Pathfinder Model Candidate: Keisha Mellis

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Candidate Presentation

Designing the Pathfinder

A Systemic Vision for Integrated Therapy and Education at Artemis Academy

Target Position

Director of Therapeutic & Clinical Practices

Presented To

The Gallery Trust Panel

Belong Believe Embrace Achieve

Overview

Strategic Agenda

The Pre-Opening Phase

System design, framework baseline assessment, and relational transition planning (Sept 2026 – Jan 2027).

The Artemis Model

Deploying holistic, psychodynamic, trauma-informed, and neuro-affirming day-school practices.

Team Infrastructure

Integrating Therapies and Family Partnership Teams under unified clinical governance.

Capacity, QA & Scaling

Reflective supervision frameworks, objective impact evaluations, and Trust-wide system scaling.

Strategic Runway

The Pre-Opening Architecture

Utilising the critical window from September 2026 to January 2027 to construct operational and clinical foundations prior to school launch.

System Design: Formulating scalable clinical frameworks and establishing precise baseline assessments across existing Trust sites.

Relational Foundations: Actively engaging children, families, and staff within their current home and school environments to build safety profiles and minimise transition vulnerabilities.

Consensual Alignment: Providing strategic consultative guidance to existing Trust leadership teams to ensure absolute continuity of our pathfinder methodologies.

Core Framework

The Artemis Therapeutic Model

Constructing a day-school setting where psychodynamic principles, trauma-informed delivery, and neuro-affirming support intersect perfectly.

Psychodynamic

Focusing on the subconscious and structural communication behind acute behavioral distress, rather than using restrictive compliance models.

Trauma-Informed

Directly accounting for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and severe developmental trauma to maintain unconditional environmental security.

Neuro-Affirming

Adapting relational communication strategies and sensory school profiles to embrace and validate SEMH and ASC learners natively.

Operational Design

Unified Team Infrastructure

Consolidating distinct therapeutic and parent-facing specialties under centralized, clinical governance to guarantee integrated, wrap-around care.

The Specialist Therapies Team Integration

Child Psychotherapy, Systemic Practices, Clinical Psychology.
Direct, frictionless communication with external NHS networks.
Absolute alignment with Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) goals.

The Family Partnership Team Advocacy

Moves parameters past traditional check-ins to robust parent advocacy.
Co-production frameworks with parents/carers.
Extends therapeutic safety frameworks directly into the home.

Staff Protection

Supervision & Quality Assurance

Nurturing staff competence, protecting them from vicarious trauma, and establishing metrics to prove clinical impact.

Reflective Supervision loops: Embedding structured supervision across all roles in the school to prevent burnout and support retention.

Targeted CPD Delivery: Designing and deploying robust professional development models to elevate relational mastery for both education and support workforces.

Demonstrative Metrics: Formulating precise therapeutic outcome scales to translate therapeutic growth into metrics for Trustees and the Board.

Vision Realisation

The Pathfinder Trajectory

Establishing a transformative blueprint at Artemis Academy to redefine special educational standards across the wider Multi-Academy Trust framework.

Innovation

Driving Practice

Relationships

Fostering Connection

Knowledge

System Architecture

Influence

National Standards

“Forging something remarkable through strategic, unified leadership alongside Headteacher Laura Dennis.”