Explore Services Limited
Position Description
Date of Last Review: March 2014
Title:
Psychologist
Leadership Competency
Group
Incumbent:
Business and Service
Enabler
LOCATION:
Branch and Division:
Explore
Geographical Location:
Manager’s Title:
Specialist Services Manager, Explore
Manager Once Removed Title:
General Manager, Explore
ROLE PURPOSE:
Explore provides specialist behaviour support services (BSS) using positive behaviour support
models, to children and adults with a disability, their family/whanau and their support
networks. The Explore service uses a ‘transdisciplinary’ model to work across traditional
boundaries to bring together a variety of disciplines and expertise, ensuring an efficient
innovative, person centered and community focussed service to clients at all times.
The key purpose of this position is to provide the clinical rigour that ensures Explore delivers
behaviour support services in line with clinically sound reasoning and best practice.
respect  empowerment  excellence
Explore Main Office – 44 King Street, PO Box 1829, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 353 2580 Fax: 06 357 6722
Email: explore@explore.org.nz
DIMENSIONS OF THE POSITION
Nil
-
Some staff with advanced skills/qualifications
may have allocated responsibility for
providing clinical oversight and supervision to
Behavioural Support Specialists
Number of direct reports
Geographical area of responsibility
Regions/location
Operating Budget
Nil
Other (delegation levels)
Nil
POSITION SPECIFICS:
In general terms, this position interacts with the following stakeholders (shaded):
Internal People
Board/
Shareholders
Clients
Competitor
Organisation’s
External
Companies
Government
Agencies
Funders
Representative
Bodies
IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal
External







Specialist Services Manager
Clinical Advisor
Behavioural Support Specialist
All other Explore staff
Other regional and operational staff of
the HHL group




People with disabilities
Family/whanau and advocates of
people with disabilities
Support networks
Service providers
External agencies
Other professionals
respect  empowerment  excellence
Explore Main Office – 44 King Street, PO Box 1829, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 357 0693 Fax: 06 357 6722
Email: explore@explore.org.nz
Page 2 of 8
PRINCIPAL ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS:
Service Delivery
Advice and support is given to clients, family/ whanau and their support networks so that
the client receives a service that contributes to their quality of life within the community by:

Completing comprehensive behavioural (and other) assessments using advanced
assessment skills

Development of comprehensive and clinically sound behaviour support plans and other
protocols (as per explore policy and procedure)

Demonstrating flexibility and innovation in developing hypotheses, interventions and in
planning

Delivering support through coaching/modelling to achieve desired outcomes

Making effective and enduring decisions in challenging/complex situations

Practicing with innovation to achieve positive outcomes

Using a range of means including outcome measurement tools to demonstrate effective
outcomes

Ensuring support is targeted to the individuals needs including the consideration of
diverse cultural and social needs

Ability to provide culturally appropriate support; to identify/access the appropriate
community and health resources.

Partnering with clients, family/whanau and their support networks to agree
implementation and training goals

Implementing formal and standardised assessment tools eg psychometric

Setting goals with people and working towards their achievement in order to deliver
sustainable and enduring change

Practicing within the Code of Ethics for Psychologists working in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Best Practice / Knowledge
Explore delivers specialist behaviour support services based on current best practice
methodology and clinical supervision by:

Implementing best practice in day to day service delivery

Consulting and liaising with other members of the Explore team regarding
clinical/professional issues

Utilising clinical/professional and line supervision effectively, including being prepared,
raising issues in a timely manner and being open to discussions and feedback.

Continually growing a knowledge base and staying abreast of current research and best
practice

Critically analysing research/literature to reflect best practice

Using contextual knowledge to develop clinically sound solutions

Participating in exploration, discussion and resolution of ethical issues
respect  empowerment  excellence
Explore Main Office – 44 King Street, PO Box 1829, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 357 0693 Fax: 06 357 6722
Email: explore@explore.org.nz
Page 3 of 8
Communication / Relationships
Effective communication and relationships are key to achieving desired outcomes for
clients, family/whanau and support networks by:

Demonstrating professional behaviour in all interactions and communications

Maintaining clear role boundaries

Ensuring verbal and written communications are appropriate for the intended audiences

Demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively with all involved

Developing effective relationships and networks with a range of people and community
resources from diverse backgrounds and cultures

Demonstrating effective facilitation, negotiation and conflict management skills

Creating environments to support effective exchange of ideas and issues

Developing and maintaining documentation to the required standard

Ensuring a high level of professional behaviour is displayed at all times when working
with other team members, internal and external stakeholders
Learning and Development
Behaviour support specialists will take opportunities to continually grow their knowledge
and expertise by:

Actively working within the Explore behaviour support competency framework

Actively participating in learning activities, applying and sharing newly acquired
knowledge

Participating in research and training and shares information at relevant forums

Actively participating in team meetings and peer forums

Seeking opportunities to expand knowledge and understanding in relevant areas of
interest
Team Roles / Relationships
Interaction within the Explore specialist team promotes best possible outcomes for the
client and family/whanau and support networks by:

Working and communicating with colleagues to achieve desired outcomes for clients,
sharing specialist knowledge, learnings and experience

Taking responsibility for maximising team performance by being an active member of
the Explore team; being solution focussed, providing considered timely feedback and
actively participating in development work when required.

Developing relevant internal and external networks to enable service improvements

Being transparent, honest and respectful in all interactions

Contributing to a supportive environment
respect  empowerment  excellence
Explore Main Office – 44 King Street, PO Box 1829, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 357 0693 Fax: 06 357 6722
Email: explore@explore.org.nz
Page 4 of 8
Quality Development / Risk Management
A continuous quality improvement and risk management approach is achieved by:

Reporting all areas of concern or risk

Attending and fully contributing to regular clinical/professional and line supervision;
challenging the efficacy and quality of all case work.

Contributing to the development of service standards, policy and protocols

Facilitating initiatives to address quality development/risk management issues

Demonstrating consistent commitment to excellence

Participating in self-reflective practices

Completion of all reporting requirements

Participating in all of Explore’s quality programme requirements
Health and Safety

Become familiar with all policies and procedures as they affect their working
environment;

Ensure that safe working procedures are practiced and no one is endangered through
their actions or inactions;

Report all incidents including near misses, and unidentified hazards as required;

Actively participate in the Company’s Health and Safety programmes.
Miscellaneous

Undertakes other duties in consultation with management as required.
Where staff hold advanced skills/qualifications, the following additional responsibilities
may be allocated in consultation with management:
Clinical/Professional support of Behaviour Support Specialists and services
Ensure all behaviour support specialists produce clinically sound work by:

Guiding the professional development based on the Behaviour Support Competencies
Framework

Providing clinical/professional supervision

Providing guidance in relation to issues of concern with clients

Providing clinical/professional support in the field alongside where issues are complex
and/or where a behaviour support specialist is new to the field

Providing clinical/professional oversight and sign-off of documentation

Providing training and verification to meet core competencies

Facilitating a leadership role in the ongoing development of resources and practice
respect  empowerment  excellence
Explore Main Office – 44 King Street, PO Box 1829, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 357 0693 Fax: 06 357 6722
Email: explore@explore.org.nz
Page 5 of 8

Contributing to the development of service standards, policy and protocols

Consulting with and supporting management to maximise team performance
COMPETENCIES:
Leadership Competency Group
Business and Service Enabler
Coaching - Providing timely guidance and feedback to help others
strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or
solve a problem.
Delegating Responsibility - Allocating decision-making authority and/or
task responsibility to appropriate others to maximize the organisation’s
and individuals’ effectiveness.
Focusing on the
people we work
Developing Others - Planning and supporting the development of
with
individuals’ skills and abilities so that they can develop and/or enrich
their capability in their current or future job/role.
Selecting Talent - Evaluating and selecting internal and external talent to
ensure the best match between the individual and the organisation’s
requirements.
Executing the
strategy
Understanding
the
environment
Enabling Change - Encouraging others to understand the need for
change; facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within
the workplace.
Taking Action - Setting high goals for personal and team
accomplishment; measuring and monitoring team progress towards
goals; tenaciously working to meet or exceed team goals while deriving
satisfaction from that achievement and continuous improvement.
Building Client Loyalty - Effectively meeting client needs; building
productive client relationships; taking responsibility for client satisfaction
and loyalty.
Problem Solving - Identifying problems or opportunities; comparing data
from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches
for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions;
taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and
probable consequences.
respect  empowerment  excellence
Explore Main Office – 44 King Street, PO Box 1829, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 357 0693 Fax: 06 357 6722
Email: explore@explore.org.nz
Page 6 of 8
Leadership Competency Group
Clinical and
Specialised
Support
Clinical and Specialised Support
Care and Support Management—Having the knowledge and skills to
secure relevant client data and identify key issues and relationships in
the management of client care and support; understanding the
relationships among assessments, interventions, and client responses;
skilled in documentation of assessments.
Promoting Wellbeing—Supporting, providing information and advising
the client and client’s whānau/family/support network (if appropriate)
in understanding their care plan and their central role within the plan.
respect  empowerment  excellence
Explore Main Office – 44 King Street, PO Box 1829, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 357 0693 Fax: 06 357 6722
Email: explore@explore.org.nz
Page 7 of 8
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Essential skills, knowledge and experience

A commitment to ensuring the rights of people with disabilities are upheld and respected

Qualification in Psychology (including clinical, general or education scope)

New Zealand registered psychologist with masters degree

Maintain a current Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) where this is required

Experience in the field of disability and/or behaviour support using a non-aversive
approach

Proven leadership ability; providing coaching and clinical oversight to staff

An understanding of the treaty of Waitangi and commitment to bi cultural practice

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Excellence in professional report writing

Ability to self-manage; set standards; be self-directed and self motivated

Current driver’s licence

Demonstrates a commitment to undertaking evaluation/research alongside clinical
practice

Ability to work in a ‘transdisciplinary’ manner

Technology and computer competency

Ability to travel to meet the demands of the role

Effective time management skills
Desirable skills, knowledge and experience

Knowledge of Applied Behaviour Analysis and experience in its application

An understanding of and commitment to multiculturalism

Current first aid certificate

Understands adult education and has the ability to develop and deliver training
programmes
 An understanding of professional and regulatory requirements
If a Clinical Psychologist, you may also have:

Membership of either or both; the Institute of Clinical Psychology, or the NZ College of
Clinical Psychology
respect  empowerment  excellence
Explore Main Office – 44 King Street, PO Box 1829, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 357 0693 Fax: 06 357 6722
Email: explore@explore.org.nz
Page 8 of 8