Sense Inclusion pride themselves on being a dedicated, passionate, and genuine therapeutic provision. All staff members are trained (or in the process of being trained) in developmental trauma, the PACE approach, the foundations of therapeutic play, and mental health first aid. Most staff members have completed graduate level education/training in psychology, child development and therapeutic education with post graduate certifications in emotional support coaching, various types of therapy, counselling, and sensory attachment intervention, as well as, supporting learning/development in the outdoors, and the development of sensorimotor systems. All Sense Inclusion staff receive regular supervision by mental health professionals and our therapists receive extra clinical supervision.
At the Sense Inclusion Centre, we have the facilities and resources to holistically support the sensorimotor system (primitive brain), and the closely linked emotional system (midbrain and limbic area). This is provided with a calm, warm and welcoming environment that appears homely, with quiet and cosy spaces, a sensory room, and therapy room. With a ‘bottom up’ therapeutic approach to SEMH development, using the principles of PACE, sensorimotor development and therapeutic play, our skilled staff provide a successful sense of security and trust. They do this by working to developmentally appropriate action plans, providing emotional connections and working extremely hard to build attuned and consistent relationships with the children and young people they work with.
The majority of our clients, and some staff members, are neurodivergent. Therefore, all staff members are trained in the foundations of neuro-affirming approaches. Sense Inclusion honour and support the diverse ways our clients think, learn, and engage. We are proud of our neuro-affirming environments and the neuro-affirming therapeutic relationships our staff build with our clients and each other. In such an environment, differences in attention, communication, processing, and behaviour are treated as natural variations in how different people experience the world. We intentionally build flexibility into learning and play, offering variations in teaching methods, provide multiple practical ways for clients to access material and demonstrate understanding. Furthermore, clear, respectful communication and strengths-based feedback help our clients feel valued and capable. Above all, a neuro-affirming environments fosters acceptance and belonging, where clients are encouraged to advocate for their own needs and peers are guided to appreciate each other’s perspectives, personalities, interests and unique ways. This approach not only supports learning but also cultivates empathy, resilience, and confidence our clients.
Sense Inclusion engage in half termly clinical supervision sessions. This allows for all staff to reflect on and gain further knowledge around their therapeutic and neuro-affirming practice as well as supporting case direction. Subsequently, helping to support all of our clients more holistically.