About: Founded in 2008, Positive Support Group has a proud history in transforming the lives of children, young people, and adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems. In all areas of our work, we combine the latest behavioural science and positive psychology research with passion, optimism and a personalised, holistic approach to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.
We are one of the UK’s largest organisations commissioned to work in partnership with the NHS, Integrated Care Boards, Local Authorities, care homes, hospitals, schools and other organisations to deliver critical front-line services.
The Role: We are both privileged and excited to be launching a brand-new service in Thurrock supporting young people with special education needs to build confidence, develop life skills, and access meaningful education, training, and employment opportunities.
Duties & Responsibilities: The Key Worker will be supported to manage and work directly with a caseload of complex clients, delivering assessments and interventions that lead to positive changes for the individual, their families and wider network of support. This will require being flexible in approach, working in person and through other mediums where required, be solution and values focused, with an ability to maintain resilience under pressure. To be successful in this role, the Keyworker will be expected to:
- Deliver tailored PBS-informed programmes, including early communication pathways, in 1:1, paired or small-group sessions.
- Create resources, run learning targets and support daily skills, independence, peer interaction and participation.
- Track behaviours of concern, skill development and progress through clear daily data collection and analysis.
- Keep student records and folders accurate, up to date and professionally maintained.
- Escalate safeguarding concerns without delay and work in line with safety, risk, data protection and GDPR requirements.
- Share regular updates and work collaboratively with families, carers, colleagues and wider support networks.
- Build positive, respectful relationships with young people, using empathy and consistency to support engagement.
- Stay calm, clear and solution-focused when situations are emotionally or physically demanding.
- Carry out other reasonable duties needed to support safe and effective service delivery.
Professional qualities:
- The postholder will demonstrate empathy, strong values, calm communication, resilience and the ability to engage clients and their support networks in identifying quality-of-life goals.
Clinical practice and development:
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, Behaviour Analysis and Positive Behaviour Support, and make full use of clinical supervision to support progression towards PBS Practitioner qualification.
Supported responsibilities:
- Key Workers will be supported to contribute to FBAs, practical functional assessments and other relevant assessments, developing formulations under qualified supervision.
- Write high-quality assessment reports, present findings to clients, families, carers and networks, and implement agreed interventions with support from qualified staff.
- Deliver community-based intervention plans, applying behaviour analytic and PBS principles to develop function-based interventions and behaviour support plans.
- Collect and analyse accurate data, train mediators in BSP interventions, inspire network commitment and resolve barriers to keep support aligned with agreed plans.
Requirements:
Preferred Qualifications:
· Undergrad degree in Behaviour Analysis, Clinical Psychology (or another related field) or Positive Behaviour Support qualification (i.e.: BTEC Level 4 or 5 in PBS) completed or in progress.
· Working towards completing competency-based portfolio.
· Registered with UK-SBA as a practicing member or eligible to be.
Preferred experience:
· Working with children, young people and / or adults with learning disabilities, autism, and / or mental health difficulties.
· Implementing behavioural interventions to support clients with complex presentations including learning disability and autism who may have co-morbid diagnoses (e.g., OCD, Bipolar Disorder) under the direct supervision of other professionals (e.g., BCBA®s, PBS Practitioners).
· Managing own caseload of clients with complex needs under supervision of qualified staff.
· Conducting FBAs and developing function based BSPs under supervision of qualified staff.
· Implementing evidence-based programmes to achieve positive outcomes for clients.
· Developing, implementing, and overseeing data collection systems to monitor client progress towards their goals.
· Training others in behaviour support techniques.
· Report writing and sharing with key stakeholders (e.g., client, mediators, and network).
Benefits:
- A competitive salary, dependant on experience and qualifications.
- 23 days paid holiday plus bank holidays, increasing every year up to 28 days.
- Your birthday off.
- Physical and mental well-being support.
- Seasonal benefits and staff socials.
- Comprehensive clinical supervision package through on-going individual and group supervision, and monthly company-wide learning lunches.
- Company culture that supports you with professional development through performance management and appraisals.
- Multiple and varied learning and development opportunities, including a personal budget for continuing education and UK-SBA renewal fees.
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Tax-Efficient Pension
- Weekly Wellbeing Hour
- Health Cash Plan
- Enhanced Maternity pay
- Referral bonus
- Training including PROACT-SCIP
As this is a community-based service, we are especially eager to hear from applicants living in Thurrock and surrounding areas who have relative experience.
If you have the commitment, passion and drive to support our clients and develop a career in behavioural science, please email [email protected] enclosing a CV and supportive covering letter.
Interview Dates: Will be confirmed upon suitable application
PSG holds safeguarding and the welfare of children and young people as the highest priority and, applicants should share this commitment. All positions are subject to an enhanced DBS check, a medical check and satisfactory references.
Pay: £26,228.00-£40,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
