Positive Behaviour Support and Therapies
We have an extensive range of therapeutic and support services available to meet the needs of our students, including:
Positive Behaviour Support Team
At QAC we work with students in a person-centred way to meet their needs. This helps to foster positive relationships and build self-esteem and resilience. The overall aim of positive behaviour support is to improve the quality of a person’s life and that of the people around them.
Working closely with other specialists onsite, such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists, the positive behaviour support team can help to devise support strategies and interventions, in consultation with the individual and their support networks.
Educational Psychology & Clinical Psychology
We work in collaboration with some specialist consultants to support student development, learning, and wellbeing.
Where appropriate, we can deliver structured sessions to help social and emotional skills development by following Jigsaw, our Emotional Literacy programme designed in collaboration with an Educational Psychologist.
We also have access to an experienced Clinical Psychologist, who works alongside other specialists at QAC, where required, to ensure students have the tools in place to help them manage their own behaviours and anxieties, and achieve their full potential.
Mentors & Counsellors
In addition to a range of student wellbeing and mindfulness activities such as yoga in the College’s yurt, QAC has an on-site Wellbeing Hub. Providing a supportive environment, students value the one-to-one sessions they can attend with mentors at the Hub about their mental health and wellbeing. We also have Buddy-Ray, our College wellbeing dog.
The Wellbeing Hub allows students the opportunity to meet with College mentors and counsellors in a confidential, comfortable and safe setting. Counsellors practise in accordance with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy ethical practice. They aim to help you get the best out of your time at QAC and to prepare for the future.
We provide ongoing Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education to all students. Personal Tutors can also work with you if you need extra support, or just want to come and discuss matters in private. Peer support groups are offered around a variety of issues such as men’s group, LGBTQ+, women’s group and others.
Music Wellbeing
Students can access music wellbeing sessions and specialist workshops in a dedicated space with our Music and Wellbeing Facilitator.
Sessions can help to support student mental health and wellbeing, as well as develop and refine their musical skills, whether they are learning to play an instrument, honing their vocal abilities, or experimenting with music composition.
The space is well equipped with a variety of musical instruments and technology that allows students to explore different aspects of music.
In addition, the College has its own music group called QA Collective. They have performed live at several events held at Birmingham Symphony Hall and Town Hall, through the College's links with B:Music, and more recently the world famous Royal Albert Hall in London for the Music for Youth Proms.