Behavioural Specialist

Purpose of Post TheBehavioural Specialist role within AdultServices at the Talbot Group is designed to provide advanced behavioural support and intervention strategies for children with intellectual disabilities, autism, and complex behavioural role is for our growing services in the Cork area. The core purpose of the post is within a person centred philosophy, to be responsible for the overall management of the assigned services, working in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team. He / She will ensure services to persons with a disability are provided within a relationship which is based on respect and equality and that promotes their independence. The Manage will also be responsible for the supervision and assessment of staff under his / her direction and to take a leadership role in clinical governance including quality assurance, practice development and clinical practice. This role is critical in improving quality of life, independence, and social integration for children in Talbot Group's care. Essential Qualifications and Experience : Candidates must meet the following criteria on the closing date : Qualification : Masters degree or higher in , Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Behavioural Science, PBS, or an equivalent field. Additional Certifications in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), or trauma informed care Essential Experience : Clinical / Behavioural Experience : Minimum 5+ years of handson experience working with individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities (IDD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or mental health challenges. Proven track record in designing and implementing behaviour support plans. Leadership & Supervision : Experience supervising and mentoring behaviour specialists or ABA therapists. Ability to train staff and families on behavioural strategies. Assessment & Intervention Skills : Expertise in conducting functional behaviour assessment, , ABC assessments, and datadriven interventions. Familiarity with evidencebased practices (EBPs) in positive behaviour support Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge : Understanding of HIQA, disability rights laws, and ethical guidelines Experience working within residential, communitybased, or clinical settings. Additional Preferred Skills : Strong analytical and problemsolving abilities. Excellent communication and reportwriting skills. Experience with multidisciplinary teams (psychiatrists, occupational therapists, etc.). Proficiency in electronic health records (EHR) and datatracking software. Desirable Experience : Specialized Populations : Experience working with children and young adults with complex needs (e.g ID, ASD, + mental health conditions). Familiarity with neurodiversityaffirming approaches. Advanced Clinical Skills : Background in positive behavioural support and behaviours of concern. Leadership & Program Development : Previous involvement in developing behavioural programs or policies within an organization. Experience auditing or improving service quality in residential / care settings. Participation in research or publishing in behavioural science. Technical & Data Proficiency : Advanced skills in behavioural data analysis. Community & MultiAgency Work : Collaboration with schools, social services, mental health services Experience in advocacy or policy work related to disability rights. Cultural Competency : Ability to work effectively with diverse populations (e.g., different ethnicities, LGBTQ+ individuals). Multilingual skills (if relevant to the service area) Soft Skills & Traits : Strong conflict resolution and deescalation abilities. High emotional intelligence and resilience in highstress situations. Creative problemsolving for complex behavioural cases. Principal Duties and Responsibilities : Advanced Behavioural Support Develop and implement individualized behaviour support plans (BSPs) based on assessments. Use evidencebased practices (e.g., Positive Behaviour Support, ABA) to manage behaviours of concern. Leadership & Mentorship Provide guidance and supervision to behavioural specialists and care staff. Lead training sessions on deescalation techniques, traumainformed care, and proactive strategies. Collaboration & MultiDisciplinary Work Work closely with psychologists, social workers, teachers, and families to ensure a holistic approach. Liaise with external agencies (e.g., HSE, schools, therapists) to coordinate care. Monitoring & Evaluation Track behavioural progress through data analysis and reporting. Adjust intervention strategies based on ongoing assessments. Safeguarding & Advocacy Ensure child protection policies are followed. Advocate for the rights and wellbeing of children in care. Crisis Intervention Respond to highrisk behaviours with appropriate deescalation and safety measures. Conduct Functional Behaviour Assessments : Evaluate the reasons behind a child's behaviours of concern to develop appropriate interventions. Advocate for Children's Needs : Promote the rights and wellbeing of children with disabilities. Health and Safety Perform duties in a manner conducive to health and safety and in accordance with Talbot Group policies and procedures. Ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities in the event of an emergency accident / incident. Training and ongoing development Educate families and support staff on behaviour support strategies. Be aware of current developments within relevant profession and maintain a commitment to ongoing professional development. Promote and participate in research / evidence based clinical audit and encourage its practical application to service user care within the service area. Attend and participate in education and in service programmes as required by the needs of the service user and in compliance with Talbot Group policies and national standards e.g. prevention, detection and response to abuse. Educate and support all assigned staff including the induction of new staff and ongoing performance appraisal. Special Skills and Competencies : Professional Knowledge & Experience Behavioural Assessment & Intervention Skills Expertise in conducting Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBA). Ability to design and implement individualized Positive Behaviour Support Plans (PBSPs) using evidencebased practices (EBP). Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and progress monitoring to adjust interventions. Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), and traumainformed approaches Crisis Management & Deescalation Advanced training in crisis prevention (CPI, PROACTSCIPr, MAP). Ability to model and train staff in deescalation techniques. Experience managing highrisk behaviours (aggression, selfinjury, elopement). 3.Clinical & Ethical DecisionMaking Strong understanding of ethical guidelines of relevant regulatory bodies). Ability to balance client rights, safety, and leastrestrictive interventions. Experience in multidisciplinary collaboration (psychiatry, OT, SLT, social work). 4. Leadership & Staff Development Mentoring and supervising junior behaviour staff or therapists. Delivering training workshops on behavioural strategies for caregivers and teams. Experience in quality assurance (auditing PBSPs, ensuring compliance). 5. Communication & Advocacy Exceptional reportwriting and documentation skills (e.g., PBSPs, progress reports). Ability to simplify complex behavioural concepts for families and nonspecialists. Advocacy for personcantered, rightsbased approaches in care. 6. Technical & Analytical Proficiency Experience with behavioural software Competency in electronic health records (EHR) and data visualization tools. Understanding of research methodologies to stay updated on best practices. 7. Soft Skills & Personal Attributes Empathy & Patience Ability to build rapport with clients with challenging behaviours. Adaptability Adjusting strategies based on individual needs and environmental factors. ProblemSolving Creative approaches for complex cases where standard interventions fail. Resilience Managing stress in highintensity situations. Competencies appropriate to the post : Communication & Interpersonal : Can speak clearly, fluently and in a compelling manner to both individuals and groups. Adapts communication style to suit audience. Writes in a clear and concise manner, using appropriate templates, style and language for the reader. Establishes, maintains and concludes therapeutic interpersonal relationships with services users / residents and other stakeholders. Is able to build rapport quickly with others. Adaptability & Reliability : Able to react effectively at short notice to changing circumstances. Willing to accept advice and suggestions from others and to learn from experience by changing own behaviour. Demonstrates a high level of dependability in all aspects of the job. Problem Solving and Initiative : Builds a logical approach to address problems or opportunities or manage the situation at hand by drawing on their knowledge and experience base and calling on other resources as necessary. A bias for taking action; the ability to think ahead of the current situation, particularly before problems or crises occur. Quality and Person Centredness : Demonstrates eagerness to understand service user / resident needs. Views the service user / resident as central to the delivery of every day service through consistent understanding, tolerance, care, support and empathy while promoting empowerment, independence and choice. Determined to offer a quality service through the achievement of goals and quality standards. Leadership and Accountability : Manages performance to deliver team goals. Creates a climate in which people want to do their best. Promotes confidence and positive attitude while influencing others to follow a common goal. Demonstrates accountability for leading, directing, monitoring and evaluating work that is provided by all employees. Scope of Practice : Is educated, competent and has the authority to perform the full range of roles, functions, responsibilities and activities, required of his / her profession in Ireland. Accepts responsibility for ensuring that his / her professional practice and conduct meet the standards of the professional, ethical and relevant legislative and regulation requirements. Demonstrates a commitment to maintaining, enhancing and extending their knowledge, expertise and competence throughout their professional career.