Date as Postmarked Reference: 10777 Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner Flexible Base, National National Travel as and when directed Thank you for your interest in the above post, please find the specific role requirements and duties for this post detailed within this document. When completing the application form you may submit additional documentation however we cannot accept a CV as a completed application. Please note the following: Once you have submitted or posted your application form allow 10 working days after the closing date for a response. As we do not notify applicants of an unsuccessful application, if no response has been received within this time, please accept this as confirmation that your application has been unsuccessful. Previously unsuccessful applicants for our vacancies cannot apply to Creative Support until six months has passed from their previous application. Please return the completed application form to Creative Support in the enclosed Freepost envelope or to Recruitment, 5 th Floor, Head Office, 35 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 2HF. Due to our charitable organisational status all application forms submitted without use of the Freepost envelope must be done so using the correct postage amount. Creative Support cannot accept receipt of forms which carry a surcharge due to incorrect postage amounts. Closing Date : 01 August 2015 Yours faithfully Recruitment Department Encs: Form Philosophy Statement Additional Information Finalised: 01 July 2015 Finalised by : A. Lunts All candidates are subjected to enhanced DBS checks Page 1 of 9
JOB DESCRIPTION - POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PRACTITIONER Flexible Base, National National Travel as and when directed Team: Hours: Responsible to: Positive Behaviour Support Team 37.5 hours a week Head of Complex Needs Purpose of Role: To focus on the person and provide person centered holistic assessments to create favourable environments in order to decrease stress triggers and assist the person to develop and maintain a good quality of life. The PBS Practitioner role is to provide clinical and complex needs advice, guidance, support planning and training to services where there are challenges to quality of life and service delivery. The key focused outcomes of this role is to demonstrate a reduction in behaviours of concern, in particular restrictive practices and to promote positive and proactive risk management so that people in our services can live active and rewarding lives. Main Responsibilities and Duties 1.1 To support the development of the PBS framework throughout Creative Support and work alongside PBS Team members, nationally. 1.2 To ensure services utilise the PBS referral system when requesting support and manage an allocated referral caseload. 1.3 To undertake holistic functional behaviour assessments via the referral system and demonstrate to staff and external professionals the function(s) of behaviour and design strategies to promote a reduction in behaviours that challenge. 1.4 To write professional reports, quarterly and annual PBS reports for management and external professionals upon request. All reports will be discussed and quality checked by the Head of Complex Needs. 1.5 To complete a range of holistic assessments other than behaviour that may contribute to understanding a person s needs, e.g. sensory, environmental, cognitive, autism, vulnerability assessments etc. 1.6 To work alongside the person receiving support, staff and other professionals in designing a positive behaviour support plan that has been informed by assessments. 1.7 To apply the PBS philosophy and work from a person focused strength perspective in order to promote skills and strategies for independent life. 1.8 To promote the principles of Person Centred Active Support within services and mentor teams to embed this into practice. 1.9 To develop key performance indicators that will measure the success of person centred PBS plans and agree these following a multi-disciplinary approach. Page 2 of 9
1.10 To facilitate post incident management de-briefs on the request of managers via the PBS referral system. 1.11 To support services in incident management reporting and recording standards consistent with policy and practice. 1.12 To ensure the regular update of the central PBS risk register and report immediately any PBS risk practices to the Head of Complex Needs. 1.13 To offer advice and guidance on PBS planning within the day to day operations of services. 1.14 To provide monthly behaviour monitoring information to the Head of Complex Needs and provide analysis and context to explain the reason(s) for behaviour, trends, patterns and cycles. 1.15 To provide behaviour baselines for every person who is referred and track these baselines in order to demonstrate a behaviour reduction plan. 1.16 To work in accordance with statutory and non-statutory guidance concerning PBS. 1.17 To facilitate and deliver person centred PBS workshops covering a range of PBS topics, including autism and sensory processing and to undertake an annual accreditation of competency. 1.18 To attend clinical supervision with the Head of Complex Needs as and when requested. 1.19 To mentor new PBS Practitioners in their CPD development and undertake regular supervisions when requested. 1.20 To attend a PBS clinical governance meeting one day a month and discuss case management issues and current/pending referrals. 1.21 To ensure continuous professional development is maintained and keep a CPD portfolio as evidence and ensure this is made available to the Head of Complex Needs. 1.22 To attend any PBS relevant courses or conferences upon request and present back to the PBS Regional Team. 1.23 To promote duty of care in all aspects of work and report any concerns following the organisations policies and procedures. 1.24 To find innovative ways to support individuals to have positive behaviour outcomes, increasing opportunity and maximizing their potential by enabling ways to engage in meaningful activities and opportunities. 1.25 To support local managers to actively promote a learning culture within the team 1.26 To support the local managers and staff to work with the MDT as required if it is deemed that the individual cannot be safety supported within the community setting at the identified point Page 3 of 9
in time due to unacceptable levels of risk, deterioration in mental health or the need for time within an appropriate health setting. 1.27 To support local managers and staff teams to reintroduce individuals back into the community setting following a period of assessment / treatment within a health setting, working alongside the MDT to endure a safe and appropriate discharge plan and positive behaviour strategies upon discharge. 1.28 To implement proactive strategies to maximize quality of life, and opportunities by establishing consistent supported approaches that complements the individual and reduces the potential for challenging behaviour. 1.29 To work alongside local managers and staff to ensure policies & procedures are implemented effectively to reduce restrictive practices. 1.30 To ensure that high quality training is identified and delivered to increase staff skills and confidence, particularly where individuals supported may experience difficulties in communicating or managing their emotions and use behaviour as a way to express themselves. 1.31 To work in partnership with relevant professionals and agencies to ensure effective and proactive support planning for service users who have complex needs. 1.32 To review positive behaviour support plans following the principles of a Periodic Service Review. 1.33 To offer direct mentoring to managers and teams working closely with Executive Team member to ensure effective improvement of practice in services 1.34 To be a source of advice and consultancy expertise in respect of positive behaviour support strategies where required. 1.35 To keep up to date with current social care practice and to research new models of support 1.36 To liaise with and engage families, significant people and advocates in positive behaviour support plans where necessary. 1.37 To ensure Creative Support is nationally recognised as a high quality provider of services for people with complex & challenging needs and recognised for the commitment for Positive Behaviour Support. 1.38 To promote and nurture good practice and to brief staff regarding policy and practice issues related to PBS. 1.39 To ensure that staff encourage and support people using our services in expressing their needs, views and concerns. To enable each person to make choices and decisions and to participate as fully as possible in planning and decision making processes. 1.40 To maintain duty of care in all aspects of work, in particular promote and mentor staff in all safeguarding and related practices. Page 4 of 9
Other General Responsibilities 2.1 To be involved in the development of new services for people with complex needs, autism or behavior of concern. 2.2 To carry out internal consultancy regarding positive behaviour support by working collaboratively with staff and managers 2.3 To contribute to the development of agency standards around social care governance and procedures and to take responsibility for ensuring that relevant corporate policies are reviewed on an annual basis. To draft corporate policies and procedures particularly in areas relevant to PBS. 2.4 To meet when required with senior managers and the exec team to discuss social care governance information relating to positive behaviour support. To ensure these meetings are action focused and that the appropriate level of information is available in order to make best interest decisions across Creative Support. 2.5 When requested by Head of Complex Needs or other Executive Team Members, undertake consultative quality reports on services when PBS is a concern. 2.6 To undertake PBS quality assurance audits where directed. Learning and Practice Development 3.1 To take a role in promoting training where relevant and helpful to progress knowledge of PBS across the company. 3.2 To play an active role in the delivery of training linked to PBS including; challenging behaviour; de escalation & supporting people on the autistic spectrum and active support. 3.3 To work alongside local managers and staff to ensure policies & procedures are implemented effectively, that PBS practices are implemented as an alternative to restrictive practices, and high quality training is identified and delivered to increase staff skills and confidence. 3.4 To develop person centred PBS workshops with teams so that the social construction of behaviour is understood and contextualised. 3.5 To work as alongside the CITRUS team to support the delivery of the CITRUS training programme across the agency. 3.6 To refer individuals and services for CITRUS training as defined within the PBS/CITRUS referral procedure. 3.7 To work within good practice guidance such as the BILD Code of Practice, 2014, DH Positive and Proactive Care, 2014 and Skills for Care Positive and Proactive Workforce. 3.8 To comply with and to implement all Creative Support s Policies and Procedures. 3.9 To identify own training needs in discussion with line manager and to attend training events, courses and conferences as required. 3.10 Any other duties that are considered under the remit of PBS and/or Complex Needs. Page 5 of 9
PERSON SPECIFICATION - POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PRACTITIONER Flexible Base, National National Travel as and when directed QUALITIES REQUIRED 1 At least two years experience of supervising staff or managing services for people with complex needs, including behaviours of concern 2 At least 5 years experience of supporting people with an autistic spectrum condition 3 Experience of being involved in transition planning for people with complex needs 4 Experience of managing issues that have links to safeguarding, mental capacity & best interests decisions around behaviours of concern 5 Experienced of supporting other managers in the delivery of positive behaviour support 6 Experienced in risk management and proactive multi- disciplinary planning in situations where risk is high or there is potential for placement breakdown 7 Experience of managing a PBS caseload, developing PBS plans and monitoring outcomes, e.g. through a Periodic Service Review Framework 8 Experience of undertaking behaviour referrals and functional behaviour assessments 9 Experience of delivering a PBS framework consistent with the BILD Code of Conduct 2014 How Assessed Form, Interview & Exercise 10 Experience at Principle Instructor level of a physical intervention model consistent with the BILD Code of Practice, 2014 11 Diploma Level 4 or equivalent in a related field, e.g. social care 12 Diploma Level 5 in Health & Social Care or an equivalent professional qualification Form 13 Training qualification e.g. PTTLS, DTTLS, KTTLS 14 Degree in a specialism e.g. autistic spectrum conditions, Applied Behaviour Analysis and/or a commitment in working towards a specialist qualification 15 The ability to identify where PBS practice requires attention and support staff, teams and managers in their clinical understanding 16 Be able to support services assertively and be a positive role model in PBS practice 17 Ability to remain confident and assertive when under pressure 18 Ability to support systems change where culture and attitudes are restrictive Form 19 Ability to embed person centred active support into services and demonstrate measurement of this in PBS planning 20 Analysis and measurement skills of baseline behaviours of concern or? Page 6 of 9
QUALITIES REQUIRED CONTINUED How Assessed 21 To shadow and role model good PBS practice in services to promote positive outcomes. 22 An understanding of the Recovery Approach in working with people with complex mental health needs 23 Understanding of co-morbidity associated with learning disabilities and mental health 24 Good written and verbal communication skills 25 Ability to facilitate and mediate within complex group situations 26 Ability to ensure positive risk taking, enabling choice & empowerment whilst ensuring the people we support and staff are safe and following good practice and regulations 27 To be able to travel nationally as and when directed 28 To supervise & mentor newly appointed PBS Practitioners in their CPD development 29 To support the PBS Team in quarterly and annual reporting systems or? Page 7 of 9
TERMS AND CONDITIONS - POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PRACTITIONER Flexible Base, National National Travel as and when directed 1 Salary: Up to 31,077 per annum. The starting salary will depend on the successful applicant s current salary, qualifications and experience. Point 1-28,487 per annum Point 2-29,343 per annum Point 3-30,199 per annum Point 4-31,077 per annum 2 Hours of Work: Full time hours are 37.5 per week to be worked flexibly to meet the needs of the service. This will be predominantly between 9am and 5pm. 3 Holidays: 25 days per annum plus eight statutory days (pro rata) 4 Disclosure Checks: Employment will be subject to enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks and SOVA checks. 5 Probationary Period: The first six months will constitute a probationary period. When this is successfully completed, employment will be confirmed. 6 Sickness Policy: Creative Support operates a discretionary company sick pay benefit scheme which is for the purposes of preventing hardship during times of serious illness. The eligibility criteria and conditions for payment of Company Sick Pay (inclusive of SSP) are shown in the Employee Handbook. You may be eligible for Company Sick Pay benefits subject to compliance with these criteria as follows:- Creative Support does not pay for the first three days of any sickness absence First six months service - Not eligible for Company Sick Pay though you may be entitled to SSP. Six months to eighteen months service - Up to a maximum of four weeks at full pay. Eighteen months plus service - Up to a maximum of eight weeks at full pay followed by four weeks at half pay. Part time employees who work 18.5 hours or more per week will receive Company Sick Pay benefits as detailed above but pro rata actual hours worked each week. Part time employees who work less than 18 hours per week will be eligible for a maximum of two weeks pro rata hours worked Company Sick Pay benefits per annum after 12 months service. Company Sick Pay benefits may be withdrawn or temporarily suspended where performance or attendance is unsatisfactory. 7 Pension: 8 Creative Support operates an auto-enrolment pension scheme with the People s Pension. 9 Discretionary Benefits: Creative Support offers all staff a range of discretionary benefits in addition to statutory benefits. These include: Paid paternity leave Enhanced maternity leave Page 8 of 9
Compassionate leave Carers leave 10 Employees Counselling Service: All staff, their partners and members of their household have access to an independent confidential, 24 hour telephone counselling service and to legal and financial advice. In addition, up to 6 sessions of face to face counselling can be obtained. This service is delivered by professionally qualified and supervised counsellors and is provided free of charge. 11 Hospital Saturday Fund: All employees have access to a special scheme which enables membership of the Hospital Saturday Fund on preferential rates. There is a choice of packages offering different levels of service. Membership is entirely voluntary. 12 Staff Benefits Scheme: As a member of staff for Creative Support you will be entitled to access a range of on-line benefits for various activities and high street stores. Benefits include discounted prices and two for one offers at Theme Parks, Shops, Restaurants and various on-line stores. 13 Life Assurance: All staff under Creative Support contract are entitled to free life assurance. This is a valuable benefit which provides a lump sum equal to four times annual salary. The policy is provided by Norwich Union. Page 9 of 9