Joining Us & Moving In

We want everyone to be as happy as possible from their very first day at Mercury College.

Finding Out More

Enquiries, formal or informal, from families and placing authorities that fund placements (day, residential or supported living) are always welcome.

We ask authorities to send relevant information which will be reviewed to ensure that Mercury College is in a position to positively address the needs of the referred person.

People referred to Mercury College often have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and will be assessed in person before admission, to ascertain whether their needs can be met by the provision. This Pre-admission Assessment is carried out by one of the assessment teams, led by experienced education staff and supported by therapy staff as required. When a residential or supported living service is also required, relevant care professionals will join the assessment team too. They will arrange to meet the person and as many people centrally involved in their direct education as possible to assess their needs. We get to know more about the person, their needs, strengths and aspirations and any risks that need to be supported.

This is the start of the person-centred planning process that ensures each person is treated as an individual. Through our assessment, we want to try to understand the kind of life a person aspires to live and what support they require to make this happen. If, after completion of a thorough assessment process, we think we can provide the right learning opportunities, support and environments for someone to thrive, the placing authority is informed and will itself usually inform the person and their family of the decision. If funding of the proposed placement is agreed, transition planning can commence.

Transition Planning

Getting ready for the start of a person’s journey

A transition plan will be determined for every move into the college which will specify the support each student will need for their transition. Depending on the student’s needs this can include a combination of: visits/tours of the college; taster days/sessions; photos and videos of the new environment; parental/ professional visits and social stories.

At the end of a student’s time at Mercury College, the college is committed to working alongside families and professionals to support the securing of positive next step provision and working alongside others to ensure the student is well supported with their move.

You are more than welcome to visit the college to find out more and ask any questions.

Moving In

For students also moving into our associated residential or supported living services, we want to make this an exciting and positive experience. A team manager will work with the person, their family/carer, other key parties and the placing authority to plan and manage the move in the best interests of the person.

Everyone’s experience will be different, but all plans will have the following key elements:

• a support team that are informed, trained and prepared
• all staff have a one-page profile in a format that that person understands
• an identified key worker
• the person’s choices about their home (what is important to them environmentally)
• agreement on the plan

 

Moving in day can be exciting, but also anxiety raising. Again, everyone’s first day and night will be different, but some of the key elements will be:

• their key worker is there to greet them
• their first night is designed around them and what they will need
• they won’t be overwhelmed by lots of new people (unless their needs dictate otherwise)
• they will have a ‘welcome to your new home’ card and welcome pack or hamper, individualised to their personal likes and preferences