Attendance and Welfare Team

Serena Sisson Senior Administrator

Norris Stewart Targeted Youth Support Worker

Over the last 30 years I have been using my engagement skills to work with young people as a sports coach, a college lecturer and now as a Youth Justice Worker, seconded to the Unity and Raleigh Trust.

My role within Youth Justice is to provide targeted youth Support for vulnerable young people in a preventative capacity, to try and deter them away from criminal behaviour, risky behaviour and anti-social behaviour. Sometimes the intervention work needed involves having a discussion with young people about their behaviour, but more often than not, I also use a wide range of resources to get my point across to these young people, that have been referred into the Taskforce. Resources such as presentations, videos, factual based case studies and distraction techniques, such as getting young people involved into other activities like boxing and the gym. We deliver sessions to young people in groups, assembly’s and on a 1 to 1 basis.

I am thoroughly enjoying my time within the new Taskforce, working with the other seconded specialists. It’s a great opportunity to develop and design a bespoke program of help, that match and fit the needs of the vulnerable young people referred in to the Taskforce.

Lillie Yange Family Practitioner

I hold a BA (Hons) English Language, BSC (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy as a Humanistic and Integrative Practitioner, I incorporate modalities from other approaches within my work. My passion has always been working with families and young people, which I have done for several years now.

My role within the AP Taskforce Team as family practitioner is to work with families, carers, and young people in promoting their emotional health and well-being through a relationship-based approach, as well as develop plans with suitable interventions programmes that have been agreed upon and are appropriate for the family needs.

My role as a family practitioner is to help your parents or guardians to support you live better in your home and protect you from harm. Also, to help the adult that cares for you with things they may be struggling with.

Sara McMullen Counsellor

I spent 20 years as a teacher of English in various schools and colleges in Nottingham. Three years ago I decided to re-train and embarked on a PG Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People at the University of Northampton. Through my work with Base 51, I was seconded to the Unity and Raleigh Trust to join the AP taskforce.

My role within the taskforce is to offer one-to-one counselling to any of our young people who may be suffering with their mental health. The hope is that being based here at Denewood, I can offer support quickly, thereby cutting out the need for lengthy waiting times that may be offered by other mental health services. The process here is simple – anyone can refer a young person into the taskforce that they feel might benefit from mental health support and then I can go and assess them and, if appropriate, set up regular sessions.

My course at the University of Northampton was an integrative one, meaning that I am trained in various counselling modalities such as person-centred, CBT, systemic, play and creative therapies. This allows me to uses a variety of techniques to engage our children and young people and encourage them to understand their feelings and behaviours better and to affect a positive change in their lives.

Alex Marks Speech & Language Therapist

I have worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for 30 years, working in primary and secondary schools with children and young people with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs.

Communication skills are fundamental. Through communication we develop as individuals and engage with the world around us, building relationships through talking with others, learning at school and college, working in our jobs.

Unsurprisingly children and young people with communication difficulties are at greater risk for behaviour difficulties and school exclusion, lower educational attainment, more mental health problems, fewer employment prospects and increased involvement in the criminal justice system.

My role within the Taskforce is to assess the skills of students in order to identify any speech, language, communication difficulties they are experiencing and in turn work with teaching staff and other members of the Taskforce to provide support and training.

Luke Sisson Project Co-ordinator

I’ve worked at Denewood and Unity Academies for over 10 years holding a range of roles. I started out as a learning mentor supporting our pupils in breaking down any barriers in accessing their education and have now moved on to be the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the Alternative Provision Lead for the Academies.

My role within the AP Taskforce is to act as Project Co-ordinator to ensure that our pupils both onsite at the Academy and offsite at education providers, get the right support at the right time from our team. I work closely with our education provider network and the staff teams across all our settings to promote the work and intervention the AP Taskforce can offer.

I am proud to be part of such a diverse and skilled team that is able to quickly offer specialist support to our pupils and their families which otherwise they may not receive or have a delay in receiving.

Away from school and in my spare time I enjoy spending time with my young family, supporting my football team Nottingham Forest and trying to play golf.