Information for Parents/Carers and Service Users

Introduction

This page aims to provide some useful information to parents/carers or service users wishing to create a behaviour analysis based education programme for a child.

 

What is Behaviour Analysis?

Behaviour analysis is a scientific discipline, focused on understanding the relationships between behaviour, and many factors influencing behaviour.

 

What behaviour is Behaviour Analysis concerned with?

In Behaviour Analysis, behaviour is any action or activity an organism can perform. Behaviour Analysis can be applied wherever behaviour exists. And, while commonly associated with home programme or children with intellectual disability or autism, Behaviour Analysis can also be applied to the range of behaviours found in areas such as Mental Health, Criminal Justice, Education, Health and Social Care, Sports Science and Fitness and Nutrition, amongst others.

 

Evidence Based Practice

There are many interventions and approaches based on the science of ABA which support teaching skills such as communication, social skills, toileting, eating a wider variety of foods, and academic readiness skills. These therapies are designed to teach skills such as communication, play, toileting, eating a wider variety of foods, and academic readiness skills to children with learning disabilities or autism. They also aim to reduce harmful behaviour like biting, hitting, self-injury, or running away.

 

Where to connect with other families with experience of ABA

The UK-SBA is not affiliated with nor does it endorse any particular group, forum or social media platform. Numerous online groups exist where parents and professionals can share information, advice, and support with each other, creating a sense of community. Some of these permit job advertisements to be posted which can be helpful when building your team.

The Society has a Job Board where positions created can be posted. A typical job post might include the following:

“Looking for a tutor for a delightful, verbal 6-year-old boy in Totteridge, N20. After school sessions (3:30pm onwards Monday-Friday) and/or weekends are available. Programming will focus on verbal behaviour, play and self-help skills. The team will be supervised by a BCBA/UKBA(cert), with monthly meetings held. Please email [email protected] with your CV, availability and expected hourly rate.”

 

Book recommendation for those wishing to learn from other families

A Parent’s Guide to Coping with Autism

 

If I would like my child to receive ABA services, where do I start?

The UK-SBA doesn't support or recommend any particular ABA provider but recommends that any professionals involved are members of the UK-SBA register of Behaviour Analysts for the reasons outlined below.

There are multiple ways in which your child can receive ABA services. You can opt for a programme in your own home or seek services at an ABA clinic. In the UK, there are a number of ABA Schools available, but generally, your child would need to have already been enrolled in an ABA home programme for some time before applying to these schools. However, this can vary from area to area and children have gained places at ABA schools having no previous ABA background.

A list of schools can be found at abaschools.org.uk and abaa4all.com/schools-list-1

If you cannot find an ABA school or clinic nearby, or if you would rather have your child receive services at home, there are several factors to consider when setting up a home programme. Such programmes require a team of professionals to provide services.

 

Team Composition

Home programmes tend to be made up of Tutors, and occasionally a Supervisor, all of whom must be overseen by a Consultant.

 

Consultant

Consultants, sometimes called case managers, support families to establish the home programme and then oversee this. In the UK Consultants should be qualified to UKBA(cert) level and/or Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). Consultants who are members of the Society’s register of Behaviour Analysts have undergone due diligence to verify they are:

  • Committed to adhering to the Society’s code of Ethical & Professional Conduct and Complaints Procedure.
  • Suitably qualified, holding the BCBA/UKBA(cert) or a CABAS qualification in Behaviour Analysis.
  • Suitably insured, with public & professional liability insurance.
  • Suitably trained, having up-to-date safeguarding training.
  • Have an appropriate DBS check in place (or other Disclosure in N Ireland, Scotland and Wales)

References from families and other professionals the Consultant has worked with previously should be taken before a programme begins.

The Consultant is responsible for:

  • Identifying goals and learning needs through formal and informal assessments
  • Designing a programme to achieve goals identified
  • Training the team and family to implement the programme
  • Reviewing and updating the programme based on progress documented in records
  • Completing reports and attending meetings concerning the child's progress

The Consultant will liaise with the team and family so that key information is shared between parties. Where a Supervisor is part of the team, the Consultant’s input may be less frequent, typically once a month.

 

Supervisor

In the UK, Supervisors should be qualified to aUKBA(cert) or Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCaBA) level. Professionals who are members of the UK-SBA register of Behaviour Analysts will have undergone due diligence to confirm they are:

  • Committed to adhering to the Society’s code of Ethical & Professional Conduct and Complaints Procedure
  • Suitably qualified, holding a aUKBA(cert)/BCaBA
  • Suitably insured, with public & professional liability insurance
  • Suitably trained, having up-to-date safeguarding training
  • Have an appropriate DBS check in place (or other Disclosure in N Ireland, Scotland and Wales)

Supervisors should have at least five years of experience of providing ABA programmes and know the child they are working with very well. Most Supervisors will conduct weekly 1:1 sessions with the child they are supporting. They will communicate regularly with the Consultant on the child’s progress against set goals. Supervisors will lead training developed by the Consultant and provide updates for the team on the programme, ensuring that records, data collection and analysis is accurate and up to date.

 

Tutors

Tutors are responsible for the implementation of the programme on a day-to-day basis. With most programmes requiring 10 - 30 hours of direct input per week, more than one Tutor is often required. In the UK, Tutors should be qualified to Behaviour Technician, or Registered Behaviour Technician level, and be Practising Registrant Members of the Society’s register, which requires due diligence demonstrating they meet the UK-SBA minimum standards for safe practice; they are:

  • Committed to adhering to the UK-SBA code of Ethical & Professional Conduct and Complaints Procedure
  • Suitably insured, with public & professional liability insurance
  • Suitably trained, having up-to-date safeguarding training
  • Have an appropriate DBS check in place (or other Disclosure in N Ireland, Scotland and Wales)

Practising Registrant Members of the UK-SBA are not currently obligated to demonstrate qualifications to become Practising Registrant Members. As such, consumers are advised to verify qualifications and credentials when judging the suitability or otherwise of potential Tutors. Practising Registrant Members may well have qualifications such as an MSc in ABA or PBS certification all of which will have been verified if they are registered with the UK-SBA.

Tutors should be kind, safe, fun, and committed to helping your child learn.

Though not essential, as Consultants provide the training required to implement the programme, those with experience of running home programmes have found it advantageous to recruit tutors with education, psychology or childcare experience, or those wishing to gain the necessary experience they need to become Behaviour Analysts.

Tutors should expect to:

  • Attend training and team meetings to ensure they understand and are able to implement the programme as planned
  • Be prepared for the session, arrive on time, appropriately dressed and emotionally prepared with the resources, teaching materials, toys, games, etc. needed to engage the child
  • Diligently report on progress using data sheets or records required by the Consultant to monitor the progress of the child

These qualities in a tutor can bring peace of mind that your child is receiving the care and attention they need during sessions.

 

Ensuring Safe Practice

By employing members from the UK-SBA register, you can be confident that they have met certain requirements for ABA practice in the UK. This includes having the appropriate qualifications as Consultants and Supervisors, adequate insurance, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or other UK Disclosure checks (e.g. Access Northern Ireland disclosures) and safeguarding training, plus evidence of continuing professional development.  Additionally, UK-SBA registrants have committed to adhering to the rigorous UK-SBA Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct and to being accountable via
the UK-SBA Complaints Procedure.

It's important to note that the UK-SBA does not regulate ABA practice outside of the United Kingdom. UK-SBA members residing outside of the UK are expected to inform the UK-SBA of the fact, so they can be removed from the register.

In the UK, individuals working with vulnerable groups including children and vulnerable adults are required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. There are three types: Basic, Standard, and Enhanced. Information about Disclosures and Barring Service (DBS) checks can be found on this website .  A DBS check is, of course, not a guarantee that an individual will always practice safely and ethically. Disclosures in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have slightly different names, but a similar process is applied.

New team members should be inducted carefully, and practice supervised to ensure this is being provided competently, safely and effectively. It is advisable to have a phone interview with potential team members, and then meet in a public place before inviting them to meet your child at home.

Some teams may agree to use camera or audio technology, to facilitate supervision, sampling of practice, feedback and for sharing progress between team members, which can provide an additional safeguard for those involved in the child’s home programme.

Personal care for children in the UK is a regulated activity. Tutors, Supervisors, and Consultants are there to implement the ABA teaching programme and should not be expected to provide personal or intimate care, childcare, or take on a caregiving role, nor expected to be left alone with the child without supervision.

Individualised Risk Assessments should be completed by the Consultant and shared between parties, identifying potential hazards or risks in particular activities, and how these are to be mitigated by those involved to levels that are acceptable to all involved. Community trips, using a trampoline, or teaching a child dressing skills are examples of activities that might be risk assessed. A record of who has been informed of the risks and mitigation measures should be kept.

 

Contracts

Registered members of the Society are required to provide a written contract before providing services, in accordance with the UK-SBA Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct. These contracts should specify expectations for both parties, including the Consultant, Supervisor, or Tutor, as well as yourself. If you have any uncertainties about the Contract provided or wish to develop your own contract, it's advisable to consult with a qualified legal professional.

 

Billing

Most professionals provide an invoice for their clients at the end of each month, with pertinent information such as dates, times, nature of work, and hourly rates. Tutors commonly set and negotiate their hourly rate with families, with annual increases based on their level of training and experience. Social media forums can be helpful for those wishing to benchmark current typical pay rates in their area. The UK-SBA cannot arbitrate on fees as these are contractual matters.

 

Further reading/resources

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