Educational Psychology Services
Schools
Educational Psychology Services 
Educational Psychologists promote wellbeing and inclusive learning for children and young people.
Educational psychologists are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council, Educational Psychologists (EPs) will advise about child development, learning, emotional wellbeing and behaviour.
They work with children and young people of ages 3-19. As part of the Schools, Children and Family Wellbeing Service EPs work with other professionals in the team to ensure every child receives a good service.
Since your meeting with our son last week there has been a huge improvement. He speaks so highly of you, and we’re very grateful for all your support.
– Parents of a young person
How EPs work with educational settings
- EPs work at a number of levels: – Individual assessments of children – Group work, which includes teaching and multi-agency.
- The EP will liaise closely with the setting to agree and prioritise their work.
- The EP will help advise parents, carers and teaching staff and have direct involvement with children.
EPs can only work directly with children, after the Educational setting has secured written consent from parents/ carers. If the EP becomes involved with a referral, it is not always necessary for the EP to see the child for things to change.
They will conduct an assessment relating to the referred child following discussions with parents and teaching staff. If a more direct involvement is needed the EP will gain a better understanding of your child’s strengths and difficulties through:
- Meeting and talking with parents
- Talking with staff
- Observing in the classroom or playground
- Talking to your child on their own or with you there if you wish
- Looking at schoolwork
- Using activities or tests with them
Parents have the right to be present when the EP meets with their child. A parent’s presence can be reassuring for an anxious or very young child, who may find it difficult.
Parents are likely to know best how their child will respond.
How EPs work with parents
Parents views and knowledge are important in helping the EP to understand your child’s needs. Parents can help by:
- Telling the EP about their child, including his or her strengths
- Letting the EP know what their child is like at home
Supported living housing
Adult Learning Disability
Supported living housing
Our small group homes offer supported living/housing tenancies for adults with learning disabilities. We can accommodate up to 41 adults across 9 homes.
Each home has its own special character and a family feel, and each provides a highly personalised service.
39 people supported to live as independently as possible in group homes with a real family feel.
Our homes
We currently provide supported living across Yorkshire in:
- East Leeds
- North Leeds
- Bingley
- Brighouse
- Skipton
- Todmorden
- Shipley
- Keighley
- Dewsbury
Within the home
Tenants have their own key and bedroom (which they can choose to furnish and decorate to their taste), and shared facilities.
They are supported in devising weekly menus, doing the shopping, and preparing their own meals.
Each tenant has a key support worker, who works with them and their family and/or advocate to draw up their own support plan.
Activities
All of our tenants are encouraged and supported to be as independent as possible in accessing services in the local community – such as further education, employment, social and leisure activities, attending medical appointments and maintaining their tenancy.
Family & friends
Family and friends are free to visit, in line with the tenants’ wishes and the visitors’ agreement.
Residential home
Adult Learning Disability
Residential home
Our residential home is ideal for adults with learning disabilities who would benefit from living in a residential environment.
We provide a homely, welcoming and friendly environment for our residents, supporting their independence, fulfilment, rights, choice, and dignity – helping them take their rightful place within the community.
10 people supported to live with choice and dignity in our residential home.
Our home
Our home has its own special, friendly character and provides a highly personalised service. Currently, we provide support for adults in Yorkshire, in our residential home in:
Address: House of Light, 13 Allerton Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 4ND.
Telephone: 0113 2681 480
Within the home
Each resident has their own bedroom, furnished and decorated to their own taste. They can choose weekly menus, where able, and they enjoy a wide variety of well-prepared foods within a healthy, nutritious and balanced diet (including special diets). Wherever possible, residents are encouraged to help prepare and cook their meals.
Activities
Our residents are supported in accessing a range of social, educational, leisure and health services. Day-care placements are negotiable, depending on requirements.
Family & friends
We encourage family members, friends and advocates to offer continuity and support, and they are free to visit at any reasonable time (but making arrangements in advance helps to ensure residents are at home and that a room can be made available).
Outreach services
Adult Learning Disability
Outreach services
We provide outreach services to adults with learning disabilities who live at home. This includes emotional, social and practical support for the individual as well as their families and carers. We provide individuals with the support and advice they need to live full and independent lives in their own homes.
We respect their individuality and their right to choose, and we create care and support plans that reflect each person’s wishes and circumstances.
I can’t say how much I appreciate the service – both in going the extra mile for my daughter and advising me on the way forward and to help my daughter on the first step of living independently.
– A grateful parent
Outreach services
Our service can include:
- Spending time with the individual and/or families and carers for emotional support
- Practical support at home, such as preparing meals, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning, washing and ironing
- Budgeting and advice about benefits
- Helping with getting out into the community, such as grocery shopping, accompanying or transporting people to their chosen activity or appointment, and accessing local amenities
- Helping people to make and meet friends
- Helping individuals to plan travel and use transport.
A Celebration of Our Year 2022
Catholic Care Team
We are pleased to present our annual review for 2022.
This has been an exceptionally busy and challenging year for the Charity. We began the year still dealing with many Covid related issues. Just as these began to retreat, we were faced with the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis. Staff, volunteers and supporters have all risen to these many challenges.
Community update
Catholic Care Team
St Winefride’s Church Hall was 'buzzing' today thanks to a joint effort from our Community Market Team, Lunch Group Team and Healthcare Professionals from the local surgery.
Service users were able to chat to the professionals on various topics such as diabetes, blood pressure etc. Our Nutrition Advisor, Ingrid Fernandes and Family Support Worker Keelie Morton were also on hand for advice. Thank you to the staff and volunteers who made today possible.
Support our Christmas Appeal
Catholic Care Team
Right now, hundreds of families across our Diocese are desperately trying to just get by, hit hard by the cost of living crisis.
They don’t want to even consider what Christmas will look like, as they just try to get through another month, counting down the days with less money in their pockets.
Christmas Pantries
This year we are hosting Christmas Pantries in our communities, where people can access food, toiletries, toys, advice and support from our social workers and community teams.
Please be a part of our ongoing support that is continuing to change lives by donating to our Christmas appeal.
Items of tinned or packet food, toiletries and new toys will be gratefully collected in your parish and distributed to where it is needed most.
Items will be collected by Friday 11th November by arrangement with your parish priest or parish representative.
If you prefer to donate money, you can either:
- Make a direct transfer to Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds) Central Fund, sort code 05-00-20, account 11472611
- Go to our Just Giving page
- Send a cheque made payable to Catholic Care to 11 North Grange Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2BR
- Alternatively, to make a donation over the phone using your card, please call us on 0113 388 5400
World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Catholic Care Team
The Church has celebrated the World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914 and this year it is 25th September.
It is an occasion to express concern for vulnerable people on the move; to pray for them as they face many challenges and to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers.
This year with the difficulties the world faces there are more people on the move than ever. As the title for his annual message, the Holy Father has chosen “Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees”. You can download the Pope’s message here.
Catholic Care has been working with groups and parishes for the last few years to help welcome and support refugee families under the Community Sponsorship scheme. Currently there are four Syrian families living in the diocese who have arrived under the scheme and another group has just formed to start the process. It can be a challenging process, but is also hugely rewarding.
Under the scheme, a community group, which might be based in a parish, but not necessarily, works together with the guidance of Sue Parsons, the Community Sponsorship Coordinator to pull together a resettlement plan, which includes finding accommodation for a family, raising funds, researching school places and health care, and the other needs a family may have when they come to a new country and perhaps don’t speak the language. Once the application is approved by the Home Office, then a family is chosen with the assistance of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and soon after they arrive.
As you can imagine, settling here is a life changing experience for the family, but it also makes a difference for members of the group. As the Pope maintains in his message, the behaviour of refugees enriches the communities that receive them. He goes on to say:
“Openness to one another creates spaces of fruitful exchange between different visions and traditions, and opens minds to new horizons. It also leads to a discovery of the richness present in other religions and forms of spirituality unfamiliar to us, and this helps us to deepen our own convictions.”
Catholic Care have also been involved in the Homes for Ukraine scheme, helping refugees from Ukraine find homes and support here in the UK. Although Catholic Care haven’t been able to help directly, they have been able to introduce volunteers to those organisations who can help, with the result that some members of the diocese have or are about to welcome Ukrainians into their homes.
To find out more about Community Sponsorship, then please contact Sue Parsons – sue.parsons@catholic-care.org.uk or 07702 255113
Celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Catholic Care Team
People attending the Charity’s Community Groups is Bradford celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style.
At St Winifred’s Lunch Group the day began with an air of Betty’s Tearoom about it! Our pianist Mark Bolland played beautiful music whilst the afternoon tea was served. Our royal quiz, raffle and games followed by a sing a long made it a perfect celebratory afternoon.
While the celebrations for the group meeting at St John the Evangelist began with a traditional afternoon tea, served by our wonderful volunteers. With a cake stall, card stall, tombola, raffle and a find the crown game there was something for everyone! Once the games completed our musical entertainment for the afternoon was Nicola Mills (Opera for the People) and a sing a long ensued. The afternoon came to a close with a toast for Her Majesty the Queen.
A real Platinum Jubilee to remember.
A Celebration of Our Year 2021
Catholic Care Team
We are delighted to present our review of 2021.
Another very challenging year dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the year starting in lockdown and ending with the Omicron variant.