Strand 1
The Multidisciplinary Support Team
norchal@rmplc.co.uk
Objectives
To help schools and teachers to identify the strategic behaviour management needs and appropriate action to address them.
To help schools address individual cases of difficult of disruptive behaviour without having to resort to exclusion.
To develop IT strategies to challenge disaffection.
Team Members
Bill Best (team leader)
A teacher with 23 years experience in the North Shields area. An excellent practitioner in the field of pastoral care working closely with young people who demonstrate challenging behaviour.
Catherine Gillespie (team leader)
A teacher with 19 years experience working in the North Shields area. Experienced in the field of pastoral care; leading in service work and contributing to the training of teachers on issues relating to child protection, bullying, truancy and raising self - esteem.
Chris Mearns (Clinical Psychologist)
A Consultant Child Psychologist with extensive experience of the range of behavioural and emotional problems that youngsters can experience and present. He has a particular interest in working with children struggling wtih extreme family problems, and in therapeutic work with children exposed to violence.
Gill Smith
E.W.O. Experienced youth project worker. B.A. Humanities.
Pat Oliver
A school nurse based at Albion Road Clinic who has worked in the Meadwell area for 8 years. A regular visitor to schools and homes offering confidential advice and support on a range of issues that may impact on school progress and attendance. Organises weekly drop in sessions in school or can be cantacted on 2574186 extension 144.
June Shone
A teacher with 11 years experience of working with pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. For the past 3 years she has co-ordinated the Newcastle project "Truancy and Disaffected Pupils" working closely with primary and secondary schools.
Steve Williamson
12 years experience of child care in a variety of settings, working with difficult adolescents. Gained a C.Q.S.W. (Certificate of Qualification in Social Work) in 1992. Has been a member of the Family Support Team in North Tyneside since it was created in 1994.
Vera Armstrong
25 years in charge of school administration. On retirement joined the Challenge team on a part time basis.