Specialist Practitioner (Behaviour Support)

Croydon Health Services NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Croydon Health Services NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Specialist Practitioner (Behaviour Support) to join the Community Learning Disabilities Team in Croydon. You will work within a multidisciplinary group delivering evidence-based behavioural assessments and interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities whose behaviours challenge.

The role requires a solid qualification mix (Bachelors + Postgraduate Diploma in ABA or equivalent) and BACB certification or progress toward it.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Behaviour Analysis or equivalent
• BACB certification or working towards
• Experience with adults with intellectual disabilities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to reflective practice and safeguarding

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Behaviour Support Pathway for adults with intellectual disabilities whose behaviours challenge
• Provide specialist behavioural assessments and interventions across settings
• Supervise junior staff as agreed with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist
• Support effective running of the team and multidisciplinary collaboration
• Work autonomously within Trust guidelines and under supervision

Skills

Applied Behaviour Analysis

Positive Behaviour Support

Communication skills

MDT collaboration

Training supervision

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Behaviour Analysis

Postgraduate Diploma in Analysis & Intervention in Intellectual Disabilities

BACB certification or in progress

Job description

Croydon is a busy, exciting and diverse place to work. The borough has one of the youngest populations in London and continues to grow.

Croydon Health Services cares for local people at Croydon University Hospital, Purley Memorial Hospital and in clinics and people's homes all across the borough.

We are a very close-knit and friendly organisation where everyone of our 3600 members of staff is valued. We strongly believe that our employees are our greatest asset and so through Listening into Action - our way of engaging staff - we empower everyone at any level to initiate and bring about real improvements in our care.

Join us and be a part of the team that is making Croydon proud. #choosecroydon

Job overview

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities whose behaviours challenge in Croydon and promote the best outcomes possible? An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Specialist Practitioner (behaviour support) to join the Croydon Community Learning Disabilities Team. We are looking for a passionate practitioner to join and enhance our established multidisciplinary behaviour support service.

The successful applicant will join a highly valued multidisciplinary community team for adults with intellectual disabilities, based in the heart of Croydon. The service is located in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council headquarter, and has strong working relationships with key partner agencies including Croydon Adult Social Care, Croydon Mental health in Learning Disabilities (South London & the Maudsley), and the Forensic LD & ASD Service (SLaM). The CLDT comprises of Psychologists, Specialist Practitioner, Learning Disability Nurses, Speech & Language Therapists, a Dietitian and Physiotherapists. We provide a psychological service to adults with intellectual disabilities with mental health needs, and/or behaviours that challenge.

Main duties of the job

• To contribute to the provision of the Behaviour Support Pathway as part of Croydon Community Learning Disability Team supporting adults with intellectual disabilities whose behaviours challenge
• To provide specialist behavioural assessments and interventions including support with implementation and monitoring of outcomes across a range of settings. The post holder will work autonomously alongside clients, families, support workers and professionals to enable others to better understand and respond to behaviours that are challenging.
• The post holder will be required to supervise junior staff as agreed with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist. They will use research skills to carry out audits, service evaluations and research activities relevant to the service.
• The post holder will be required to contribute to the effective running of the Croydon Community Learning Disability Team, delivering, or advising on the delivery of, high quality care and ensuring consistently high standards of practice. They will be required to contribute to effective multidisciplinary team working ensuring that care is delivered in a holistic way that involves service users and carers.
• To work as an autonomous professional within professional and Trust guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work under the direct guidance, close clinical and professional supervision of a practitioner psychologist.

Working for our organisation

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provide hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity.

Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We're also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people's homes. Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon and our Children's Hospital at Home cares for children with long-term conditions without them having to come to hospital.

Across the NHS everyone is working hard to meet growing demand and we're no exception. But with the right people on board, we are rising to this challenge, putting our people in the driving seat, encouraging innovation and transforming our services to give local people the quality of care they deserve. Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. As well as offering access to a range of core skills training and professional development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the Job Description and the Person Specification for more details on the jobs responsibilities.

Person specification

education, skills and other factors

Essential criteria

• Bachelor's Degree AND Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Behaviour Analysis, OR Post Graduate Diploma in Analysis and Intervention in Intellectual Disabilities, OR equivalent Post Graduate Diploma (Applied behavioural analysis, ASD, PBS)
• Certification with Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB) or working towards
• Evidence of continuation of professional development
• Skills in the use of complex methods of Applied Behaviour Analysis and Positive Behaviour Support across cultural and other differences.
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills
• Skills in providing consultation and training in PBS
• Ability to cope emotionally with challenging behaviours displayed by individuals on a day to day basis, and to support carers in times of distress.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
• Organisational skills
• Commitment to reflective practice and trust values

Desirable criteria

• Registration with UK-SBA

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Theoretical knowledge of Applied Behaviour Analysis and principles and practice of Positive Behaviour Support.
• Knowledge of legislation and relevant policies in relation to the client group

experience

Essential criteria

• Significant qualified experience working with clients with intellectual disabilities and behaviours that challenge
• Experience of a range of specialist behavioural assessment and interventions with clients with learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges services, across the full range of care settings
• Experience of MDT working
• experience of working with students/AP as part of PBS practice

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of working in a community learning disabilities team
• experience of training, teaching and supervising

Your recruitment team

The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:

E: [e-mail]

Your application

Please ensure your supporting statement clearly reflects the job description and person specification, as shortlisting will be based on these criteria.

Please refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to draft your application. We value authentic, individual responses that reflect your own experience and communication style.

References

Please provide a minimum of 3 years' employment and/or education history, including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, please inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre-employment checks.

Closing date

To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

Shortlisting

If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.

Application feedback

If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Safeguarding and DBS Checks

We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.