Background

Alderwood was founded around the experience of Jackie Wadlow MA, Managing Director. Jackie had worked for over 30 years in special educational needs, 10 of which as a Head Teacher of a large special school in Bedfordshire, England. She then became Director of Professional Development at a large residential special school in Worcestershire, England. Jackie has been an Ofsted (Schools Inspection) Team Inspector and NPQH trainer (Head Teacher training) and has been a UK TEACCH (Treatment and Education for Autistic and related Communication handicapped CHildren) trainer for over ten years. Alderwood's philosophy is based on the TEACCH programme first developed by the University of North Carolina, USA. Jackie played an instrumental part in introducing this programme to Bedfordshire county education.

Jackie has a Masters degree in Advanced Educational Studies (special education), (York University 1987) and has been a visiting lecturer at Westminster College Oxford and on the M.Ed./PhD course for special education at Birmingham University. She has made regular contributions to international TEACCH conferences in the UK and USA. She is a member of the steering committee for the TEACCH UK conference, University of Northampton. She has also been part of a delegation to Jamaica sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Development and Wolverhampton University, providing training to the Jamaican Ministry of Education.

It was through this working experience that Jackie saw the need to open a small home setting with an entirely individualised programme of care and integrated education.

Anita Smart CMgr FCMI, Strategic Director & Head of Residential Services, joined Alderwood in 2002. Anita has worked for over twenty years in disabilities, specialising in ASD and behaviour problems. She has worked in adult services for those with learning disabilities including managing a special care high dependency unit for adults with severe disabilities. Anita has successfully completed NVQ Level 5 - Strategic Management, is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and has an HNC in Social Care and Social Management. She is a Principal Instructor for PROACT-SCIPr-UK® (Strategies for Crisis Intervention & Prevention). At Alderwood Anita has integrated the TEACCH approach with PROACT-SCIPr-UK®. Her wealth of experience has resulted in Alderwood setting up 3 purpose-designed residential homes that cater for 17 young people. Anita has written and implemented extensive training courses for Alderwood residential care staff as well as external courses. She provides training and consultancy in all aspect of care home provision and documentation. Anita has presented the Alderwood outreach and transitioning work at the annual TEACCH conference at the University of North Carolina (May 2003) and also at TEACCH UK 2003 conference at the University of Northampton.

Aims

Alderwood aims to:-

  • Provide specialist residential care and support for children and young adults with complex ASD
  • Provide a highly structured teaching approach using the TEACCH model for all aspects of the client's life
  • Support individual residents in small units which are tailor-made for the specific client. Residential School and Adult Homes
  • Offer highly structured support for 52 weeks per year
  • Offer high staffing ratios at all times in order to support the specific needs of each individual resident
  • Value all individuals through positive relationships
  • Provide continuing education for all ages and abilities
  • Respect the rights and dignity of all residents and maintain a positive outlook to the potential of each individual.