Positive Behaviour Support is a framework for supporting people who have a range of different needs that if are unmet, can lead to Individuals communicating their needs through behaviour. At times those providing support for individuals may find some behaviours challenging, which can in turn impact on the quality of life for the individual especially when caring for them.
PBS offers a framework that can be implemented by those providing support to people and can be used by carers to help support patients, and allows their underlying needs to be addressed, therefore improving their quality of life.
Positive Behaviour Support needs specific training in order for it to be effective, and so we take a look at what PBS means, how it works and the benefits in being trained to be able to implement it effectively.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Combines a range of approaches to support those who may engage in behaviours that challenge others, it is an approach that is proven to successfully support those with diagnoses such as Learning Disability, Autism, Dementia and Mental Health, learning disabilities, dementia or neurodivergence.
People may communicate their needs by engaging in behaviours that take the form of violence towards others, self harm or destructive of the environment around them.
The idea behind PBS is that it is centred around the individual, and so all support will be tailored to their own specific needs. It is a proactive approach that looks at the function of the behaviour in question in order to better understand what is being communicated by the individual.
This is in turn enables us to create opportunities to help the individual learn new ways of communicating / behaving to get their needs met without posing risks to others or themselves.
The approaches used within PBS should be evidence based, and the aim should be to improve the quality of the life and the care that they receive to help create new opportunities for the person involved, helping them to build relationships and ultimately transforming their lives.
PBS is something which needs specialist training and can be particularly beneficial to direct care staff who provide support to individuals who face these challenges. It can help them to gain a better understanding of behaviour and its functions, whilst teaching the underlying values of PBS and the framework in which it is implemented.
Through PBS training, care staff should be given the skills to identify the functions that different behaviours serve and allow them to gain the understanding as to how to proactively support the individual to reduce the likelihood of behaviours that pose challenges occurring.
As part of PBS training, the carer will be taught the process of functional assessment, which gives them the tools to understand how the particular behaviour in question has been learned and maintained, in order to then put a plan in place to support it. These plans should promote proactive and preventative strategies that can help to avert behaviour escalating and keep people safe.
Empeiria Training offers specialist courses based around positive behaviour support which are designed for direct care staff in order to equip them with the skills to identify different behaviours and their functions and create effective strategies to help. It can teach them how to carry out functional Behaviour assessments and create PBS plans based on their evidence and observations.
One of the main benefits of PBS is that it has a person-centred approach. Every individual is different, and the reasons for their behaviour will be extremely varied, so there should not be a ‘one size fits all’ approach to their support.
It puts the person first and helps those involved to understand them and their needs, rather than trying to find a solution that fits them. It does not punish individuals for engaging in behaviour that challenges, and instead seeks to understand the reasons behind it.
When these causes are fully understood, it can be much easier to find a way to support the person and not just focus on the behaviour. This could be teaching new functional communication skills, implementing coping strategies for the individual, changing something within their environment or putting new support networks in place.
For many care staff, working with individuals who behave in a way that challenges them can sometimes feel unsafe and can often impact on their confidence to provide the support the individual needs. By understanding the triggers for this behaviour and the functions of it, they can be better equipped to prevent challenging situations or de-escalate them if they do happen.
This is done by promoting positive behaviours rather than reacting to negative ones, as this can lead to better outcomes for the people they support
Positive Behaviour Support puts the individual at the forefront of everything that is done, but it also involves family members and other people who understand the individual well This ensures that they can be better supported through every aspect of their lives, and any decisions that are made about their lives should be acceptable to both the person receiving support and their loved ones.
This allows everyone to work together and creates a better sense of understanding and inclusion. It values communication and aims to equip the person involved with their own skills to allow them to be more independent wherever possible.
PBS should be thought of as an approach through a partnership, as it encourages as much collaboration as possible to ensure the person receiving support is actively engaged in the development of consistent support and approaches from others around them in all areas of their lives.
It can help everyone to take the same approach and gives people the tools to handle situations more effectively, therefore improving the quality of life of the individual and their families.
One of the key benefits of PBS is that it can actively reduce incidents of behaviour that challenges over time. When carers and healthcare staff are able to understand behaviours and put support plans in place, they can avoid incidents, or de-escalate quicker and more effectively.
This is the main aim of the strategy and can mean that the individual is able to live a happier and more stable life, without the risk of them causing harm to themselves or those around them.
PBS should be an essential tool for all care staff, as it can not only help to keep people safe but can also transform lives. It focuses on the wellbeing of the individual and concentrates on their specific needs to help give them a better quality of life.
As it takes an evidence-based approach, proper training in PBS is vital, as this can help carers to make proper and informed assessments of the people they are supporting and work towards viable solutions and strategies.
Ready to enhance the quality of life for those you support? We have a range of Positive Behaviour Support Training available, offering evidence-based strategies tailored to individual needs. Enrol in our PBS courses today with Empeiria Training or Timian Training and start making a difference.
Managing Director
Catherine possesses two decades of experience in working with adults and young individuals who have learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs.
