Job summary
Are you a conscientious professional with expertise in behaviour support
and strong leadership skills?
Do you want to make a profound, lasting difference in the life of an autistic
adult with mild learning difficulties, and his family?
A deeply rewarding opportunity
has arisen to co-lead a highly specialist, bespoke support service for 'James', a
curious and active man who enjoys engaging with others. This uniquely varied
role combines direct, hands-on delivery of advanced Positive Behaviour Support
(PBS), practice leadership, and shared operational management.
We are looking for someone who
shares our vision and passion for ensuring adults with autism and complex needs
can live full, active lives in their own home and community, with loving
relationships, meaningful connections, and equal rights.
Main duties of the job
You will work closely James , building trust and developing his skills, confidence, and independence through planned activities at home and meaningful community participation shaped by his interests. This includes supporting him on his exploratory and varied countryside walks, which are central to his fulfilment and wellbeing. You will model and embed exemplary PBS across the team, creating an environment where behaviour is understood as an expression of need, and support is provided to achieve his life goals and reduce barriers and behaviours of concern.
Alongside direct support, you will co-manage the service with an experienced manager, working together to shape operational delivery, staff development, and strategic direction. You will actively coach, mentor, and train staff, oversee the implementation and review of personalised support plans, and coordinate with professionals to ensure high-quality, consistent care across the service.
Hours: Full time: 37.5 hours per week equivalent. We are open to discussing a modest reduction in hours (e.g. 33 hours)
for the right candidate.
Bristol (East), England
You will need a driving licence and your
own car.
Application process: E-mail Tania at mrtrustcontact@gmail.com to request detailed job
information and an application form.
About us
The M.R. Trust was established to manage a personal budget from the local authority, enabling our relative to live at home with his family while receiving genuinely person-centred specialist 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, aspirations, and personal development. We are passionate about enabling autistic adults, and those with learning disabilities who may show behaviours of concern to 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 leadership development.
If you share our values and bring substantial 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.
What We Offer
- Extended, in-depth induction and ongoing professional development
- Monthly external clinical supervision from an experienced BCBA/UKBA certified Behaviour Analyst and PBS Consultant
- Nest pension and mileage allowance
- A supportive, collaborative team culture that values learning and growth.
- Job security
- Pleasant work settings.
- Protected time off to support wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Occupational sick pay scheme.
- Employment Assistance Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job purpouse
To co-lead a specialist support service, combining advanced PBS-informed practice with relationship-focused support for James. Building a trusting relationship is central to the role, enabling his comfortable engagement in daily activities and the development of his skills, confidence and resilience.
You will provide practice leadership, ensuring high-quality PBS practice is modelled and embedded across the service, taking joint responsibility for staff training and support, support planning, operational and strategic development. You will maintain a stable environment for James during a period of transition as James mother gradually steps back from her informal support role, building the framework for a future in which James can live happily and independently in his own home.
Main duties and responsibilities
Direct Support and PBS PracticeDelivering advanced PBS-informed support and modelling best practice for staff
- Build a trusting, empathic relationship with James that supports him to express his thoughts, feelings, needs, and preferences.
- Implement James Positive Behaviour Support Plan to promote emotional wellbeing, reduce anxiety, and provide effective support during episodes of distress, using agreed proactive and reactive strategies in line with training and risk management plans.
- In collaboration with James, sustain and enhance his routines and activities to keep him meaningfully engaged, introducing new activities that develop his skills, confidence and fulfilment, continually adapting them to his evolving motivations, wellbeing and ability.
- Provide practical guidance and skills development in daily living skills (e.g. cooking, literacy, gardening, home maintenance, computer use) and prepare tailored learning materials that enhance independence and mastery.
- Plan with and support James on his chosen community outings and annual holiday, identifying opportunities for new experiences that broaden his options and build confidence and resilience, with risks proactively assessed and managed.
- Create and use visual supports, such as social stories, to increase Jamess comfort in new or challenging situations, and promote successful outcomes for him.
Practice Leadership (shared with co-manager)Leading a skilled team to deliver consistent, high-quality PBS-informed support.
- Promote a positive, supportive team culture that encourages collaboration, empathy, learning, and reflection.
- Lead the implementation of James Positive Behaviour Support Plan and related policies, working collaboratively with James, his mother, the care team, and other professionals to ensure consistent, high-quality support.
- Oversee and maintain systems for monitoring quality of life, wellbeing and behaviours of concern, and alongside James communication and insights, use this information to inform our understanding of why behaviours of concern occur, to guide support and team practice
- Lead collaborative reviews of James PBS plan with the team, James, and his mother, ensuring new strategies are trialled, agreed actions are implemented consistently, and successful approaches are embedded
- Contribute to the review and updating of other support plans, service policies, and staff training materials.
- Coach, mentor, and supervise staff to deliver high-quality support to James, ensuring consistent implementation of his personalised support plans.
- Deliver in-house training, workshops, and facilitate team reflection to enhance skills and confidence.
- Apply the Mental Capacity Act and conduct Positive Risk Assessments to ensure Least Restrictive Practice.
- Lead post-incident debriefs to ensure reflection on why incidents occur and to review the effectiveness of support strategies
Operational Management (shared with co-manager) Ensuring smooth, safe, and effective service delivery.
- Collaborate with the co-manager to review progress, address challenges, and plan tasks, ensuring responsibilities are fairly divided.
- Safeguard the confidentiality of James and his family, ensuring sensitive information is protected across the service.
- Support recruitment, manage staff leave requests, and ensure continuity of high-quality support by planning and prioritising cover for absences, responding flexibly to service needs, and stepping in to provide direct care or essential operational support as required.
- Monitor and analyse emerging patterns of stress or distress in James, his family, and the team, taking proactive operational and strategic action to safeguard wellbeing.
- Ensure post-incident support for James and staff, including emergency intervention when required.
- Maintain clear team communication, and ensure accurate records of key information are kept, safely stored and shared when necessary
- Oversee and support the upkeep of James home, ensuring practical tasks are completed and responsibilities are shared fairly.
- Coordinate with health, social care, and other professionals to ensure James needs, preferences, and rights are communicated and advocated for, arranging support, assessments, and reasonable adjustments as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job purpouse
To co-lead a specialist support service, combining advanced PBS-informed practice with relationship-focused support for James. Building a trusting relationship is central to the role, enabling his comfortable engagement in daily activities and the development of his skills, confidence and resilience.
You will provide practice leadership, ensuring high-quality PBS practice is modelled and embedded across the service, taking joint responsibility for staff training and support, support planning, operational and strategic development. You will maintain a stable environment for James during a period of transition as James mother gradually steps back from her informal support role, building the framework for a future in which James can live happily and independently in his own home.
Main duties and responsibilities
Direct Support and PBS PracticeDelivering advanced PBS-informed support and modelling best practice for staff
- Build a trusting, empathic relationship with James that supports him to express his thoughts, feelings, needs, and preferences.
- Implement James Positive Behaviour Support Plan to promote emotional wellbeing, reduce anxiety, and provide effective support during episodes of distress, using agreed proactive and reactive strategies in line with training and risk management plans.
- In collaboration with James, sustain and enhance his routines and activities to keep him meaningfully engaged, introducing new activities that develop his skills, confidence and fulfilment, continually adapting them to his evolving motivations, wellbeing and ability.
- Provide practical guidance and skills development in daily living skills (e.g. cooking, literacy, gardening, home maintenance, computer use) and prepare tailored learning materials that enhance independence and mastery.
- Plan with and support James on his chosen community outings and annual holiday, identifying opportunities for new experiences that broaden his options and build confidence and resilience, with risks proactively assessed and managed.
- Create and use visual supports, such as social stories, to increase Jamess comfort in new or challenging situations, and promote successful outcomes for him.
Practice Leadership (shared with co-manager)Leading a skilled team to deliver consistent, high-quality PBS-informed support.
- Promote a positive, supportive team culture that encourages collaboration, empathy, learning, and reflection.
- Lead the implementation of James Positive Behaviour Support Plan and related policies, working collaboratively with James, his mother, the care team, and other professionals to ensure consistent, high-quality support.
- Oversee and maintain systems for monitoring quality of life, wellbeing and behaviours of concern, and alongside James communication and insights, use this information to inform our understanding of why behaviours of concern occur, to guide support and team practice
- Lead collaborative reviews of James PBS plan with the team, James, and his mother, ensuring new strategies are trialled, agreed actions are implemented consistently, and successful approaches are embedded
- Contribute to the review and updating of other support plans, service policies, and staff training materials.
- Coach, mentor, and supervise staff to deliver high-quality support to James, ensuring consistent implementation of his personalised support plans.
- Deliver in-house training, workshops, and facilitate team reflection to enhance skills and confidence.
- Apply the Mental Capacity Act and conduct Positive Risk Assessments to ensure Least Restrictive Practice.
- Lead post-incident debriefs to ensure reflection on why incidents occur and to review the effectiveness of support strategies
Operational Management (shared with co-manager) Ensuring smooth, safe, and effective service delivery.
- Collaborate with the co-manager to review progress, address challenges, and plan tasks, ensuring responsibilities are fairly divided.
- Safeguard the confidentiality of James and his family, ensuring sensitive information is protected across the service.
- Support recruitment, manage staff leave requests, and ensure continuity of high-quality support by planning and prioritising cover for absences, responding flexibly to service needs, and stepping in to provide direct care or essential operational support as required.
- Monitor and analyse emerging patterns of stress or distress in James, his family, and the team, taking proactive operational and strategic action to safeguard wellbeing.
- Ensure post-incident support for James and staff, including emergency intervention when required.
- Maintain clear team communication, and ensure accurate records of key information are kept, safely stored and shared when necessary
- Oversee and support the upkeep of James home, ensuring practical tasks are completed and responsibilities are shared fairly.
- Coordinate with health, social care, and other professionals to ensure James needs, preferences, and rights are communicated and advocated for, arranging support, assessments, and reasonable adjustments as required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A recognised professional qualification in Positive Behaviour Support, Psychology, Learning Disability or Mental Health Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, SEND Teaching, Leadership in Health & Social Care, or equivalent experience in a related field.
- A Level 5 Diploma in Practice Leadership in PBS or similar, or a willingness to attain this while working for the Trust.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience providing direct support to adults with autism, learning disabilities, brain injury, and/or mental health conditions, including responding to behaviours of concern.
- Experience leading, coaching, mentoring, and developing staff teams.
- Experience teaching or leading skills development for adults with learning disabilities.
Qualities, knowledge & skills
Essential
- Strong alignment with our values and a passion for making a real difference.
- Excellent communication skills and a collaborative, team working approach.
- Deep understanding of autism and related support strategies.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to use a vehicle for work purposes.
- Physically active and happy to support community participation
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A recognised professional qualification in Positive Behaviour Support, Psychology, Learning Disability or Mental Health Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, SEND Teaching, Leadership in Health & Social Care, or equivalent experience in a related field.
- A Level 5 Diploma in Practice Leadership in PBS or similar, or a willingness to attain this while working for the Trust.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience providing direct support to adults with autism, learning disabilities, brain injury, and/or mental health conditions, including responding to behaviours of concern.
- Experience leading, coaching, mentoring, and developing staff teams.
- Experience teaching or leading skills development for adults with learning disabilities.
Qualities, knowledge & skills
Essential
- Strong alignment with our values and a passion for making a real difference.
- Excellent communication skills and a collaborative, team working approach.
- Deep understanding of autism and related support strategies.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to use a vehicle for work purposes.
- Physically active and happy to support community participation
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.
Employer details
Employer name
M. R. Trust
Address
136 Hayward Road
Barton Hill
Bristol
BS59QA
