspire, advise and guide them throughout their time with us. The Key Worker will also be the communication link between the school and home.
We believe to support the unique needs of our students it is essential to first build positive relationships with the young people so they can feel safe and supported. We believe that this provides a foundation on which education can be accessed. Trauma Informed Practise (TIP) is a whole school approach that recognises the importance of Connect, Co-Regulation and Co-Reflection. OFG-TIP-Poster-ThreeCs-v2. Being PACE-full (playful, accepting, curious, empathetic) is a key part of how we aim to be with all staff and students to support us to be effective in meeting the needs of individuals who have experienced trauma. We work within the group strategy designed to support Autistic and Neurodivergent individuals called Ask, Accept, Develop (AAD).
Meet the team:
Our team is based in the “Cottage” within the centre of the school grounds and includes a variety of therapists with varying skills, experience and qualifications.
- Isabelle Cant – Lead Clinician + Speech and Language Therapist. Issie leads the clinical team. Issie has a degree in Speech and Language Therapy (BSc) as well as being a qualified ELKAN and Signalong tutor. She has worked in several schools in her career and has experience supporting Neurodivergent individuals and individuals who have experienced trauma. Issie is a member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). She is passionate about supporting young people to build healthy friendships and relationships. In her free time Issie likes to be in nature, go for a run, be creative or spend time with loved ones.
- Simon Pearce – Occupational Therapist.
Simon is the Occupational Therapist at Wetheringsett Manor School. He trained at the University of East Anglia and has over 25 years’ experience as a qualified occupational therapist. More recently he completed a PGCert in Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy and qualified as a Sensory Integration Practitioner. In addition to working in schools, Simon has worked in primary care, adult learning disabilities, and secure mental health services. He has a special interest in the effects of trauma on sensory integration and intends to undertake more training in this area. When not at work you can find him enjoying sailing on the Norfolk Broads or working on his house which is a renovation project.
- Dominic Gentry – Psychotherapist. Dominic specialises in Cognitive behavioural Therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy. He has a degree in Therapeutic Communication (BSc) and a Master’s degree in CBT and Counselling. Dominic has worked with young people and adolescents in various therapeutic roles for The Wilderness Foundation, Suffolk Mind, NHS and Children’s and Adolescent services in Suffolk County Council. Dominic has experience working with neurodivergent individuals, using evidence-based practice to treat depression, PTSD, Phobia, OCD and anxiety disorders. Dominic is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP). Dominic enjoys travelling, cooking, producing music, and having adventures in his spare time.
- Julie Streatfield – Psychotherapist. Julie has an (MA) in Psychotherapy & Counselling. She also has a (Dip) In Psychotherapy & Counselling including a (Dip) in Clinical Supervision. She is a registered member of the (BACP) British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. Julie has worked in a number of schools over her 25-year career supporting individuals who have experienced complex traumas, SEN and ADHD. Julie has worked with young children, adolescents, adults and families. She is a keen long-distance walker and enjoys jogging, cooking, gardening and family time.
- Rachel Stock – Psychotherapist. Rachel is an experienced Psychotherapist and is Locality Lead for several Outcomes First Schools. She qualified as a counsellor in 2009, specializing in trauma-informed care for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Rachel is an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) and an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA), with experience collaborating with the police in multi-agency settings to provide emotional and practical support. After ten years in this field, she shifted her focus to children’s mental health, managing a multidisciplinary team in a voluntary sector mental health service. Rachel has also worked as the Clinical Lead for a digital mental health service co-produced with children and young people, and she is qualified in EMDR therapy.
- Rosie Phillips – Therapies Assistant. Rosie previously worked at Wetheringsett Manor School as a Teaching Assistant prior to joining the Clinical Team, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She has two degrees; one in Visual Arts and master’s in Applied Psychology. She has experience working with SEN Students and looked after children. She is an energetic, dedicated, and sociable individual! In her free time Rosie enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
- Gina Hankins – Therapies Assistant. Prior to joining the Clinical Team as a Therapies Assistant, Gina completed a degree in BSc (Hons) Psychology and volunteered for a charity called Families Together Suffolk, supporting individuals with perinatal mental health. As part of being a Therapies Assistant, Gina is a qualified Drawing and Talking Practitioner. She has a calm and caring nature and is passionate about supporting our young people at Wetheringsett Manor School. In her free time, Gina likes to go to the gym in the evenings and go for walks with family and friends at the weekends.
Referrals to request additional support:
Support from the clinical team is often based on information written within a child’s Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) as well as presenting needs within the school as we get to know the young person.
If you feel your child would benefit from additional support at the Enhanced or Specialist level or if you would like to arrange a meeting to discuss the needs of your child in more detail with a member of the clinical team, please complete the form attached and return to the Lead Clinician (Isabelle.cant@wetheringsettmanor.co.uk) : (Therapy Referral Form – Wetheringsett Manor)
External support:
The clinical team at Wetheringsett Manor School is happy to assist families in accessing additional external support beyond the school, such as the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Below are links to information about the referral process in Norfolk and Suffolk:
Here is a list of useful resources from CAMHS to support families with various needs: