St Catherine's Post 19

About the students

St Catherine’s Post 19 Provision offers residential support, therapy and educational programmes for young adults with speech, language and communication needs for young adults aged 19 to 25.

Catchment

St Catherine's is a residential provision and accepts students from all local authorities. 

Curriculum

This provision has been created specifically for young adults who have the capacity and ability to live independently within the local community (with some support) and who need some additional specialist support and guidance, in order to achieve their personal aspirations.

Our Post 19 Provision has a multi-disciplinary team which includes speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, art psychotherapy and  dance movement psychotherapy.  Our therapy and residential support teams work together with local educational providers to ensure the best education and residential experience for each young adult. Access to education is provided by local education providers including the local college and students are supported by our therapy and residential support staff. We have a strong and productive working relationship with these external providers and staff regularly liaise with each other as to the best ways to support our young adults. 

Specialist facilities

Post 19 Provision is an important step on each young adult’s journey towards independence – and how and where they live is a really important part of that process.

Young adults stay with us seven days a week, during term-times, and they live in one of our learning houses or independent flats within the town of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. Each has their own bedroom and en-suite bathroom. Residential staff provide 24-hour support, as well as creating opportunities to develop independence and life skills.

Our team is made up of dedicated and enthusiastic professionals, and they work hard to ensure a whole range of opportunities are made available to young adults, including:

• Encouraging creativity in learning life skills – things like, budgeting, crossing the road, preparing meals and snacks, self-care, health needs and so on
• Helping them to become as independent as possible and to participate in activities that develop their potential and sense of self-fulfilment
• Recognising and developing safe, caring, purposeful and trusting relationships with others - in their accommodation, at college and within the community
• Learning to make good choices in their lives and recognise when they may need support and advice
• Engaging in activities that are challenging and offer them a chance to experience risk safely
• Recognising dangerous situations and being able to take action to keep themselves safe
• Having the freedom to make mistakes – and learn from them - safely
• Offering ways to develop their identity, self-respect, positive self-esteem and a sense of responsibility
• Offering a secure base for daily living, contributing positively to the communities they are a part of
• Providing safe boundaries in which to grow and develop their confidence to be able to self-advocate

Our residential provision is inspected bi-annually by NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) and reports are available on request.

Other information