Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner (Bank) at M. R. Trust in Bristol

Job summary

There are few better opportunities to learn about people than by getting to know someone who experiences the world differently from you. Working with autistic people challenges our assumptions about communication, perception, emotion and behaviour, and invites us to become much more curious about how the human mind works.

We are looking for someone who shares that curiosity and wants to make a difference to the life of one person and their family: someone kind, open-minded enough to listen, learn and allow the person they support to teach them what good support looks like. This is a challenging but deeply rewarding role.

You'll join a small specialist service supporting one autistic man with mild learning difficulties, He is curious, active, humorous and enjoys engaging with others. He can also experience anxiety and distress, and when he does, can show behaviours of concern.

Youll provide social and emotional support on his varied countryside walks and help him expand the places and activities he can access and enjoy in the community. At home, youll help him with activities that reflect his interests and develop his skills, so his days are active, meaningful and enjoyable.

Youll receive ongoing, bespoke training and support from a highly experienced team committed to excellent autism practice and Positive Behaviour Support. Together, well create the conditions for him to feel less anxious and to thrive, working towards goals that matter to him.

Main duties of the job To listen, strive to understand and empathise with the client. To support him to gain confidence in articulating his thoughts, feelings, needs and preferences.

Working alongside other practitioners, to support the client on walks of his choice in the countryside around Bristol and surrounding counties, and occasional trips to shops, towns or other community facilities.

To drive the client and his support practitioner to his activities and walks, or, if you do not drive, to navigate on car journeys when needed. To support the client, engage in meaningful activities at home, such as gardening, home maintenance, cooking or other practical and leisure pursuits.

To work collaboratively with the client, his family and support team, following his care plans to ensure he receives consistent care. To provide calm emotional support and, where necessary, trained physical intervention during periods of distress, in accordance with M.R.

Trust policies/training, to reduce risk and promote safety for James, those supporting him, and the public. To and ensure important information is recorded and communicated across the team. To protect the confidentiality and privacy of James and his family.

To attend all necessary training, supervision and when possible, team meetings, using these to improve James support, as well as your own confidence and wellbeing.

About us

The M.R.

Trust was established to manage a Direct Payment from the local authority, enabling the person we support to live at home with his family while receiving genuinely person-centred support.We employ a small, dedicated team of skilled practitioners who help him lead a fulfilling life, combining emotional security, stimulating activities, and opportunities to follow his interests, goals, and personal development.

We are passionate in our belief that autistic adults, and those with learning disabilities who show behaviours of concern should enjoy their full rights and participate actively in their communities.We place great value on our staff, providing extensive training, professional and wellbeing support, and opportunities for professional development.If you share our values and have experience supporting or teaching people with autism, learning disabilities, behaviours of concern, brain injury, and/or mental health needs we would love to hear from you.

Job description

Job

responsibilities

Job title : Bank Autism PBS Practitioner Pay Scale: Starting at £16.00 per hour Hours:

To be negotiated at times/days agreed by both parties. We mostly offer 4 hr shifts during the morning as required to cover staff leave.

Contract: Permanent.

Location: Fishponds, Bristol.

Holiday entitlement: 28 days statutory holidays pro rata.

Responsible to: Manager

Job purpose

Alongside an experienced colleague, to provide calm, reliable support that helps James (not the client's real name) feel secure and manage his anxiety during walks and other activities outside his home.

Through consistent, emotionally attuned relationships, to build his confidence and wellbeing, uphold his freedom of choice and ensure his safety. At home, to help him prepare for outings and, when needed, support him with activities that reflect his interests and develop his skills, so that his days are active, meaningful and enjoyable.

Main

duties and responsibilities

To listen, strive to understand and empathise with James. To support him to gain confidence in articulating his thoughts, feelings, needs and preferences. To build a relationship with James which enables him to feel comfortable and safe in your presence.

To support James on walks of his choice in the countryside around Bristol and surrounding counties, and occasional trips to shops, towns or other community facilities. To support James on a 2:1 ratio in the community, working closely and collaboratively with experienced practitioners to ensure James trips run smoothly and safely.

To support James in preparing for his outings, and when plans change, to help him engage in alternative meaningful activities at home, such as gardening, home maintenance, cooking, or other practical or leisure pursuits.

To work collaboratively with James, his family, care team and other professionals, following his care plans to ensure he receives consistent care.

To reduce James anxiety and promote his emotional wellbeing by attending all required training to develop a good understanding of his Positive Behaviour Support Plan, so effective, agreed ways of supporting him are followed consistently.

To provide calm verbal support and, where necessary, trained physical intervention during periods of distress, in accordance with M.R. Trust policies, training, and risk management plans, to reduce risk and promote safety for James, those supporting him, and the public.

To drive James and his support practitioner to his activities and walks, or if you do not drive, to navigate on car journeys when needed. To support James in planning and following routes on walks, using street maps, OS maps or the OS Maps app.

To help James navigate social situations in the community, advocating and mediating as needed to support his understanding and inclusion. To accompany James on his weekly one-mile jog if required. To help James navigate the social world by helping him understand what is going on around him.

To read important information before shifts and ensure important information is recorded and communicated across the team. To protect the confidentiality and privacy of James and his family.

To attend training, supervision, occasional incident debriefing and when possible, team meetings, and use these constructively to improve James support, as well as your own confidence and wellbeing.

In the case of James activities being cancelled or shortened, to provide flexibility and carry out alternative domestic, administrative or any other duties that are considered relevant or appropriate to James support.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities and Capabilities Essential Demonstrates a high level of empathy and understanding for the needs of James, his family, and paid carers Interest in understanding the psychological and emotional world of others Commitment to the values and aims of the M.R.

Trust Responsible and reliable Patient Willingness to follow care plans agreed by the M.R.

Trust team to provide James with consistency Mindful, attentive and observant, to reduce anxiety for James and manage risk effectively Ability, with support, to work calmly and effectively in emotionally demanding circumstances which includes exposure to mild to moderate reactive aggression (See Essential Job Information for details).

Willingness to provide emotional and practical support to James, including occasional use of trained physical interventions to ensure safety Strong coping mechanisms such as a sense of humour, optimism, ability to talk through difficulties with others and/or the ability to view difficulties as opportunities for learning.

Intention to remain in the post for at least 1 year Able to work a morning shift most weeks for the first few months, to help build a relationship with James Able to adapt when plans change, including some flexibility over finishing times and the support tasks needed on the day Good, clear, written and verbal communication skills Tactful and diplomatic Ability to adapt communication style and level of difficulty to the needs of others Basic IT skills: confident in using email, internet, and Microsoft Word independently Own PC, and e-mail Fit and able to walk for up to 1.5 hours at a brisk pace in countryside that includes mud and hills Interpersonal confidence (to approach the public to advocate or mediate for James) Confidence in exploring new areas in country or town Willing to walk in countryside in all weather Able to jog for 1 mile, or willingness and ability to achieve this with training Own smart phone with ability to use maps/navigation apps with training Desirable Full driving licence Own transport and willingness to use car during working hours to enable the client to access the community Confidence to drive in towns and on motorways Willingness to install a removable protective barrier in your car to manage potential risk on journeys (provided by the Trust) Good map reading or navigation skills Experience Essential Experience of supporting individuals with communication or social functioning difficulties, such as autism, learning disabilities or mental health problems, either in a personal or professional capacity Knowledge and understanding of autistic spectrum disability Good team working skills Experience of supporting adults with behaviours of concern, which includes physically aggressive behaviours Desirable Experience of supporting individuals with autism Experience of providing emotional support Understanding of causes of anxiety and behaviours of concern in individuals with autism, including the ways the environment may contribute to this Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.