what is a behaviour support practitioner?
As a behaviour support practitioner, you assist adults and children with additional emotional and behavioural needs. You rely on your knowledge of mental health, social development and occupational therapy to improve the well-being of your patients. You work with adults or patients who show notable changes in their behaviours. You also support people with autism in managing their interactions with others.
Behaviour support involves creating positive, personalised treatment plans and strategies for people with challenging behaviours. Challenging behaviour is any behavioural characteristic that puts someone at risk or leads to poor quality of life. Such behaviour affects the people around them and curtails their ability to engage in daily activities. For instance, you assist people with a history of self-harm, aggression or non-compliance with instructions.
Most behaviour support practitioners use preventive and reactive strategies to help people develop the necessary skills for dealing with negative behaviour habits. You help patients manage their emotions and communicate better with others.
As a behaviour support practitioner, you work in a hospital setting, assisting patients with disabilities or autism to improve their quality of life. You also work in schools or make home visits to help children with behavioural problems.
find your next roleaverage behaviour support practitioner salary
Behaviour support practitioners earn an average salary of $90,000 per year. The remuneration package usually fluctuates based on skills and experience level. That's why entry-level workers take home $80,000 while experienced behavioural support practitioners earn over $100,000 annually. Some employers pay hourly, with earnings ranging from $35 to $45 per hour. When you work overtime, you are likely to earn more since the hourly rates for overtime are higher than regular business hours.
what factors affect the salary of a behaviour support practitioner?
The remuneration package of a behaviour support practitioner depends on their experience, area of specialisation and hours worked. When you join the profession, you have limited experience, reducing your salary prospects. As you gain experience or learn new skills, your remuneration package gradually improves, and you can negotiate a higher salary.
Some behaviour support practitioners work in schools, while others support older people or those with a disability. The complex responsibilities involved in working with people with a disability or autism attract a higher remuneration compared to other specialisms. Working overtime also increases your salary prospects compared to working full time.
Want to know what you will earn as a behaviour support practitioner? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of behaviour support practitioners
The types of behaviour support practitioners depend on the patients they work with. Some of the behaviour support practitioners include:
- autism behaviour support practitioner: you assist people with autism to lead better lives. You help them interrelate with others and reduce the occurrence of negative responses. You also help them to develop coping and social skills and find ways to manage sensory challenges.
- age and disability support practitioner: you work with older people and those with disabilities to develop and implement individualised care plans. You assess patients' behaviour and provide counselling and emotional support.
- school behaviour support practitioner: you work closely with teachers and parents to create plans and personalised strategies to improve children's behaviour. You support students with aggressive and suicidal tendencies.
working as a behaviour support practitioner
As a behaviour support practitioner, you help people develop strategies that reduce the occurrence of negative behaviours. Let's explore the specific duties, work environments and job outlook of behaviour support practitioners.
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behaviour support practitioner job description
Some of the tasks of a behaviour support practitioner include:
- evaluating children's or patients' behaviour: as a behaviour support practitioner, you observe and evaluate a client's behaviour patterns to determine the triggers and causes of challenging behaviours. You also record and document information about a client's behaviour patterns at the start of the treatment in a computer database or logbook. Keeping a record helps to monitor progress.
- developing behaviour support strategies: as a behaviour support practitioner, you create plans for clients with challenging behaviours to help them lead better lives. You also help them implement treatment strategies by providing support throughout the treatment. For instance, you counsel, guide and train them on coping skills.
- coordinating interventions with parents: as a behaviour support practitioner, you liaise with teachers and parents to provide holistic support to child patients during treatment. For instance, you guide parents on parenting skills that improve behaviours in students.
- checking patients' progress: your job involves regularly gathering patient progress data through assessments and interviews. When they achieve milestones, you record the information and adjust the care plans to maintain positive results.
- ensuring the support practices meet quality standards: your job is to provide the treatment plans comply with the National Disability Insurance Scheme quality safeguards.
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work environment
As a behaviour support practitioner, you work in different settings depending on your employer. Sometimes, you work in community settings or visit patients in their residences. You provide support services in school settings, and periodically conduct group sessions. Most behaviour support practitioners work indoors, but some conduct counselling sessions or activities outdoors. The role involves travelling, especially if you provide support services in community settings.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include behaviour support specialists, mental health nurses, social workers, support workers, and learning and disability teachers. You might also be working close to head teachers and primary school teachers, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, secondary teachers, nurses and psychiatrists.
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work schedule
The work schedule of a behaviour support practitioner depends on the employer. You work during school hours in school settings, but in care facilities, you work regular business hours. You are likely to work during weekends if there is an emergency. You can work full-time or part-time as a behaviour support worker, depending on your availability.
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job outlook
As a behaviour support practitioner, you can enhance your skills and become a psychologist. Some behaviour support practitioners move to other care roles, like becoming social workers, mental health nurses, or medical roles, like psychiatrists.
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advantages of finding a behaviour support practitioner job through randstad
Finding your behaviour support practitioner job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a behaviour support practitioner is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job.Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
Some of the steps for joining the behaviour support practitioner profession include:
- completing a bachelor's degree: pursuing a degree in a relevant field is the first step into the role. Some degree courses to kick-start your career include social science, social work, behavioural science and psychological science. The courses equip you with the necessary skills to support people with behavioural problems. For opportunities to further your career and skills, complete a postgraduate degree like a graduate diploma in psychology.
- gaining experience and a licence: when you graduate, work in entry-level roles to gain experience in the field. You can shadow a behaviour support practitioner or work in counselling and disability support roles. It is also important to complete the assessments for registering with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to become a registered practitioner. Other licences required in the role include worker screenings and a Working with Children Check (WWCC).
behaviour support practitioner skills and competencies
Some of the skills required in the role include:
- communication skills: as a behaviour support practitioner, you rely on your communication skills to conduct behavioural assessments and develop the best care plans. Communication skills help you relay complex behavioural concepts in simple terms that your clients can understand.
- active listening skills: as a behaviour support practitioner, you should engage with your patients when they are speaking. Active listening skills include maintaining eye contact, smiling and nodding to show your interest. Active listening skills make assisting a person and understanding their perspective easier.
- empathy: you should put yourself in your patient's shoes and understand their feelings. As a behaviour support practitioner, you work with students and people with disabilities, so empathy can help you understand their behaviours and find ways to change them.
- critical thinking skills: as a behaviour support practitioner, you require good critical thinking skills to support your decision-making. Critical thinking helps you consider alternative treatment strategies and creative care plans to assist clients.
FAQs about working as a behaviour support practitioner
Here are the most asked questions about working as a behaviour support practitioner:
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what does a behaviour support practitioner do?
As a behaviour support practitioner, you conduct behavioural assessments on children or adults with disabilities. You also develop and monitor behaviour support plans to help reduce the impact of negative behavioural traits on patients' well-being. For instance, you assist autistic patients in understanding their surroundings and collaborating with others. You also help your patients develop coping mechanisms and social skills that reduce aggression and self-harm.
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what is behaviour support in schools?
A behaviour support practitioner works with students to help them feel connected and valued in their school community. You assess behavioural issues in students exhibiting aggressive behaviours and drug abuse. You also work with their parents and teachers to develop care plans to help them improve their habits. A good behaviour support plan contributes to effective learning and respectful school relationships.
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how do I become a behaviour support practitioner?
To become a behaviour support practitioner, you should complete a bachelor's degree in psychology, social, or behaviour science. When you finish the coursework, find internship opportunities to gain experience before registering with the NDIS to practise without supervision. Some employers may demand additional licences like a Working with Children Check if you plan to work in schools or community settings where you interact with children.
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does a behaviour support practitioner have to be registered with NDIS?
Registering with the NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission is a legal requirement for all behaviour support practitioners. You should work under a registered practitioner when you are not registered with the NDIS. This protects patients' rights and ensures the behaviour support care plans align with evidence-based practices.
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how do I apply for a behaviour support practitioner vacancy?
Applying for a behaviour support practitioner job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our behaviour support practitioner job offers.
Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.
