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| How CASY works |
Suitably qualified Counsellors who are UKCP or BACP registered help young people with a range of emotional difficulties, which include family separations and divorce, domestic violence, homelessness, eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse, physical or sexual abuse, bullying, family illness, bereavement, anger management and stress.
In some cases the young people CASY Counsellors work with have been excluded from school or are facing exclusion. Some are already young offenders referred to CASY Counsellors through the local Youth Offending Service. Most of the young people our Counsellors see are failing to reach their potential due to emotional disturbances. CASY staff work towards addressing the problems of under-achievement in young people at their root cause.
Referrals are currently made either to the Manager or Area Co-ordinators by phone, text or on a referral form. Referrals are received from Social Service, G.P’s, Connexions and Acorn staff, schools, youth workers, parents and the young people themselves can make a self-referral. All referrals are handled in the strictest confidence.
In our community venues we aim to offer a first contact call within two weeks of the original referral, this is to assess client suitability. We try to offer the first counselling appointment within a maximum of twelve weeks from referral date wherever possible. Depending on the client's availability to attend appointments, this time is often much shorter. Appointments can be in schools if we work within those schools or a variety of suitable community venues. Counselling may end after just a few sessions, or it may continue over many months. Sessions normally last for one hour and will be with the same, named Counsellor.
Parental/Carer involvement in the making and keeping of appointments is encouraged, however we recognise that not all young people feel safe to involve someone else in their counselling appointments. We respect that need and will provide counselling without parental permission, if we feel the young person is capable of making that decision (Under BACP guidelines). Counsellors are selected for their experience and their ability to understand the pressures and conflicts young people face today.
CASY offers complete confidentiality except under very exceptional circumstances. We do not disclose information to anyone without first discussing the need to do so with the young person being seen by our Counsellors. All Counsellors working with CASY are asked to undergo an enhanced criminal records check to confirm their suitability to work with young people. They are qualified or in training through UKCP or BACP recognised courses. All staff are insured for public liability and references are checked. |
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