The Priory Group offers a wide range of specialist education, healthcare, and supported living services for individuals with autism spectrum conditions across the UK. They provide flexible, personalized care pathways to meet each person's individual needs, from schools and residential facilities for children and young adults to community-based supported living for adults. The document highlights several case studies of individuals who have benefited from Priory's multi-disciplinary, evidence-based approach to help people with autism develop skills and progress to a more independent life.

1. Personalised support
for adults and young people
with autistic spectrum conditions
A REAL AND LASTING DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYONE WE SUPPORT

2. Established in 1980, the Priory
Group of Companies treats
over 70 different conditions
through a nationwide network
of over 300 facilities that
support service users’ health,
care, education and specialised
needs.They include:
About the
Priory Group
of Companies
• Specialist schools and colleges
• Supported residential facilities and homes
• Rehabilitation and recovery facilities
• Mental healthcare hospitals and clinics
• Care homes for older people

3. Priory pathways
Expert care for people
with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC)
Our education services provide
flexible packages of education,
therapy and care which are
designed to support the
complexities related to autism
and Asperger’s syndrome,
through specialist day and
residential schools and colleges,
and children’s and young adult’s
homes across the UK.
The Priory Group of Companies offers expert education, care and support for individuals with an autistic
spectrum condition including Asperger’s syndrome. Through our network of services, we can provide a flexible
and multi-directional care pathway providing continuity of care for individuals.
Working with healthcare professionals
and commissioners
The Priory Group of Companies works closely with community healthcare professionals and commissioners to
provide a stable and safe environment for each individual as part of a seamlessly integrated care pathway. This
ensures accessible psychological expertise, continuity of care and the delivery of positive and measurable
outcomes. Individuals may enter and leave the pathway at any point depending on their individual needs.
You can learn more about each of these pathways, including the services offered and the experiences of the
individuals we support in this brochure.
Craegmoor is dedicated to
delivering positive outcomes
for adults with autism, with
progression through a care
pathway that fulfils each
individual’s maximum potential,
whether that be residential
care or ‘Supporting You’
domiciliary care.
Our healthcare services offer
tailored therapy treatments to
enable each person in our care
to develop social, educational
and vocational skills, alongside
life skills which help them
progress to a more positive
future and successful
independent living, where
appropriate.

4. Priory Education Services provides specialist day and
residential schools, homes for children and young
adults, and further education colleges across the UK for
children and young people with autism and Asperger’s
syndrome.
We provide the highest level of education and care
according to the needs of each individual, in a safe,
positive and structured environment. Every student is
encouraged to achieve the best possible academic,
social and vocational outcomes.
The young people we support are:
• Aged between five and 25 years
• Have a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's syndrome
• Have learning and communication difficulties
• May also have significantly challenging behaviour
and social difficulties
• Have a Statement of Special Educational Need
Education, or an Education, Health and Care Plan
(EHCP)
“Every time I meet a young person with autism I learn
something new. They’re all so unique and individual,
and they bring so much to people’s lives with their
unique way of looking at the world.”
Lisa Sharrocks, Headteacher, Oliver House School
Our aim is to bring out the best in every young person,
to enable them to achieve positive experiences and
progress according to their own individual abilities,
whether that’s progressing to further education or
university, or transitioning to residential or supported
living through our Craegmoor services.
The complexities of the young people we support mean
that we need to use different teaching methods for
each individual. We tailor these to the unique needs,
sensory profiles and learning abilities of each young
person, to ensure that they are challenged at a speed
that is appropriate for them.
Education and care
for young people
When you can get communication sorted and
anxieties under control, the prospects are limitless.
Vanessa Taylor, Headteacher, Tadley Court
Meeting specific needs
at individual levels

5. “I am delighted with his first year, and the
way he has settled. I continue to see him
really happy before and after the school
day. His consultant was amazed with the
improvement in his speech.”
Priory Education Services results include:
• 100% of year 11 students entered for GCSEs achieved
one or more grades A* to G
• 100% of pupils in year 9 and above are actively
involved in transition planning at a level that reflects
their ability
• 98% of our young people are engaged in
age-appropriate independence programmes
• 97% of young people with autism feel that staff help
them to learn, and support them in their work
• 93% of our residential young people took part in
clubs or social groups in the community
“It’s brilliant here, I really love it.
When I came here I had no
future, no hope. Now I do.”
As well as encouraging our students to achieve success
in accredited qualifications, we also support them to
gain increased levels of independence and maximise
their strengths, abilities and ambitions.
With the right care and support from our
multi-disciplinary teams, our young people flourish both
in terms of their education and their social skills.
Supporting every student
to reach their potential
All of our children and young people benefit from access
to a range of different therapies including speech and
language, art, music, drama and occupational therapy to
facilitate the development of communication and social
interaction skills. Specific dietary management, low
arousal environments and sensory rooms provide
calming and nurturing surroundings, enabling our young
people who have sensory difficulties to manage their
stress and anxiety levels.
Personalised therapy
options
Locations of our schools
and colleges
To find the locations of our schools and colleges in the
UK, please go to
www.priorygroup.com/specialist-education
Parent
Student

6. Innovative and
individualised
support for adults
Craegmoor results include:
• 100% felt they had support to stay healthy
• 99% of relatives or advocates said they were
happy with the support their relatives received
• 97% of service users felt safe in the services
they live in
• 95% of people felt that they had the right level
of support
• 95% of people felt they were listened to and
changes made
• 93% of all outcomes were judged to be met by
the Care Quality Commission at their last
inspection
“Having an understanding of my own
autism makes a big difference to
me…I don't know why no one
explained this to me before.”
Supported individual speaking at a Craegmoor
Autism Conference
Having an autistic spectrum condition can make
everyday life challenging. The degree of difficulty
this can add to a person’s life varies dramatically
between individuals. Craegmoor offers services for
people with autism who can live almost
independently, as well as for those who require long
term support.
At Craegmoor, we help adults with autism to lead
fulfilled, independent lives by providing just the right
level of support to help them reach their full
potential. We have developed a range of innovative
services which ensure the best quality of life for
each individual:
• Residential options
• Supported living
• Specialist day services
• Support to access education
• Support in accessing employment opportunities
and experience
• Seamless transition from our schools and
colleges into Craegmoor support

7. Craegmoor’s autism services provide tailored therapy,
treatment, employment and vocational support to
develop social, educational and life skills for all our
service users so that they can progress to a more
positive future and successful independent living,
where appropriate.
When someone comes to Craegmoor to seek our
specialist support services for an autistic spectrum
condition, we complete an autism profile to help us to
better understand their interests, strengths, gifts and
their need for support.
This is a unique assessment tool which helps us
appreciate how autism affects each individual and
makes it easier for staff to understand the nuances in
an individual’s condition, as well as identifying
cognitive abilities that may require focus.
Individual involvement
in autism support
At Craegmoor, we strongly advocate that people
with autism need to be involved in how they are
supported, so we encourage their involvement in
staff training and sharing their stories through:
• Discussion groups
• One-to-one discussions and story development
• Autism conferences - providing a opportunity
for staff to hear people with autism and their
families talk about their own experiences
Education and
employment
Research suggests that just six percent of people
with autism are in full time employment in the UK.
At Craegmoor, we support everyone who wishes
to access education or employment opportunities
if these are available.
As part of the Priory Group we have close links
with specialist colleges where young adults with
autism can get the opportunity to develop
independent social and vocational skills, with
access to work experience placements and
nationally recognised qualifications.
Craegmoor’s support
services
Coping with autism can be very difficult, not just
for the individual but for their families as well. If
this is the case, it may be worth looking at
receiving some extra support at a level to suit you.
That can include respite help or full-time care for
the person you care about.
Locations of
Craegmoor homes
To find out the locations of our homes in the UK,
please go to www.craegmoor.co.uk
We are committed to providing innovative support,
designed not only to identify challenges but to celebrate
the talents and skills of every person we support.
100% of those we support have a named key worker
and 100% of our autism services have a designated
autism advisor who delivers training tailored to each
individual’s needs.
This team of specialist autism advisors aims to empower
service users to take control of their lives, develop their
levels of independence and, where appropriate, transfer
seamlessly to a supported living model delivered by our
domiciliary care agency, ‘Supporting You’, which is
registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), The
Care Inspectorate and CSSIW.
Understanding
individual needs
Personal, tailored
treatment for each
individual

8. Priory offers specialist services for individuals with
autism and comorbid health problems through
inpatient sites at Priory Hospital Aberdare, the
Keston Unit at Priory Hospital Hayes Grove and
Recovery F1rst in Widnes.
Our experienced teams work with individuals that
would benefit from programmes which:
• Holistically seek to support and correct comorbid
mental ill health
• Incorporate positive behaviour support to reduce
incidences of aggression and agitation
Priory’s activity programmes and care plans are built
around individuals’ abilities and tolerance to stress,
and focus on improving daily activities, living skills,
community integration and mental and physical
wellbeing.
We understand that some people may face
difficulties in understanding information, learning
new skills or coping with everyday life. We therefore
adopt positive behaviour methods which aim to
‘support and correct’. This may include improving
communication, undertaking pharmacology reviews,
minimising use of medications and stabilising each
individual’s placement.
Support for adults
with ASC in a
healthcare setting

9. Taking the next step on the Priory care pathway
For individuals with autism, Priory understands that our
service must get the clinical environment right. In
addition, people with a primary diagnosis of learning
disability or autism require therapeutic interventions to
be communicated in a manner that is sensitive to their
individual needs, whilst maintaining awareness of any
comorbid conditions.
Facilities at our specialist sites such as Recovery F1rst
include spacious en-suite bedrooms, communal
relaxation areas, controlled access to IT facilities,
dedicated gardens, quiet rooms, plus therapy and
activity rooms.
When an individual continues their care pathway into community living, our ‘Supporting You’ service provides
innovative community residential or supported living programmes. These services enable the individual to live a
fulfilling life in the local community of their choosing.
The ‘Supporting You’ services offer innovative community residential or supported living programmes which are
focused on helping people to live a fulfilling life of their choice, where possible, in their local communities.
• Our experts in positive behaviour support are
nationally recognised.
• The current team includes the PROACT-SCIPr-UK®
Instructor of the Year 2014.
• Priory is a member of the DH Positive & Safe
Champions Network - working to reduce restrictive
practices.
Investing in services

10. Many people with autism have
sensory processing difficulties or
differences. Gavin lives at a
Craegmoor service and has
Asperger’s Syndrome. In 2010, Gavin
joined a discussion group run by one
of our autism advisors, aimed at
helping individuals with autism to
understand themselves better.
Gavin’s Asperger’s means he
sometimes stands in people’s
personal space without realising he is
doing this, or he may get agitated
when in the community or stare at
people. When he is very anxious
Gavin self-harms.
With the support of his key worker
and staff, Gavin has developed coping
mechanisms such as a
volume-of-voice scale, writing daily
diary entries and working on a
circle-of-relationships project. These
supports have greatly improved his
self esteem and enabled him to
understand more about his own
autism. From being involved in the
discussion group, Gavin has learnt
new ways and approaches to cope
with the things that make him
anxious.
“The staff have helped me
understand myself better”
Healthcare:
James’s story
James was admitted to Priory
Hospital Aberdare in a crisis situation
due to a breakdown of his preceding
placement. He had been admitted to
a generic mental health ward at a
local hospital which was unsuitable
due to his primary diagnosis of
autism.
On arrival James was deeply
stressed and agitated. Initially he
was receiving 2:1 support due to the
high levels of challenging behaviour
he displayed. The multi-disciplinary
team worked with James to create a
package of care to help him engage
with others, reduce his anxiety and
reduce his dependence on
medication. James appeared to
benefit immediately from the
structure and routine within the
hospital and his anxiety levels
reduced.
Within his first week his support was
reduced to 1:1. James began to
develop meaningful therapeutic
relationships with the
multi-disciplinary team and engage
in his therapy. As he progressed
along his rehabilitation pathway his
medication was reviewed and
reduced, having a positive effect on
his behaviour. The team have helped
James to develop coping strategies
that help reduce his anxieties.
“James has recently been
discharged from section and is
ready to be discharged from Priory
Hospital Aberdare. With support
from Priory, his local team are
sourcing a placement to enable
James to step down to an enhanced
community home setting.”
Education:
Briony’s story
I was diagnosed with autism at the
age of five and arrived at Priory four
years ago after leaving school. I left
school as my Statement only covered
me up to Year 10 and therefore in the
6th form there wouldn’t have been
support for me. Both myself and my
parents were concerned that without
that support I would not have coped
with the demands of doing my A
levels. It became clear that Priory
Coleg Wales would give me what I
needed and I joined in the second
year of the site opening.
In my time at Priory Coleg Wales, I
had two support assistants who from
day one really helped me to develop
and were always there for me. They
interpreted what I needed to do,
improved my art skills and guided me
on a social level with other students,
which helped me to build friendships
with other learners at the college.
Three years after joining the college I
attained merit-merit-merit, which is
equal to 3 A levels and have now
finished my first year of a BA in
Performing Arts for Theatre and Film
University course.
“I sincerely believe that without
Priory’s help, I wouldn’t be at
university, following my dream in the
drama world. I have built my
confidence up so much that on two
occasions I’ve been on stage for our
local Autism Awareness Day.”
Spotlight on our services
Craegmoor:
Gavin’s story
*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality.

11. Accessing our services for
individuals with autistic
spectrum conditions
Our range of services can accept referrals
from individuals, Local Authorities, the NHS
and other interested parties. To find out
more about how we can help you or
someone you support, simply get in touch
with us by calling 0845 277 4679 or
emailing info@priorygroup.com
Alternatively, please visit our websites:
www.priorygroup.com
www.craegmoor.co.uk
Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter
or join our LinkedIn group

12. To find out more about how we can help
you or someone you support, simply get in
touch with us by calling 0845 277 4679 or
emailing info@priorygroup.com
Alternatively, please visit our websites:
www.priorygroup.com
www.craegmoor.co.uk
Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter
or join our LinkedIn group