10/08/2026
We have seen a number of posts & articles recently from families of children with complex needs who are expressing desperation with their experience of an absence of appropriate supports & services.
Their stories are unfortunately all too familiar to us in Achieve Behaviour Solutions. We have heard similar stories many times from families who have reached out to us for behaviour specialist support and guidance.
When a child has complex needs, access to a team of experienced multi-D professionals who work collaboratively with the family, school, etc. to help them to understand & support their child should not be some kind of luxury or aspirational aim. It is a vital support that should be easily and readily available throughout the child/person’s lifespan.
As experienced Behaviour Specialists we know that where a child has complex needs, engaging in behaviour such as screaming, hitting, kicking, banging their head etc., may be their only way of communicating.
We know that early access to Behaviour Specialist support is vital to:
-identifying the underlying factors affecting the child’s engagement in behaviour of concern
-signposting to and collaborating with other multi-D
-developing proactive, implementable strategies
-supporting the family with implementation
Alarmingly, almost none of the families who have reached out to us have ever received any Behaviour Specialist input for their child.
The behaviour specialist role also seems absent in the CDNT and NCSE teams that we meet in our work with families and schools.
We have both worked for many years in the Adult Intellectual Disability Sector where the Behaviour Specialist role and framework that guides practice, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is mandated. A key element of this framework is collaborative support & input from Primary Stakeholders, Service Providers and involved Multi-D.
Should a similar requirement be in place for children’s services? Please let us know what you think in the comments below?
