Our People
Donald is our company secretary and so very much more! Donald has run Martell Consultants for the past 18+ years and is a highly experienced management consultant specialising in Strategy, Innovation and Change.
He is also an experienced coach and mentor, is MSP and Prince2 accredited and has an MA in Leading Innovation and Change.
Donald Martin | Company Secretary
I started as a support worker in a single occupancy service for a gentleman with learning disabilities and autism whose behaviour was described as extremely challenging. During this time I also worked with adults reintegrating into the community from mental health hospitals. From here I went to work for a small family run business providing support to people whose behaviour was described as challenging. I started as a trainee PBS practitioner and eventually became the manager of the team and subsequently took up a role on the Senior Management Team. Prior to co-founding PBS uk with Tia, I set up and managed a PBS team of consultants and practitioners operating across the UK for a large health and social care provider.
Along the way I have been fortunate enough to pick up a BSc in intellectual and developmental disabilities from the Tizard centre (Kent) and a Msc in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Bangor (Wales). I’ve been a consultant for BILD’s Centre for the Advancement of PBS. I’m an active member of the Newman trust charity (https://www.newmantrust.org/) and the UKSBA’s Positive Behaviour Support special interest group. I have also been a principle instructor for PROACT SCIPr-uk ® for a number of years and hold a PRIINCE 2 project management qualification.
We set up PBS uk in the summer of 2016 and we haven’t looked back since. We have worked with such a wide range of amazing people, adults and children, across such a wide range of settings. It hasn’t always been easy (in fact far from it at times), but that was the point of setting up the business, we wanted to help those with complex needs to flourish.
Paddy Behan | Co-Founder Director
I first learned about behaviour analysis whilst working on a summer camp in New York. I was a law student at the time but after that summer I knew my real passion was working with people with autism. I graduated (mostly out of stubbornness) in 2009 and went to work for a supported living provider to gain experience in the social care sector. It was a service supporting individuals with learning disabilities and mental health issues and I was lucky to have a manager who knew how to encourage her staff! She pushed me go on to further study.
In 2010 I moved to Stirling to complete my MSc in Developmental Psychology and began to work as a behaviour therapist on a home-based early intervention programme with two incredible twin boys that I admire to this day. Every day was a learning experience and I knew I was on the right track. I continued to work with the twins whilst going on to do my MSc in Autism with the University of Strathclyde. In 2012, I moved to Belfast to start a PhD under the tutelage of Prof Karola Dillenburger. I knew I wanted to focus on Applied Behaviour Analysis but I wanted to do something out of the box! I ended up focussing on issue of behavioural safety, specifically behaviour-based water safety and spent much of the following six years developing strategies (and ultimately a curriculum) to teach water-safety using behaviour analytic methods.
I continued to work throughout my PhD, operating as the National Autism Advisor for a large social care provider, the manager of a PBS team operating across Scotland and the North of England, and now as a founding director of PBS UK. I particularly love the variety of the work we get – sometimes children, sometimes adults, sometimes schools etc., but always a privilege. I believe that by working together we can achieve better things for these individuals and there are few things that give me greater satisfaction – except perhaps my lovely family, and my incredibly gorgeous Frenchie, ‘Odin’. :)
Tia Martin | Co-Founder Director
I’ve supported people with learning disabilities and autism for nearly 20-years now. After graduating from university and taking a Support Worker role ‘to get some experience’ I found myself working in a field I absolutely love. I have been lucky enough to support a large number of amazing individuals within a range of different roles over my career so far and it’s really been a privilege.
Outside of work I live in glorious Devon and I have two beautiful sons. My passions (in no particular order) are my work, my family, music and enjoying time out and about on the moors or by the sea, I also enjoy the odd glass of red wine.
I love PBS because it provides all of us with a framework to work within that puts the individuals we are supporting at the very centre of their lives (which is obviously where they need to be). Quality of life is at the very core of PBS and the focus is on positive changes within the person’s environment rather than on looking at the person and trying to make them different. The fact that it is built upon the wonderful science of Applied Behaviour Analysis provides it with an enormous evidence base. I have seen for myself the positive impact this approach can have upon people and I feel very lucky to be working and continue to develop my skills and knowledge within this field.
Hannah Newcombe | Senior Associate Director
I’ve worked with autistic people and people with a learning disability since leaving university where I originally studied contemporary music. Initially, I worked in a school supporting autistic children and during this time developed my knowledge of applied behaviour analysis (ABA). I then moved to an adult service where I really enjoyed being able to focus upon promoting meaningful engagement and inclusion within the community.
Following my time in the adult service, I worked in a training and consultancy role and completed an MSc in Psychology. Since starting with PBSUK, I have completed an MA Autism Studies, and am now a UKBA (cert).
In my personal life, I love spending time with my twin daughters and being out and about in nature. I enjoy working at PBSUK due to the focus upon improving the quality of life of the people we support. I feel very honoured to work within a great team, supporting such a wide range of fantastic people.
Huw Price | PBS Practicioner
I have worked in the field of psychology for over 10 years, mainly within the NHS, predominantly in adult mental health, long-term health conditions, learning disabilities and neurodiversity.
have worked in the field of PBS for 5 years, gaining my BTEC Level 5 in PBS (2022), which builds on my MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology (2012) and BSc Psychology and Statistics. More recently I also completed my PG Cert in Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2023).
I have been a keen advocate and leader for those in very challenging situations throughout my career and I aspire to create hope and generate solutions in very demanding circumstances. Prior to working in the field of psychology, I served in the British Army as an Army Officer. During this time, I did various leadership and management roles both in the UK, Germany and on Operations, including Iraq, Cyprus with the United Nations and running a Fire Station during the Fireman Strikes. These experiences have help me support large staff teams within the NHS to implement PBS in very challenging situations and work alongside children, adults with learning difficulties, families, and staff compassionately to produce meaningful outcomes.
I also have a keen interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and mindfulness having completed training in the past, weaving elements into my practice to support clients as needed.
Outside of work, when not an Uber driver to my 2 teenagers, I can be found at Crossfit, yoga or enjoying nature with my Labrador.
Anna Knight | PBS Practitioner
I started my career working in summer camps for children with autism before I went to university to complete my BSc in Psychology. I then worked in a specialist school for children with autism, whilst I completed my MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). I continued to work across educational settings and within family homes on early intervention programmes as a consultant.
I’ve have been fortunate enough to work with people with autism and learning difficulties for the last 20 years and I have learned so much from the people I have met along the way.
I love how PBS uses the science of ABA to create such person-centred approaches to enrich people’s quality of life.
When I’m not at work, I love learning from my two young children and spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy going on long country walks, baking, camping, kayaking, and travelling.
I feel very privileged to be working with such a passionate team.
Sandra Bryan | PBS Practicioner
Having graduated with a MSc in health psychology at university I embarked on a journey to support individuals with an eating disorder. While working in a supported living setting as a Person-Centred Planning coordinator I promptly realised my passion to work with people with autism and learning disabilities.
I was introduced to Positive Behaviour Support by a former colleague and went onto discover how effective and dynamic it is in promoting positive lifestyle changes for people with behavioural challenges. I realised how important it was to use an assessment-based approach and a collaborative team approach that is consistent with the science of behaviour.
Outside the world of PBS, I love spending time with family and friends, going out on long walks and travelling. I feel very fortunate to have been given this opportunity and to be a part of such a wonderful team who are so enthusiastic about PBS. As trainee I feel very lucky to be on this journey which enables me to see the positive impact PBS has on the individual, family and support providers.
Poonam Khunti | PBS Trainee Practitioner
I'm from Lisbon, Portugal - here I studied Arts and explored my creative side. The UK has been my home since 2014, I relocated for personal & professional growth. And what a journey!
My experience working with vulnerable people, started in a psychiatric hospital with CAMHS in East Sussex - here I found my passion for Mental Health. Afterwards I moved to beautiful Wales and completed a Forest School course to teach in a PRU - here I worked with SEN, with children and young people who suffer from social, emotional and behaviour difficulties. My lessons would be based in encouraging and promoting well-being between pupils and staff, developing life skills and coping mechanisms, self-esteem and confidence. I’ve briefly worked in an ASD residential during my time in the Wales.
I try to balance my well-being with a lot of outdoorsy quality time! A few of my hobbies are foraging, painting, embroidery, carving and anything creative really, where I can express myself and connect with different people.
I’m grateful to be working with PBS UK, learning different approaches and developing my skills and knowledge with an amazing team by my side. My goal is to be able to hold the space for people to be vulnerable and create a safe space for them to achieve who they truly are.
Ana Oliveira | PBS Technician
I started working in Health & Social Care as a support worker in 2010. I started as a support worker and worked my way up the ladder into management. I then focused my efforts on helping people move out of inappropriate settings such as inpatient services when they don’t need to be there and back into the community with bespoke support packages that work for the individual.
During this time, I gained my QCF Lvl2 in Health & Social Care and QCF Lvl5 in Management in Health & Social Care. I also gained my PBS Couches Certificate with BILD and became a PROACT SCIP UKr instructor. I have always been massively passionate that people be heard and supporting them to get the best quality of life that they can, I believe the best way to achieve this is using the PBS model/framework as it gives clear guidance and focuses on helping the person and quality of life rather than a label or a behaviour someone is displaying.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends and family and I love to be outdoors in nature. I feel very fortunate to have been given this opportunity and to be a part of such a wonderful team who are so enthusiastic about PBS. As a Technician I feel very lucky to be on this journey which enables me to see the positive impact PBS has on the individual, family and support providers.
Jonathan Shield | PBS Technician
Our Network
We also work closely with a bank of associates with varying specialisms in Positive Behaviour Support and other evidence based therapies. These specialisms include: Personality Disorder, Acquired Brain Injuries, Dementia, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Feeding Disorders, Alternative Communication Systems, Research, Active Support, Wellbeing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Practice Leadership. This means that if there is something we don’t know, we can usually find someone who does!
We consider ourselves fortunate to have links with a strong network of people ranging from people who use services, families, support workers, social workers, senior operators, clinicians, academics and commissioners. We even know an ex fighter pilot who is involved with a fantastic charity that supports people with disabilities to fly planes!!!
All of these individuals have helped us shape PBS uk into what it is today and many of these people feel like part of the team to us! (we are incredibly grateful for your counsel, guidance, the occasional challenge and of course your support)