Positive behaviour support (PBS) is a values-based approach to behaviour that puts people first. PBS at its heart supports people to live meaningful, inclusive lives whilst upholding their dynasty, autonomy and human rights.
Behaviour support techniques are practical and evidence-informed strategies used to understand, prevent and respond to behaviours of harm or concern. These techniques follow PBS values and focus on teaching new skills, modifying environments and improving communication amongst others.
Whether you’re a parent, carer, teacher or support provider PBS offers tools we can use every day to reduce escalations, build trust and promote long-term skill development, quality of life and wellbeing for persons who display behaviours of concern or harm. It’s more than just managing behaviour, PBS techniques are about enhancing quality of life through respectful, least-restrictive and person centred support.
Why PBS Matters
PBS matters because it focuses on understanding the person behind the behaviour. Rather than using punishments, restrictive practice or control, PBS asks the much needed why a behaviour is occurring in the first place and what the person may be communicating or trying to achieve.
For example, imagine a neurodiverse child who regularly throws their toys during playtime. Instead of labelling the behaviour as ‘naughty’ on ‘uncooperative’ or reacting with immediate consequences, PBS would look deeper. Are they frustrated because they can’t communicate what they want? Is the toy they’re throwing too difficult for them to use? Is the playtime overstimulating for them? By identifying why we can put support and strategies in place to help them like teaching them a new way to ask for help or adjusting the environment so their child feels more successful or less overwhelmed.
This style of approach isn’t just more effective for the child; it's more respectful. PBS helps in preventing behaviours before they arise and promotes long-term change by building skills, trust and emotional wellbeing.
Most importantly, PBS upholds the human rights of every individual. This ensures that support is the least restrictive, person-centred, holistic and focused on improving the daily lives of individuals, not just controlling their behaviour or making the lives of those supporting the individual easier.
Key Principles of Effective Behaviour Support Strategies
PBS is underpinned by a set of guiding principles that ensure strategies are not just effective, but person-centred and ethical. These principles include:
Person Centred
Plans and teachings are tailored to the individual’s strengths, needs, preferences, capacity and goals
Proactive
Focused on preventing behaviours of concern or harm rather than solely reacting to them
Respectful
Upholding the dignity, human rights and freedom of individuals including unnecessary restrictions
Evidence Informed
Based on credited, current behavioural science research
Reduction of Restrictive Practices
Committed to reducing or eliminating restrictive practices by addressing the root causes and offering safer, more long-term effective and supportive alternatives.
Collaborative
Involving families, carers, professionals and the person themselves in the development and implementation of PBS plans and teachings
Quality of Life Focused
Supporting participation, independence, belonging and safety
By utilising these principles, PBS becomes a tool for genuine empowerment for these individuals, not just change.
Four Examples of Positive Behaviour Support Strategies in Everyday Life
Offering Choices When Making Requests to Build Cooperation
Offering choices gives individuals a sense of choice and control and helps reduce power struggles. For example, instead of saying, “put your shoes on now” try “Would you like to wear your sneakers or boots today?” This encourages cooperation whilst promoting independence and respect (plus the outcome is still met).
Understanding Communication and Building on Strengths
All behaviour is communication. I’ll say that again, all behaviour is communication. Instead of focusing on what someone can’t say or communicate, notice how they do communicate, whether that’s through words, sounds, gestures, facial expressions, visuals or devices.
For example, if someone prefers to use pictures or signs, respect this method. If someone enjoys drawing or making music, encourage them to express themselves through these outlets.
Another example is an individual squealing. You might hear a loud, obnoxious noise but that individual may be telling you they are becoming escalated, or that they’re happy or the room is too quiet.
Recognising and building on individual communicative strengths fosters confidence and helps reduce frustrations, whilst ensuring they feel heard. Finally, understanding that behaviours are communication for the individual and digging deeper to find the cause of the communication is a core strategy to implement.
Changing the Environment to Prevent Escalations
More often than not behaviours of concern or harm are triggered by environmental stressors like noise, crowds and other sensory overloads. By making simple adjustments for this can make big differences for the individual.
This could mean offering noise-cancelling headphones, providing a breakout sensory room or using softer lighting at home. A supportive environment will not only reduce possible behaviour escalations, but it also respects a person’s sensory needs and right to feel safe.
Reinforcing Positive Behaviour
An often overlooked but very important strategy is focusing on what went right, not just what goes wrong. Saying things like “You did so well staying calm even when it got really crowded in the shops today, well done” will reinforce the positive outcomes and encourage it to happen again. This positive reinforcement builds self-esteem and shows individuals that their efforts do not go unnoticed.
Conclusion
Behaviour Support is not just about managing behaviour of individuals, it’s about understanding them. PBS gives us an array of practical tools to reduce behaviours of harm or concern whilst promoting inclusion, connection and safety.
By focusing on communication, strengths, dignity and supporting individuals that present with behaviours of harm or concern we can create environments that uphold their human rights and enhance their quality of life.
Here at Tedoo Behaviour Support and Therapeutic Services, we believe that everyone deserves to feel heard, respected and empowered. No matter whether you’re the individual, the support worker, the doctor or a family member PBS will help you make a meaningful difference, it just takes time.
