Staff Spotlight: Sandeep Mahay and Life in Positive Support Now
This month, we caught up with Sandeep Mahay, Trainee Behaviour Analyst, to hear about his experiences within Positive Support Now (PSN) – PSG’s flexible and responsive PBS service.
Can you tell us a little about your role in PSN?
“I’ve been with PSG for just over two years now. Before rejoining PSN, I worked in the Hospital Discharge Project, supporting people transitioning from hospital into community settings. Now, in PSN, I support a wide range of cases – from suicide prevention to supporting people with or without a diagnosis – across all ages.”
How do you feel PSN is different from other areas of PBS work at PSG?
“We’re very dynamic in PSN. We don’t have a typical case – every person we support is different. While services like BICS often deliver more structured interventions in terms of timelines, PSN works on a spot purchase basis. That means we can offer just an Functional Behaviour Assessment, just intervention, or a full package depending on what’s needed. We’re also nationwide, which is unusual compared to other teams who mostly work in specific regions.”
What kinds of settings do you work in?
“Working in educational settings is a huge part of what we do. Supporting schools to become more inclusive and person-centred – even in urgent or high-risk situations – makes a real difference to young people’s experiences of education. We also support people in homes, hospitals, and residential services.”
What has been a memorable moment during your time in PSN?
“The celebrating meetings we hold at the end of cases are always highlights. Because our work can stretch over longer periods, we build really strong relationships. It’s a chance to reflect not just on behaviour change, but on the progress people have made in their quality of life and independence.”
How do you stay grounded when working with urgent and high-pressure cases?
“Resilience is an essential skill. I’ve developed strategies over time – using music, podcasts, and having a strong support network. It’s also about remembering that you’re part of a wider system. You’re not carrying everything alone, and staying person-centred means focusing on the person’s experiences, not your own stress.”
How does PSN work alongside other services in PSG?
“We collaborate closely with other services and often draw on models and training from across PSG. What makes PSN distinct is that we can respond flexibly to urgent referrals, offering faster access to support without long waiting lists. Our adaptability means we can support a wider range of people, including those whose needs might not fit traditional service models.”
What would you like to see in the future?
“All the people we support have so much potential. It would be exciting to continue seeing if we can expand our reach to support more people to live rich, full lives and to reach that potential. For example, there could be interesting opportunities in the future to explore how PBS approaches might be applied with older adults, people with dementia, or those with acquired brain injuries.”
Finally, if you had to sum up PSN in three words, what would they be?
“Dynamic, exciting, and impactful.”
