What is positive behaviour support?
Positive behaviour support is a proactive approach to supporting people with learning disabilities. It involves the creation of bespoke positive support behaviour plans, which focus on enabling the individual to live the life they choose, as an alternative to the reactive management of behaviours that are challenging.
What is a positive behaviour support plan?
In essence, positive behaviour support plans for learning disabilities seek to improve wellbeing, removing the frustrations and barriers which can lead to behaviours which challenge, and reducing the need for restrictive practices.
By enabling an individual to communicate their needs and wishes, and proactively supporting them to achieve their goals, positive behaviour support gives the individual greater control over their own life choices. This in turn leads to improved wellbeing, greater independence and the removal of barriers which stand in the way of living the life they choose.
Positive behaviour support examples
The question of how to support positive behaviour is entirely dependent upon the individual and what they are aiming to achieve.
Positive behaviour support examples might include an individual who presents with behaviours which challenge as a result of being unable to verbally communicate their preferences. The behaviours stem from being unable to effectively express themselves, and the frustration of feeling that decisions are being made for them, which may not always reflect their wishes.
A positive behaviour support plan would look at ways to enable them to communicate within the restrictions of their learning disability, perhaps using British Sign Language, image cards or assistive technology. A menu with images, for example, might enable them to select their preferred food or drink, without needing to verbally communicate this, putting them back in charge of their own choices.
The individual’s positive behaviour support plan has helped them overcome this particular barrier, giving them the ability to choose and have that choice recognised, which in turn removes the need for associated behaviours which challenge.
How to support positive behaviour
The first step to supporting positive behaviour is to understand the individual. This goes beyond acknowledging their learning disability diagnosis, to recognising the person as an individual, and understanding what is important to them. Supporting positive behaviour is to support the individual to achieve their goals, which could include everything from building life and social skills to getting a job, or managing the logistics of going on holiday to being able to pursue their hobbies and interests.
A good positive behaviour support plan starts with getting to know the individual, their interests and ambitions, and then putting the right team in place who can relate to them and work alongside them to help them achieve their aims.
There is no single blueprint for positive behaviour support plans for learning disabilities, as every individual’s circumstances and goals are unique. The greatest benefits of positive behaviour support come from plans which are tailored, personalised and bespoke to the individual. The right plan will empower the individual to overcome barriers, supporting positive behaviour and independence, and enabling them to live the life they choose.
Support for people with learning disabilities, autism or acquired brain injury
Our Realise team are experts in providing individually-tailored care and positive behaviour support for people with learning disabilities, autism or acquired brain injury. Find out more about the Realise team, and the empowering, person-centred support they provide.
