Working in partnership

We aim to take a collaborative and partnership approach to our work, working with like minded organisations and those with which we can find a synergy.

We work closely with client referral organisations, which include GP surgeries, community mental health teams, social services / care and voluntary sector agencies.

At various times we have been able to look at the needs of particular groups and then use our experience and expertise to form bespoke partnership projects with other community and statutory organisations. Examples include:-

• Individual and group counselling for male perpetrators of domestic abuse and violence with JCC (Joint Consultative Committee);
• As above: the client group were mandated to attend via court order with ILPS (Inner London Probation Service);
• Children’s and young people’s alcohol counselling project with ACAPS (Alcohol Counselling and Advice Project);
• Counselling for young homeless people with Stopover;
• Lesbian and gay counselling project with PACE (Project for Advice, Counselling and Education);
• Saturday School for supplementary education for children, young people and young adults with GIL Centre;
• Irish counselling project with Lewisham Irish Community Centre;
• International students work experience placements with Diplom Campus / Savvy Interns (Germany & Austria);
• Social work practice placement project with Goldsmiths College; Greenwich University; Kent University; 
• Young women’s counselling project with Lewisham Young Women’s Project;
• Relationship/couples counselling project with London Marriage Guidance.

Responding to need
Aiming to meet the changing and diverse needs of our community, the CASSEL Centre team has also, over the years, created many new services such as:-

• Project for people on low incomes;
• Gay men’s psychotherapy group;
• Dramatherapy groups for women;
• Crèche service for clients;
• Developmental play group for parents and carers and their babies;
• Newly qualified counsellors project to enable development of professional role;
• Couples and relationship counselling;
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; 
• Arts and dramatherapy service.

Training Placements
To support our educational aims, the CASSEL Centre provides work experience placements for a diverse group including students at BA and MA level in social work, a broad range of counselling and psychotherapy therapists at diploma, degree and higher level, CBT therapists, arts and drama therapists, international social work and psychology students and people on administration or IT courses and other professional training courses.

Quality Assurance and consultancy
The CASSEL Centre has a strong commitment to ensuring quality in all areas of its work. We aim to bring this same commitment to our work in partnership by bringing our expertise, knowledge and experience to add value to that of our partners.  Together we can meet jointly agreed objectives, with each partner having clear and appropriate roles and responsibilities, set out in a partnership agreement.
With many years of experience running a complex voluntary sector organisation in Lewisham, we are also able to provide professional consultation to managers and staff in the caring professions.

Ethical framework
With our services being entirely centred on people, we take our responsibilities in this area particularly seriously. Our projects and partnerships follow the most appropriate professional ethical framework.  We will be pleased to provide more details on request.

Contact us
For more information about the CASSEL Centre services or enquiries about working in partnership please contact:-
Christine De Ionno, Chief Executive