Do you have a passion for helping vulnerable people enjoy as much fulfilment as they can and feel included in their
community? If compassion, care and inclusiveness are an important part of who you are, our opportunities to work
away from the routine in a demanding, challenging but emotionally rewarding role could be for you.
Our Turning Point Scotland Services in Positive Behaviour Support Team are looking for people like you to help
provide individualised support to adults with a wide range of needs, either on an individual 1:1 basis or
alongside others and as part of a team.
Are you looking for a new opportunity where every day is different? Somewhere that allows you to build on the
developed skills you already have from working in the health and social care sector?
We have an exciting and incredibly rewarding new role of PBS Practitioner, you’ll enjoy every opportunity to bring
your compassion and empathy to work in an environment where you can have a positive impact on improving both the
long term and the everyday lives of the people we support.
PBS APPROACH AND Turning Point Scotland
Taking a PBS approach to supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism and mental health is not a new
concept to TPS. We have in place a number of approaches, resources and training tools in place to support the
delivery of a positive approach. Such as;
• MAPA Training:all staff working in the PBS Team expected to have a leadership role in this area and be qualified to
deliver MAPA training.
• Communication tools e.g. Talking Mats, Makaton, Communication Charts/Plans
• Peron-centred approaches
• Commitment to Keys to Life and Citizenship
• Functional analysis and understanding the environment
• Support planning and behavioural support plans
• Autism awareness
• Introduction to Forensics
• Supervision and support, PDRP
PBS is a whole-system approach to supporting people with complex support needs. It is not a single intervention but
rather a person-centred approach which puts people at the centre, working in partnership with the person and
their carers to enable the right support to be provided at the right time. The additional value from having a
PBS focussed team is to support staff teams at times when the challenges are all-consuming and they are feeling
a ‘bit stuck’. An external professional(s) i.e. one who is not invested in the support the person receives, can
take an objective view of the situation and offer solutions. Debriefing and reassurance to the staff team in
supporting the individual, could be part of the role.
The PBS team is not a replacement for multi-agency support, but an additional and faster response through:
• Manage and prevent staff burnout, lessen the impact of challenging periods on staff and people we support
• Rapid response: prevent placement breakdown.
• We currently support individuals who present with complex issues
• It links in well with and supports our other resources (see above)
• It has a trauma informed basis
• It fits well with a citizenship approach
• Establish positive links with reputable external networks
FUNDING
The initial funding for this service is for a 2-year pilot period. Throughout the pilot there will be 6-monthly
reviews to establish the feasibility of the service. During the reviews we will be monitoring funding and
considering how the service can be sustained in the longer term.
Staff will be clear from the outset that this is a 2-year funded service and as such, investment in other overhead
costs e.g. office/accommodation, will be based in the Renfrew office, which has longer sustainability and
available space.
In Summary
Turning Point Scotland has a history of supporting and understanding individuals with complex issues taking a trauma
informed approach across all areas of our work. The PBS and Trauma-informed approaches that we take across the
diverse nature of our services, will allow this model to be implemented across TPS services. However, this pilot
project will concentrate on the specific geography of Greater Glasgow and Clyde area and North Lanarkshire.
TPS recognises that all behaviours are a process of communication and have a valuable meaning. Therefore, a PBS
approach seeks to understand people's behaviour and communication with a view to improving support, changing
structures, cultures, environments, and empowering people. By offering less restrictive alternatives to physical
restraint and psychotropic medication, PBS can play an important role in developing effective community-based
support to individuals currently living in hospitals.
The fundamental purpose of this project is to develop a culture of positive and proactive approaches across the LD
and Forensic services, and, equip our services with a Practice Leadership toolkit that encourage peer
understanding and support, with an emphasis on debriefing, reflection and problem-solving.