Directors
Professor Svein Eikeseth, PhD – Clinical and Research Director
In 1985, Svein began working at the UCLA Young Autism Project, under the supervision of Dr. Lovaas. He stayed on working with Dr. Lovaas for three years before becoming a Ph.D. student at the University of Kansas. He gained his Ph.D. in 1991 in developmental and child psychology under the supervision of Dr. Donald M. Baer. Subsequently, he returned to UCLA working as a post-doctoral fellow at the UCLA Young Autism Project for approximately one year, again under the supervision of Dr. Lovaas. On returning to Norway, he received clinical training at the University of Oslo and is a certified clinical psychologist. Svein has directed two UCLA Multi-Site Young Autism Project replication sites and continues to oversee the clinical and research activities at UK Young Autism Project and other settings in Europe. Currently, he is also a professor of psychology at Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway. He has published a number of peer reviewed research articles and book chapters on autism and Applied Behaviour Analysis. He is an author of some of the best-known outcome studies and meta-analyses evaluating EIBI for children with autism.
Diane Hayward, MSc – Director
Diane holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Psychology and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis, as well as being certified by the National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) and holding the NNEB Diploma in Post Qualifying Studies (DPQS). Since 1994, her experience of using procedures based on Applied Behaviour Analysis for children with autism includes a site director’s internship at UCLA during 1997/8, under the supervision of Dr Lovaas, as well as directing the UK based replication study as part of the UCLA Multi-Site Young Autism Project, together with Professor Eikeseth since 1998 until the project was published in 2009, and as a company director of UK YAP since it formed independently in 2000. Diane has published research in peer reviewed journals, including outcome of early intensive behavioural intervention in the UK, long-term outcome following EIBI, reduction of parental stress during first year of treatment, and on teaching early receptive language skills. Current research involves investigation of strategies for most efficiently teaching receptive and expressive language skills in children with autism.
Liz Holmes, MSc BCBA - Assistant Director
Liz holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Psychology and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis. She is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). She has worked with children and adults with autism using procedures based upon Applied Behaviour Analysis, supervised by UK Young Autism Project, since 1998. She joined the organisation full time from 2001. Liz delivered programmes for many children who participated in the UK YAP outcome study (2009). Extensive experience includes teaching, research, and management, as well as being a fully qualified Mental Health First Aider for adults and children. Liz has published research on teaching technologies for developing receptive and expressive language, in a peer-reviewed journal. Alongside her role at UK Young Autism Project, Liz is a SEN governor at a primary school.
Programme Consultants
Our programme consultants are based in and around London, Birmingham, Bristol and Hull. Most hold or are completing a Master of Science degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis and some have additional post graduate qualifications in related subjects. Most are Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBA), or are working towards this certification alongside their extensive clinical training and experience.
Consultants have gained extensive experience over several years, usually by developing from tutor to senior tutor and then consultant, predominantly on our fully staffed programmes. By progressing on these intensive programmes, they benefit from regular training and supervision on programmes that are research-based, undergo rigorous quality control, and hence have all of the fundamental treatment variables in place. Gradually, they gain further experience of transferring their skills and knowledge to work on our parent managed programmes as well.
Some of our consultants have gained extensive experience and talent in management, teaching and research. These consultants are Associate Directors.
Sarah Fletcher, MSc BCBA - Associate Director
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Psychology and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis. She is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). She has worked with children and young adults with autism using procedures based upon Applied Behaviour Analysis since 2001 and joined the organisation in 2004. She delivered programmes for children who participated in the UK YAP outcome study (2009). Sarah has published research in peer-reviewed journals on vocal stereotypy, discrimination training techniques, and teaching expressive language skills.
Catherine Gale, PhD BCBA-D – Associate Director
Catherine holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Speech and Language Pathology and Therapeutics, a Master of Science Degree in Behaviour Analysis and a PhD in Behaviour Analysis from Oslo Metropolitan University. She is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA-D). Catherine has broad experience in ABA which includes extensive training, experience, research, teaching and management at the UK based replication study as part of the UCLA Multi-Site Young Autism Project, from 1998 until the project was published in 2009, and as a company director of UK YAP since it formed independently in 2000 until 2022. Catherine has published research in peer reviewed journals on a number of topics including outcome of early intensive behavioural intervention in the UK, long-term outcome following EIBI, reduction of parental stress during first year of treatment, functional assessment of eating difficulties in children with autism, and atypical preference for non-social stimuli found in children with autism.
Rachel Griffiths, MSc - Associate Director
Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Psychology and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis. She is working toward becoming a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). She has worked with children with autism using procedures based on Applied Behaviour Analysis, supervised by UK Young Autism Project, since 2000, having worked as an independent tutor with other providers previously. She joined the organisation full time from 2001 until 2008 and returned in 2013 after extended parental leave. Rachel delivered programmes for several children who participated in the UK YAP outcome study (2009).
Julie Morris, MSc - Associate Director
Julie holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Psychology with Health and Clinical Psychology and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis. She has been working with children and young adults with autism using procedures based upon Applied Behaviour Analysis since 2001 and joined the organisation in 2005. Julie’s experience includes working in a school and residential unit for children with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviour. She subsequently joined UK YAP to deliver home and mainstream school-based programmes, which included children who participated in the UK YAP outcome study (2009).
Rebecca Nicholls, MSc BCBA - Associate Director
Becky holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Psychology and Sociology and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis. She is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). She has been working with children and young adults with autism using procedures based upon Applied Behaviour Analysis at UK YAP since 2007. Becky’s work includes broad experience working with children within school settings. She is also a fully qualified Protecting Rights in a Caring Environment (PRICE) instructor, providing training and supervision in the management of challenging behaviour, and safe use of physical interventions where appropriate. This work also includes training in reducing the need for restrictive physical interventions.
Dean Smith, PhD BCBA-D - Associate Director
Dean holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Psychology, a Master of Science Degree in Critical Psychology, a Master of Science Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis, and a PhD in Behaviour Analysis. He is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst at the Doctoral level (BCBA-D). He has worked with children and young adults with autism using procedures based on Applied Behaviour Analysis since 1995 and joined the project in 1998. Dean delivered programmes for many children who participated in the outcome study (2009). Dean has published research in peer-reviewed journals on self-injurious behaviour, stereotypy (self-stimulatory behaviour), teaching expressive language skills, the analysis of expressive language, and long-term outcome following EIBI, and has co-authored several book chapters. Dean currently teaches our senior tutor training curriculum.
Senior Tutors
Our senior tutors usually have a BSc in psychology or a related subject and some have a Master’s degree or other graduate qualification. A small number are completing their Bachelor’s degree or graduate studies alongside work, including some who are completing an MSc in ABA with our support.
Senior tutors are identified as exceptionally talented tutors who have gained experience on our fully staffed programmes. In this role, they take on additional responsibilities alongside the programme consultants, including: training and supervising tutors; demonstrating teaching procedures and behavioural interventions; conducting task analyses and introducing stages of programmes; maintaining data collection systems; and writing monthly clinical reports. Practical and theoretical training is provided to our senior tutors, including a series of advanced classes.
Tutors
Our tutors come from a range of backgrounds, for example: Bachelor’s and Master’s degree graduates (mostly psychology or related fields); undergraduate students on their professional placement year; graduate students working part time alongside their studies, often as part of their clinical placement.
Tutors work with one or two different children, working part or full time, respectively. Over time, they gain further experience across different cases. They receive extensive training and supervision, including an initial theoretical training and up to four additional training seminars each year. Initial training comprises approximately sixty hours of structured practicum, followed by ongoing supervision from our consultants and senior tutors, one to two half days per week for each case they are assigned to.
We are committed to safer recruitment and as part of our commitment to safeguarding children and young people, appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check with a check against the barred lists for children and adults.
We are an ACE accredited provider.