About Timian Learning & Development

Our team comprises professionally qualified instructors and experts from diverse fields, including education, learning disabilities, mental health, social work, acquired and traumatic brain injury, management, and psychology.

Looking behind
the behaviour

Timian’s mission is to develop positive behaviour management strategies that enable staff to safely support people in crisis.

Our focus is on understanding the underlying reasons behind challenging behaviours, helping to defuse situations before they escalate.

We work with the most vulnerable in society. Therefore, we want to have an approach with a strong ethical base. We developed a system focused on understanding behaviour and trauma. As a result, our training reflects the core values of dignity and quality of life. At the heart of this system is the needs of the individual being supported and we do this using a positive behaviour support model.

Meet the team

James Hourihan

Director and Lead Trainer

As the founder of Timian Learning and Development, James brings a wealth of experience to his role. He holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Social Sciences, along with a Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Disability and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Member of the Institute of Directors...

Since the 1990s, James has trained professionals in positive behaviour management across education, health, and social care. His focus has been on helping individuals excluded due to behaviour, often through intensive support teams. James believes Timian’s training equips staff with the skills and confidence to enhance the lives of those they support, fostering safety and fulfillment.

John Windsor

Lead Trainer USA

John is a highly experienced training professional with a passion for developing and delivering effective curricula. He has a Master of Science in Administration with a focus on organisational leadership, a strong background in the mental health and substance abuse fields and is a recognised expert in The Mandt System...

John has held a variety of training roles throughout his career, including Training Specialist at Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Director of Technical Curricula at The Mandt System, Inc. He is currently Vice President of Training at The Mandt System, Inc.

John holds a Master’s degree in Administration/Organisational Leadership from the University of South Dakota and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Western Michigan University.

Mark Gorman

Sales Director

Mark believes that investing in people is the key to success, both for individuals and organisations.Mark has a proven track record in developing and implementing successful sales strategies across a range of sectors, including health, social care, and education. He is adept at building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders, and is committed to providing excellent customer service...

Prior to joining Timian Learning and Development, Mark held senior sales positions at CPI International and the Restraint Reduction Network. He has also worked as a consultant, providing sales and marketing advice to a variety of organisations. Mark holds an MBA from the University of Bradford and a BSc in Mathematics with Physics from De Montfort University.

Cath Ryan

Senior Trainer

Cath is a highly experienced and passionate advocate for person-centred care, with over 20 years of experience working with people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health diagnoses...

She is a dedicated professional committed to developing services that promote full and meaningful lives for individuals with complex needs, while also prioritising the reduction of restrictive practices.
Cath is the Managing Director of Empeiria Training, which provides a wide range of courses to the health and social care workforce across England and Wales. She also serves as the Positive Behaviour Support Lead at 1st Enable, where she has played a key role in developing and expanding their PBS service.
Cath holds a Master of Science in ABA and PBS from Bangor University and a BSc (Hons) in Learning Disability Nursing from the University of Chester. She is a member of the Restraint Reduction Network and the UK Society of Behaviour Analysts.

Darren Wiggins

Senior Trainer

Darren is a Senior Trainer at the Student Level with Timian Learning and Development and a Director of Quality and Senior Trainer with ACI Training and Consultancy Ltd...

He is passionate about delivering high-quality training to healthcare professionals. Darren served in the Armed Forces for over 20 years, gaining diverse experience. In 2012, he joined ACI Training and Consultancy Ltd., developing and delivering training courses, including Manual Handling, Challenging Behaviour, and Breakaway Techniques.

He also holds qualifications in First Aid, Food Hygiene, and Mental Health First Aid. Darren is actively involved in his local community, volunteering at a primary school to support children with special needs and co-founding a Dementia Café.

Kathryn Lewis

Senior Trainer

Kathryn is a Senior Trainer, registered nurse and Managing Director of ACI Training and Consultancy Ltd., with over 30 years of experience in health and social care...

Kathryn began her career as a Senior Staff Nurse, specialising in burns and plastic surgery. She then moved into care home management, overseeing the care of elderly and young people with dementia. In 1999, she transitioned to compliance and training roles, gaining experience in audits and framework requirements.

In 2004, Kathryn founded ACI Training and Consultancy Ltd., a national healthcare compliance and training company. She develops and delivers a range of training courses, including First Aid, Manual Handling, and Challenging Behaviour. Kathryn has a strong commitment to working with people with dementia, co-owning and managing a Dementia Café.

Tamara Brown

Senior Trainer

Tamara is a Senior Trainer with Timian Learning and Development, working full-time in the London region to deliver student-level training for agency staff.

Alongside her training role, she also works as a Healthcare Support Worker, showcasing her dedication to the healthcare sector.

Tamara is passionate about fostering safe environments and promoting compliance with regulatory standards. Her key strengths include extensive knowledge of health and safety regulations, proven ability to tailor training to meet organisational and individual needs, and expertise in creating supportive learning environments. She is proficient in evaluating learning outcomes and providing constructive feedback. She is also empathetic and resilient, with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Why use Timian?

Timian has spent the last 27 years developing individualised positive behaviour management strategies which focus on communication skills, de-escalation techniques and reducing the use of restrictive interventions and restraint.

As a long-established business, we offer certified BILD Act training to organisations in the UK and beyond, helping staff and individuals understand and support the unique needs communicated by people in crisis.

Our team can draw upon the skills, knowledge and experience of a diverse body of professionally qualified instructors and experts, representing the professional fields of; Education, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Social Work, Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury, Management and Psychology.