Practice Leadership in Challenging Behaviour Services for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities

This is a very inspiring and necessary book filled with hope and encouragement that emphasizes that the new everyday life requires a new type of leadership. Positive Behaviour Support has no value if it is not put into practice. Good leaders make all the difference. I’m going to run after people with this book. – Ulf Berge, Senior Lecturer at VID Specialized UniversityThis much needed book is written by someone who knows from direct experience what he’s talking about. “Practice leadership” is often quoted describing qualities that are clearly essential for the delivery of good support, whereas evidence of encouragement for it to thrive is less obvious. Tony’s writing style and use of footnotes and case studies are easy to identify with. They illustrate the real life, feet on the ground, this is what you are dealing with day in day out issues: a translation into “and this is what that looks and feels like in the real world”. I hope that family carers, advocates, support workers, managers and commissioners read and learn from it and are inspired by it. – Viv Cooper OBE, Chief Executive, The Challenging Behaviour FoundationTony Osgood challenges us as leaders, to have an ‘open door’ policy for our teams. A “good practice leader” should never be behind a door to begin with; but be present for our teams at all times. This is a highly recommended resource for anyone working with individuals with challenging behaviours, especially for supervisors. It brings to life many good positive behaviour support and leadership practices through authentic case studies and reflections. – Dr Lam Chee Meng, Principal Autism Consultant, Autism Resource Centre (Singapore)

Tony Osgood has worked with challenging behaviour for 30 years and is the author of Supporting Positive Behaviour in Intellectual Disabilities and Autism. He recently retired from working as Senior Lecturer in Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent. He lives in Kent, UK.