Based within University of Staffordshire’s Stafford Business Village, Midlands Psychology is a social enterprise offering community health and mental health services.

It works with people of all ages, including children and young people, and offers an all-age autism service.

Established in in 2009, the team of five includes two staff members who are University of Staffordshire alumni.

Midlands Psychology offer yearlong placements to students from any University, for an undergraduate placement year.  They have been fortunate enough to have recent students from both the University of Staffordshire and Keele University.

“We’re based within University of Staffordshire’s Business Village but the majority of our work is done remotely,” said Midlands Psychology Operational Manager and specialist SEND consultant Tracy Harris.

On the clinical side, the team’s work includes autism assessments for people who would often wait at least 18 months to access similar services through the NHS.

They offer EduTherapy, which operates a successful methodology in terms of support for young people all around Staffordshire who are presenting with difficulties in terms of accessing education, accessing mental health support. EduTherapy is a mainly peripatetic service, whereby the staff go out to the children’s homes to work with them on developing their own toolkits for managing their own behaviours.

Other services include counselling and psychological therapies, forensic psychology, child health psychology, trauma services, occupational therapy and supporting looked after children.

Tracy’s own work often sees her working within schools to advise and support their SEND provision.

“Part of my role is going into schools to support SEN leaders. I’m working with children and young people alongside the adults who teach them,” said Tracy.

“It’s very rewarding and I feel lucky to have the opportunity to go into schools and reassure SENCOs that what there is bringing about the best results for the children that they can and that the children and staff would be really struggling without them.”

Midlands Psychology has entered the Business in the Community, Team of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.