I first became interested in working with autistic people and people with learning disabilities during two stints of work experience while I was at secondary school.   I then volunteered at a holiday club for children with additional needs and enjoyed it so much that I went on to study Psychology for my Bachelor’s degree. 

A summer spent working at a summer camp for people with disabilities in the States showed me that it was possible to combine interesting work experiences with travelling, and I returned to the States twice on an internship visa, working as a Psychology Intern and using my leave to travel around the States, Mexico and Canada.  My experiences as a Psychology Intern introduced me to world of Positive Behaviour Support and showed me how powerful it can be to support people to learn new skills and ways of doing things. 

On my return to the UK, I worked in a variety of different places and roles, including in supporting living homes, a home programme, an assessment and treatment unit in a hospital, and a residential school.  Completing the IABA Longitudinal training course inspired me to want to further develop my skills, and ten years after completing my Bachelor’s degree, I earned my MSc by completing the ‘Analysis and Intervention in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’ course at Tizard, University of Kent.

In 2018 I took advantage of both my children being at school to complete a Verified Course Sequence with ‘Behavior Online’ at the University of North Texas and then qualified as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst in 2021.

After a number of years working in adult social care, more recently I have also worked in a multi-disciplinary team within the NHS and am now loving the variety that working for PBSuk provides, working across family homes, schools, and services.

I am passionate about Positive Behaviour Support, having seen first-hand how life changing it can be, in equipping people to be able to get so much more out of life, and helping those around them to understand them so much better.

When I’m not at work I can be found spending time with my daughter, son and husband, cooking, visiting our families in Scotland and Switzerland, and enjoying any other travelling that we can squeeze into the precious school holidays.

Susie Jenni | PBS Practitioner