Senior Positive Behaviour Analyst

Job responsibilities

PALMS has longstanding commissioning arrangements to provide input toCYP on three distinct pathways of tailored intervention: standard, heavy and intensive. There has been an increase in the number of CYP presenting in/at risk of going into crisis; These children and families require a significant amount of clinical input to enable de-escalation, reduce risks and decrease the likelihood of being placed out of county.

Throughout 2020/21 PALMS have been able to collect robust data on the time and skills required to meet the needs of CYP presenting in crisis and demonstrated significant positive outcomes for CYP and their families. In addition, PALMS has been able to evidence the importance of a MDT approach to support these CYP. Simultaneously, Hertfordshire is committed to realising the vision of the long term plan. PALMS have therefore been provided with additional funding to support the PALMS population who are at risk of, or at, crisis.

Alongside supporting these CYP and their families, the work of the team will provide decision makers with evidence informed options and clear recommendation for developing and delivering an effective multi agency crisis service that is responsive to needs within Hertfordshire and which fully meets the vision of the long term plan.

The post is 1 WTE for 1 year maternity cover; Roles within the IIT are flexible in terms of base as most of the work will be within the community across the county and as such a full valid driving license and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

We are committed to supporting flexible working options for staff, wherever possible, and welcome discussions on flexible working patterns to support our staff to maintain a healthy work life balance.

A full valid driving licence and access to a car insured to use for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Applicants to be aware that PALMS work within the ULEZ zone and any charges due to non-compliant vehicles can not be reimbursed by the Trust.

Interviews will be run either in person at one of our bases or using Microsoft Teams, full details and instructions will be provided to successful candidates.

Closing date: Midnight 28th January 2024

Interview date: 9th February 2024

Training and Qualifications

Essential

• MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis and / or Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities or equivalent.
• Accredited as a UKBA(Cert) and registered with the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis and / or oBoard Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) with eligibility for registration with the UKSBA

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of autism, mental health and / or research design and analysis.
• Eligible to supervise candidates pursuing their UKBA(cert) or BCBA qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working clinically with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and / or an autistic spectrum disorder including the application of Applied Behaviour Analysis and / or Positive Behaviour Support
• Comprehensive assessment and intervention of challenging behavior including physical aggression, verbal aggression, self-injurious behavior and comprehensive assessment and intervention of toileting, feeding and sleeping concerns.
• Development of positive behavioural support plans.
• Implementation and evaluation of positive behaviour support plans.
• Experience of working with individual's who are non-verbal or who have significant communication difficulties.
• Attendance and participation at multi disciplinary meetings.
• Experience of teaching and training others, using a variety of multi-media materials.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working
• Experience of taking a lead professionally

Desirable

• Clinical experience in a child learning disability context.
• Experience of service quality monitoring.
• Clinical experience of working in child and/or adolescent mental health context
• Experience of duty working as part of a crisis pathway
• Experience of delivering Clinical Supervision and Line Management
• Implementation of the periodic service review
• Experience of co facilitating or delivering group interventions.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive, abusive or hostile.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues
• An understanding of the impact of challenging behaviour.
• An ability to make autonomous clinical judgements involving highly complex facts and situations
• Up to date knowledge of policies and procedures and clinical issues relating to specific CYP group.
• Practical computing skills including the use of databases and spreadsheets

Personal Abilities

Essential

• An interest in working children who have a learning disability and/or an autism spectrum disorder.
• Values that match positive behaviour practices.
• Positive interpersonal skills
• An ability to interact with children who have a learning disability and or an autism spectrum disorder and their families.
• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships
• An ability to work effectively in a range of direct care settings with families, carers and staff.
• Good organisational skills and an ability to manage their workload
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
• Capable of using initiative and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
• Ability to use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Ability to work as part of a 'virtual team'.
• Ability to work with children & young people where behaviour that challenges can occur
• Ability to think clearly and express self

Other Specifications

Essential

• Willingness to uphold the Trust's values
• Eligible to live and work in the UK
• Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
• Willingness to travel to alternate locations to provide services.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).