Behaviour Support Specialist – Autism & Complex Needs (SEND School)

Behaviour Support Specialist (Autism & Complex Needs) – Ages 3–19

📍 Bradford
🕒 Full-time (Mon–Fri) | Long-term | Temp-to-Perm Opportunity
🚀 Immediate Start Available

We are recruiting on behalf of a specialist school in Bradford seeking an experienced and highly resilient Behaviour Support Specialist to work with children and young people aged 3–19 with Autism, complex needs, and behaviours that challenge.

This role is ideally suited to individuals with a strong background supporting vulnerable children or adults with Autism, particularly those who present with high levels of dysregulation, sensory needs, and behaviour linked to communication difficulties.

About the School

This is a well-established specialist provision supporting pupils with a wide range of complex learning, sensory, and communication needs. Many pupils are non-verbal or have limited functional communication, and some may display behaviours that challenge, often arising from anxiety, sensory overload, or unmet needs.

The school is committed to a trauma-informed, person-centred approach, recognising that all behaviour is communication. Staff are highly trained in consistent, supportive behaviour strategies and work collaboratively to create a safe and structured environment.

The Role

As a Behaviour Support Specialist, you will play a key role in supporting pupils with complex behavioural needs, working both 1:1 and in small groups.

You will be responsible for understanding, managing, and de-escalating behaviours, using proactive and reactive strategies that prioritise safety, dignity, and emotional regulation.

This is a hands-on role that requires confidence, emotional resilience, and experience managing high levels of challenging behaviour in a calm, consistent, and compassionate way.

Key Responsibilities

Providing specialist behaviour support for pupils with Autism and complex needs
Building strong, trusting relationships to support emotional regulation and reduce anxiety
Using de-escalation techniques to safely manage behaviours that challenge
Understanding and responding to behaviour as communication, including non-verbal cues
Supporting pupils through periods of dysregulation, maintaining a calm and consistent approach
Implementing individual behaviour support plans and strategies
Working closely with teachers, therapists, and wider staff to ensure consistency of approach
Supporting sensory regulation strategies and structured routines
Assisting with personal care where required
Maintaining a safe, predictable, and supportive learning environment

What We’re Looking For

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

Strong, demonstrable experience supporting individuals with Autism and behaviours that challenge
A background in behaviour support, care, SEN, youth work, residential care, or similar high-needs settings
Experience working with vulnerable children or adults with complex behavioural profiles
Confidence managing high levels of dysregulation, including physical or crisis behaviours
A solid understanding of Autism, sensory needs, and behaviour as communication
The ability to remain calm, consistent, and solution-focused under pressure
A resilient, proactive, and reflective approach to behaviour support
Experience supporting non-verbal individuals or alternative communication methods (e.g. PECS, Makaton) (desirable)
A genuine commitment to making a meaningful difference to vulnerable young people

Additional Information
Full-time role, Monday–Friday
Immediate start available
Long-term opportunity with potential for a permanent position
Apply Now

If you have a strong background in behaviour support and are passionate about working with vulnerable individuals with Autism and complex needs, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today to find out more about this rewarding and impactful opportunity.