Positive Behaviour Support

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approaches are based on a set of overarching values. These values include the commitment to providing support that promotes inclusion, choice, participation and equality of opportunity. Behaviour that is considered as challenging to environments always happens for a reason and may be the person’s only way of communicating an unmet need. PBS helps us understand the reason for the behaviour so we can better meet people’s needs, enhance their quality of life and reduce the likelihood that the behaviour will happen.

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) has both a firm scientific evidence base and a strong practice base for its use in Hertfordshire Community Specialist Learning Disability Services (SLDS). In line with recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE 2015 & 2018) and guidance from the Department of Health (e.g. Positive & Proactive Care, 2014) and NHS England (e.g. Building the Right Support, 2015). SLDS has a cross-agency approach developed with our partners in Hertfordshire County Council, to support the knowledge and skills to work within a PBS framework to improve the quality of life and to develop person centred support services for people with intellectual disabilities in Hertfordshire.

Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) is a framework for developing an understanding of behaviour that challenges, rather than a single therapeutic approach, treatment or philosophy. It is based on an assessment of the broad social, physical and individual context in which the behaviour occurs, and this information is used to develop person-centred interventions. The overall goal of PBS is to improve the person’s quality of life and the quality of life of those around them, making it less likely that challenging behaviour will occur in the first place (Gore et al., 2013).