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The Behaviour Smart Team
CEO - Dean Cotton
Dean Cotton, the founder and CEO of Behaviour Smart, kicked off his career in 1992 as a Nursery Nurse. Fast forward seven years, and he found himself working at a school for students experiencing Social, Emotional, and Mental Health challenges. It was here that he introduced a simple incident recording system that made a huge difference in how behaviour was managed. In 2005, Dean completed his Masters in Teaching and Learning, and before long founded Positive Behaviour Strategies Ltd, he was in high demand as a keynote speaker, author, expert witness, and behaviour consultant. Realising that incident recording was often time-consuming with little payoff, and armed with support from schools and children's homes and health care settings, Behaviour Smart was born!
CEO - Dean Cotton
Dean Cotton, the founder and CEO of Behaviour Smart, kicked off his career in 1992 as a Nursery Nurse. Fast forward seven years, and he found himself working at a school for students experiencing Social, Emotional, and Mental Health challenges. It was here that he introduced a simple incident recording system that made a huge difference in how behaviour was managed. In 2005, Dean completed his Masters in Teaching and Learning, and before long founded Positive Behaviour Strategies Ltd, he was in high demand as a keynote speaker, author, expert witness, and behaviour consultant. Realising that incident recording was often time-consuming with little payoff, and armed with support from schools and children's homes and health care settings, Behaviour Smart was born!
Jon Bollinger - Head of Technology
Jon is the tech wizard behind Behaviour Smart, leading the charge with the talented designers and developers at APPT to make sure everything is built to perfection. Jon has been the mastermind and chief architect of countless projects, working with a wide range of clients across a range of industries.
After earning an honours degree in Graphic Design, Jon jumped into the world of full-stack development in 2008. Over the past decade, he's crafted websites, apps, and software like a pro, blending great design with cutting-edge technology to create something truly special.
Jon Bollinger - Head of Technology
Jon is the tech wizard behind Behaviour Smart, leading the charge with the talented designers and developers at APPT to make sure everything is built to perfection. Jon has been the mastermind and chief architect of countless projects, working with a wide range of clients across a range of industries.
After earning an honours degree in Graphic Design, Jon jumped into the world of full-stack development in 2008. Over the past decade, he's crafted websites, apps, and software like a pro, blending great design with cutting-edge technology to create something truly special.
Toni Whittle - Head of Marketing & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Toni is the head of marketing and the designated safeguarding lead at Behaviour Smart, bringing a wealth of experience from her career in the health and social care sector. She’s worked across a variety of roles, supporting adults, children, young people, and those with additional needs. After taking on a senior care position, Toni dived deeper into her professional development, with a special focus on staff training and development. Her passion lies in raising the standards of care and education through staff development and advocating for restraint reduction. With a Masters in Psychology and a heart full of dedication, Toni is truly an invaluable asset to the Behaviour Smart team!
Toni Whittle - Head of Marketing & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Toni is the head of marketing and the designated safeguarding lead at Behaviour Smart, bringing a wealth of experience from her career in the health and social care sector. She’s worked across a variety of roles, supporting adults, children, young people, and those with additional needs. After taking on a senior care position, Toni dived deeper into her professional development, with a special focus on staff training and development. Her passion lies in raising the standards of care and education through staff development and advocating for restraint reduction. With a Masters in Psychology and a heart full of dedication, Toni is truly an invaluable asset to the Behaviour Smart team!
Sophie - The Behaviour Smart AI Bot
Sophie is a Behaviour Smart AI bot specialising in helping staff navigate and improve behaviour. With her expertise in behavioural psychology and educational strategies, Sophie provides personalised advice, strategies, and support for Behaviour Smart users to address various behavioural challenges. With a compassionate, solution-focused approach, Sophie ensures that every individual's potential is nurtured through improved behaviour and effective support. If you need help with behaviour support or help using Behaviour Smart, Sophie works 24 hours a day, including Christmas and Bank Holidays.
Sophie - The Behaviour Smart AI Bot
Sophie is a Behaviour Smart AI bot specialising in helping staff navigate and improve behaviour. With her expertise in behavioural psychology and educational strategies, Sophie provides personalised advice, strategies, and support for Behaviour Smart users to address various behavioural challenges. With a compassionate, solution-focused approach, Sophie ensures that every individual's potential is nurtured through improved behaviour and effective support. If you need help with behaviour support or help using Behaviour Smart, Sophie works 24 hours a day, including Christmas and Bank Holidays.
The Behaviour Smart Story
The Behaviour Smart Story
In 1999, Dean Cotton began shaping behaviour at a school for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs. His innovative techniques in positive behaviour drastically reduced serious incidents by 98% and stopped suspensions and permanent exclusions. His skill in noting and reflecting on incidents, along with sharp analysis of data, created tailored behaviour plans that turned things around and improved outcomes.
Dean enhanced his skills with a Master's Degree from Leicester University in 2012, and then excelled as a University Lecturer, Independent Researcher, Behaviour Consultant, and esteemed Conference Speaker worldwide. Aiming to transform how behaviour incidents are recorded, Dean saw the main problem was that current systems were often developed by software teams and the focus was only focused on recording incidents, not improving the outcomes. This led to his creation of Behaviour Smart - more than an incident recording system, it's a ground-breaking tool for better behaviour management.
Behaviour Smart is an incident reporting system, designed through research, for schools and children's homes developed with feedback from users, behaviour experts, and legal advisors. It not only encourages behavioural excellence but also helps protect services. Behaviour Smart users see huge reductions in behavioural issues, proving its effectiveness.
In 1999, Dean Cotton began shaping behaviour at a school for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs. His innovative techniques in positive behaviour drastically reduced serious incidents by 98% and stopped suspensions and permanent exclusions. His skill in noting and reflecting on incidents, along with sharp analysis of data, created tailored behaviour plans that turned things around and improved outcomes.
Dean enhanced his skills with a Master's Degree from Leicester University in 2012, and then excelled as a University Lecturer, Independent Researcher, Behaviour Consultant, and esteemed Conference Speaker worldwide. Aiming to transform how behaviour incidents are recorded, Dean saw the main problem was that current systems were often developed by software teams and the focus was only focused on recording incidents, not improving the outcomes. This led to his creation of Behaviour Smart - more than an incident recording system, it's a ground-breaking tool for better behaviour management.
Behaviour Smart is an incident reporting system, designed through research, for schools and children's homes developed with feedback from users, behaviour experts, and legal advisors. It not only encourages behavioural excellence but also helps protect services. Behaviour Smart users see huge reductions in behavioural issues, proving its effectiveness.
A message from Dean.
My wife believed in Behaviour Smart, and she believed in me, but in 2019, she unfortunately passed away from cancer. Before Karen died she requested that I crack on and develop Behaviour Smart. Honouring her wish, I proceeded with the project.
Behaviour Smart users have experienced significant reductions in behaviour incidents, with some reporting over an 80% reduction after using Behaviour Smart for just one year. I am so proud of Behaviour Smart and the huge impact it is having on the services that use it.
Thanks for making me do this Karen x
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