Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Practitioner

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Practitioner - Hertfordshire & Norfolk (2 Vacancies)

Hertfordshire or Norfolk | 2 Vacancies  | Home-based with regular travel to services

£42,000 per annum

We are recruiting for two Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Practitioners: one covering Hertfordshire and one covering Norfolk. Both positions are home-based, with regular travel to services within the relevant region. Please indicate which vacancy you are applying for when submitting your application.

Are you an experienced Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) practitioner who is passionate about improving quality of life, reducing restrictive practices and helping people with learning disabilities and autism receive consistent, person-centred support?

Calm Futures provides specialist supported living, residential and outreach support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, mental health needs and complex needs. We are committed to helping people live meaningful lives with dignity, choice and independence, supported by high-quality, person-centred care.

Our work is guided by four core values: Meaningful, Limitless, Creative and Aspirational. These values shape how we support people, how we work with families and professionals, and how we develop services that focus on strengths, goals, independence and better outcomes.

What you'll be doing:

These are home-based roles; you will regularly work in services within your allocated region, with some travel to other Calm Futures services as required. A central focus is embedding good practice through observation, modelling and coaching, not simply producing plans.

·      Carry out functional assessments using direct observation, ABC and other behaviour data, staff and family interviews, and review of relevant records to understand the functions of behaviour, triggers, setting events and quality-of-life factors.

·      Develop, write and regularly review accessible, person-centred PBS plans with proactive, active and reactive strategies, involving the person, their family and advocates wherever possible.

·      Update PBS plans following significant incidents or changes in need, contribute to transitions into Calm Futures services, lead on less complex cases and support the Senior PBS Manager with more complex cases.

·      Spend regular time within services observing support, modelling PBS strategies and providing practical, on-the-spot coaching so plans are understood and consistently implemented.

·      Check that PBS plans, communication profiles and risk assessments are followed, and help teams use meaningful activities, structured routines, communication tools and appropriate sensory approaches.

·      Support colleagues to recognise early warning signs, respond confidently with de-escalation strategies and provide responsive input when someone is experiencing crisis or escalating behaviours.

·      Provide constructive feedback to managers and agree practical improvement actions where the quality or consistency of support needs strengthening.

·      Deliver PBS training during induction and person-specific training, and facilitate workshops on behaviour, recording, incident reporting and active support.

·      Contribute to reflective practice and post-incident staff debriefs; where appropriately trained, support de-escalation and restrictive-practice training aligned with Restraint Reduction Network standards.

·      Review incidents, ABC records and behaviour data to identify patterns and emerging concerns; support accurate factual recording and use learning to improve PBS plans and practice.

·      Monitor individual outcomes and quality-of-life measures, evidence the impact of PBS interventions and contribute to monthly PBS and quality reporting.

·      Help services identify, record and review restrictive practices, promote least-restrictive approaches and support appropriate mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions.

·      Support the reduction of physical intervention, seclusion and PRN medication use, in line with STOMP principles, and promote Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture.

·      Work in partnership with registered managers, families, advocates, social workers, community learning disability teams, intensive support teams, psychiatry, speech and language therapy and other professionals.

·      Contribute evidence-based information to multidisciplinary meetings, Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews and other professional reviews.

·      Maintain accurate PBS records on Calm Futures systems, including Nourish, and meet safeguarding, CQC, local authority, data protection and organisational requirements.

·      Identify and report safeguarding concerns promptly, support inspection and monitoring preparation, and work in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Equality Act 2010.

·      Maintain professional knowledge through supervision, appraisal and continuing development in line with the PBS Competence Framework; provide cross-service support and cover when required.

About you:

You will bring the following essential qualifications, experience, knowledge and personal qualities:

·      A degree or Level 5 qualification in psychology, health and social care or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

·      A recognised PBS qualification (such as the BILD Certificate in PBS or Level 5 PBS Diploma), or willingness to work towards one, alongside evidence of continuing professional development.

·      Experience supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and behaviours that challenge, and applying PBS strategies in practice.

·      Experience contributing to functional assessments, collecting and interpreting behaviour data, and writing or reviewing PBS plans.

·      Experience coaching, mentoring or training colleagues and working constructively with families and external professionals.

·      A sound understanding of the function of behaviour, functional assessment methods, autism, learning disabilities, sensory needs and the reduction of restrictive practices.

·      Knowledge of safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act and person-centred support, with the ability to produce clear, accessible plans and reports.

·      The ability to analyse information, translate evidence into practical strategies, build trusting relationships and challenge practice constructively.

·      Confidence with Microsoft Office and electronic care records, together with effective organisation, independent working and caseload prioritisation.

·      A calm, flexible, reflective and professional approach, with a strong commitment to human rights, dignity, confidentiality and improving quality of life.

·      A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, with willingness to travel regularly across your allocated region and to other Calm Futures services as required.

·      Flexibility to meet service needs, including occasional evenings or weekends, and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

Desirable:

·      A postgraduate qualification in PBS, Applied Behaviour Analysis or a related field.

·      Experience independently leading functional assessments and developing PBS plans.

·      Experience in supported living or residential services, including supporting people with mental health needs or a forensic history.

·      Experience reducing restrictive practices and contributing to MDTs, Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews or safeguarding processes.

·      Knowledge of the PBS Competence Framework, Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, STOMP, and CQC or local authority monitoring expectations.

·      Knowledge of augmentative or alternative communication such as Makaton or PECS.

·      An RRN-certified de-escalation/physical intervention trainer accreditation, Train the Trainer or other teaching qualification, or experience facilitating reflective practice and debriefs.

Why join Calm Futures?

·      Join a values-led organisation focused on meaningful lives, independence, human rights and positive outcomes.

·      Have a practical, visible impact by working directly alongside teams and the people we support.

·      Work collaboratively with the Senior PBS Manager, registered managers, families and multidisciplinary professionals.

·      Help strengthen PBS practice, develop staff confidence and reduce restrictive interventions across services.

If you are a values-led PBS practitioner who wants to make a meaningful difference through hands-on practice, coaching and person-centred support, we would love to hear from you.