Job Description: Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Lead
Job Title: PBS Lead
Location: Birmingham (with travel across Midlands & national packages)
Reporting To
Head of Clinical
Contract
Full-time
1. Role Purpose:
The PBS Lead is responsible for leading the delivery, quality, and continuous improvement of Positive Behaviour Support across all services.
This role focuses on stabilising high-risk placements, reducing restrictive practices, and embedding evidence-based, person-centred approaches across complex Supported Living, Residential, and clinically-led packages.
You will work across services supporting individuals with:
- Learning disabilities
- Autism
- Mental health needs
- Trauma-related presentations
- Complex behavioural risk
This is a hands-on, operational clinical role requiring direct involvement in high-risk placements alongside strategic oversight.
2. Key Responsibilities
2.1 Clinical Leadership & PBS Delivery
- Lead the assessment, formulation, and implementation of PBS plans across all services
- Complete Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBA) and develop detailed behaviour support strategies
- Ensure all interventions are proactive, least restrictive, and outcome-focused
- Embed person-centred, trauma-informed approaches across services
2.2 Crisis Intervention & Placement Stabilisation
- Provide direct support into services at risk of breakdown
- Lead behavioural crisis response, including:
- Aggression
- Self-harm
- Absconding
- Support teams to safely manage risk while reducing reliance on restrictive practices
2.3 Staff Training & Practice Development
Deliver and oversee training in:
- PBS frameworks
- De-escalation techniques
- Trauma-informed care
- Restrictive practice reduction
Additional responsibilities include:
- Coaching frontline staff (Support Workers, Senior Support Workers, Deputies) in real time
- Building internal capability to ensure consistent practice across all packages
2.4 Quality Assurance & Compliance
Ensure PBS practices align with:
- CQC regulatory standards
- Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
Monitor and analyse:
- Incident data
- Behaviour trends
- Restrictive practice usage
Produce high-quality reports for internal governance and external stakeholders.
2.5 Multi-Disciplinary Working
Work collaboratively with:
- Clinical teams (nurses, psychologists)
- Social workers
- Commissioners
Additional responsibilities:
- Contribute to MDT meetings
- Provide clear behavioural insight and recommendations
2.6 Service Development & Mobilisation
Support mobilisation of new placements, including:
- Environmental setup (low stimulus / low ligature)
- Staff team readiness
- Risk planning
Contribute to the development of PBS strategy across the organisation.
3. Person Specification
Essential
- Degree in Psychology, Behaviour Analysis, or related field
- Minimum 3–5 years’ experience working with complex behaviours (LD, Autism, MH)
- Strong experience in Positive Behaviour Support and Functional Behaviour Assessment
- Experience working within high-intensity staffing models (2:1–4:1)
- Proven ability to stabilise placements at risk of breakdown
- Strong understanding of:
- CQC regulations
- MCA / DoLS
- Safeguarding frameworks
- Experience delivering training and coaching staff teams
- Full UK driving licence
Desirable
- MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis or related field
- BCBA, UKBA(cert), or equivalent qualification
- Experience within forensic or CAMHS settings
- Experience in crisis or hospital step-down placements
4. Key Competencies
- Strong clinical judgement and risk management
- Ability to lead under pressure in high-risk environments
- Excellent communication and report writing skills
- Ability to influence and challenge practice at all levels
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
5. Working Pattern
- Primarily Monday–Friday
- Flexibility required to attend services as needed, including urgent or crisis situations
6. What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Reduction in incidents and restrictive practices across services
- Stabilisation of high-risk placements
- Improved staff confidence and competency
- Positive feedback from commissioners and MDTs
- Strong, consistent PBS practice embedded across the organisation
7. Additional Information
- This role involves regular travel to services
- Enhanced DBS required
- The role includes both strategic oversight and direct operational involvement
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