Colleague of the month: Sophie Naylor-Roll

Tell me more about the reason you won colleague of the month, please, Sophie?

When I started as Positive Behaviour Support Manager at Vanwall, I was supporting the team around someone with complex needs who was experiencing high levels of anxiety and frequent behaviours of concern. I focused on understanding what their behaviour was communicating and identifying triggers, rather than simply responding to incidents. I worked with the team to introduce more proactive PBS strategies, including visual communication, social stories and “Now and Next” approaches.

How did it impact people you support?

The aim was to reduce anxiety, make things more predictable and help the person feel more understood and in control. It also gave staff clearer and more consistent ways of providing support, particularly during difficult situations. More broadly, I’ve tried to embed this approach across Vanwall so that support is proactive and person-centred rather than just responding when something goes wrong.

What motivates you in your job?

Seeing a genuine difference in someone’s quality of life motivates me. I particularly enjoy trying to understand why something is happening and finding practical ways we can adapt our support, rather than expecting the person to change to fit the service.

What does great support mean to you?

Great support is individualised, respectful and focused on the person rather than just completing tasks. It means understanding someone’s communication, giving them as much choice and independence as possible, and recognising that behaviour often tells us something about what a person needs.

Who inspires you in your job?

The people we support are probably my biggest inspiration. Working with people who experience the world in very different ways constantly challenges me to think differently and improve how we provide support. I’m also inspired by colleagues who are willing to reflect, learn and change their approach when something isn’t working.