We are now inviting applications for PhD scholarships for 2018/19 in applied psychology, community care, intellectual and developmental disabilities or mental health. The deadline for these applications is the 19 January 2018.
Please refer to our website for details as to which academic staff are accepting new PhD students.
For full details regarding the scholarships link to our web page
Mind the Gap, works in partnership with learning-disabled artists to create exciting, surprising and challenging experiences for regional, national and international audiences and will be coming to the Gulbenkian Theatre on Wednesday 25 October, 10:00-12:00 hrs.
For arts practitioners, students, teachers and facilitators, led by Mind the Gap
A workshop co-facilitated with learning-disabled artists from Mind the Gap, exploring how to make artistic practice more inclusive for participants with learning disabilities. Explore the meaning of inclusive practice, different barriers and how to overcome them, non-verbal techniques, accessibility tools & technology and the importance of ensemble and equality. The workshop will contain practical exercises, discussion and the opportunity to debate barriers to inclusive practice in your work. Book your place with Neelam Saredia, Creative Learning Assistant at n.saredia@kent.ac.uk. Please note this is workshop is free for MIA ticket-holders.
For more information: http://www.mind-the-gap.org.uk/
MIA Performance, Gulbenkian Theatre, Weds 25th October, 7.30pm
https://thegulbenkian.co.uk/event/mia/
Followed by a post-show talk with the company. Book tickets through Gulbenkian box office.
The first of our cohorts (PG) started with us on 18 September 2017 so a big welcome to them and to all other students who will be starting with us over the next few weeks.
Each year we run a research seminar series which is open to everyone with a varied list of of speakers, both internal and well-known academics. To see what we have lined up for 2017/18 please see our web page:
https://www.kent.ac.uk/tizard/research/seminars/index.html
If you wish to attend any of these events please email J.Ruffels@kent.ac.uk. These are free and open to all so please do come along. It is a good opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and to network with other practitioners.
e along with colleagues.
Call for participants
Service provider focus groups on monitoring quality and outcomes
Following the Winterbourne View scandal, transforming care for people with learning disabilities or autism and challenging behaviour or a mental health condition is a national priority. The national transformation plan Building the Right Support sets an ambition to close 35-50% of inpatient capacity in three years, and drive improved quality of care and quality of life, and reduce reliance on inpatient care at the local level.
The Quality and Outcomes Research Unit at the University of Kent is conducting a study to gather the views of community-based service providers on the ways quality of support and outcomes are currently monitored. This is part of a broader scoping and feasibility study, which will inform recommendations as to the possible design for the large-scale Transforming Care evaluation. The study is funded by the Department of Health and been approved by the Tizard Research Ethics Committee and Kent Research Governance committee.
As part of this study we would like to invite you to take part in a focus group to discuss topics related to the monitoring of quality of support and outcomes in services for people with learning disabilities, autism or both. Focus groups will bring together representatives responsible for quality assurance and monitoring in organisations from different sectors and of different sizes. We are particularly looking to include organisations which provide support for those who are considered to show behaviour that can be described as challenging and those who are currently providing support for people who have at some point been in inpatient services, or are at risk of being admitted to inpatient services.
Focus groups will take place on the following dates:
| Date | Time | Venue | |
| 1 | 4th September 2017 | 11.00 – 13.00 | London School of Economics – Connaught House Room CON.7.04 |
| 2 | 6th September 2017 | 11.00 – 13.00 | London School of Economics – Connaught House Room CON.7.04 |
The discussion will be facilitated by Professor Julie Beadle-Brown and it is expected to last up to 2 hours. Refreshments will be provided and participants’ organisations will receive a payment to cover expenses.
If you are interested in taking part in one of the focus groups, please contact Agnes Turnpenny at A.V.Turnpenny@kent.ac.uk , before the 28 August 2017, indicating your preferred date and any additional requirements.
We look forward to hearing from you
Professor Julie Beadle-Brown
The Tizard Centre is seeking to appoint a Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities with a focus on Applied Behaviour Analysis and/or Positive Behaviour Support.
Candidates will be expected to contribute to teaching, research and consultancy in intellectual and developmental disabilities with particular reference to applied behaviour analysis and/or positive behaviour support. Candidates will need to be board certified or eligible for board certification in behaviour analysis (BCBA/BCBA-D).
Candidates with a relevant professional background but with limited recent research experience may be considered for a Teaching and Scholarship appointment.
Further Information: https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/fe/tpl_kent01.asp?s=4A515F4E5A565B1A&jobid=41008,4058252513&key=50382801&c=792188799836&pagestamp=sekmqkduhspkxcbtvh
Start date for applications: 29 June 2017
Closing date for applications: 1 August 2017
Interviews are to be held: 30 August 2017
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) has recently published Verified Course Sequence pass rate data for 2016. This provides information on the percentage of first-time candidates who sat and passed the exam to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) from each Verified Course Sequence in this year. We are very pleased that six candidates from the University of Kent sat the exam and we had an 83% pass rate. Congratulations to the new BCBAs and best of luck to all Tizard graduates sitting the exam in 2017!
Pass rate data: https://bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2016-BCBA-pass-rates-percent.pdf
Testimonials from two of the new BCBAs:
Mikaela Green
After working in the field of ABA for 7 years before I enrolled on the MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis at the University of Kent, I honestly felt as though I had a good knowledge of what Applied Behaviour Analysis was and how to use the scientific principles to enhance the lives of the clients I worked with. Well, how wrong was I?!
The Tizard Centre’s Masters Course in ABA combined an in depth theoretical course content, alongside the chance to then practically apply these principles in real life situations with the clients I worked with. At every step of the way what I learnt was put into practice which gave the science a ‘function’ for me, and all supervised by some of the most influential and skilled Behaviour Analysts in the world.
I believe this is what prepared me best for passing by Board Certification Exam the following May. Not only that, but I did not have to rote learn acronyms and their descriptions from slides and books to pass the exam, as I had been taught how to apply these principles in real life situations and see the outcomes for myself. I wanted to make a real impact in my future career as a Behaviour Analyst and I feel the Tizard Course, its content and structure, has enabled me to do this. The Course gave me a more thorough understanding of what applying the scientific principles of Behaviour Analysis really entails and the impact it can have on the lives of all.
Thanos Vostanis
My name is Thanos Vostanis, and I am a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) working with Children and Adults with Disabilities. I have managed to receive my certification recently after completing the required coursework and supervised practice while also receiving a passing grade at the BACB exams. I completed my MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) at the University of Kent, and I believe that it was one of the main reasons I have successfully received my certification. The coursework was of excellent standards while the supervision sessions, which were delivered by acclaimed academics with significant experience, provided both the theoretical as well as the practical advice needed to help me improve as a student and clinician. I firmly believe that my time at the University of Kent developed my skills and background knowledge and prepared me for a successful career in Behaviour Analysis. I warmly recommend this course to anyone interested in studying ABA.
Thanos Vostanis, PhD student at the Tizard Centre, will be presenting a paper at the 2nd Annual Conference “Applications of Behaviour Analysis: ideas, insights and inspiring stories”. This is aimed specifically at parents, carers and professionals involved in education, autism and learning disability provision.
Thanos will be giving an overview of Precision Teaching enabling the audience to understand the basic ideas behind PT and the possibilities it offers.
Serena Tomlinson, Research Assistant and fellow PhD student at the Tizard Centre will also be giving a talk focusing on the use of telehealth (eg videoconferencing) to train individuals in Applied Behavioural Analytic techniques.
More information is available on the SEABA web page.
The University of Kent hosted a conference day on REF and how to make an impact. Aida Malovic and Glynis Murphy, Tizard Centre won the prize for the best impact with their poster on SOTSEC-ID and was praised for its effects for people with learning disabilities.
Other colleagues/associates who contribute to SOTSEC-ID and helped with the poster include Dr Neil Sinclair, Dr Rowena Rossiter, Dr Peter Langdon, Clare Melvin, Rachel Massey and Dr Emily Blake.
