What is Positive Behaviour?
When we hear the term positive behaviour, we often think of someone being polite or well-behaved. In healthcare, it means something more specific. It’s about how healthcare workers treat patients with kindness, respect, and understanding—especially when patients are having a hard time or showing difficult behaviour. The goal is to make sure patients feel safe, respected, and well cared for.
Who is Most Likely to Show Challenging Behaviour?
Challenging behaviour often happens when people struggle to express how they feel or what they need. It’s usually not meant to be harmful. Some people are more likely to show these behaviours, including:
- People with learning disabilities, who may communicate through their actions.
- Those with autism, where this approach was first developed.
- People who have trouble speaking or hearing.
- Adults with brain injuries or dementia.
- People with serious mental health issues like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or personality disorders.
- Children and young people with emotional or behavioural issues (like ADHD).
- Anyone who has gone through trauma, neglect, or lived in restrictive settings.
What is Positive Behaviour Management (PBM)?
Positive Behaviour Management is about what healthcare staff do at the moment when someone is behaving in a challenging or risky way. It helps keep everyone safe and calm.
What is Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)?
Positive Behaviour Support is a caring approach that tries to stop challenging behaviour before it starts. It focuses on understanding why the behaviour is happening and aims to improve the person’s life overall.
What Does Positive Behaviour Look Like in Healthcare?
- Empathy and Compassion – Caring about how patients feel.
- Dignity and Respect – Treating every patient as a person with rights and choices.
- Positive Communication – Speaking clearly and kindly.
- Active Listening – Really hearing what the patient needs or is trying to say.
- Teamwork – Staff working together to provide the best care.
Who Should Learn About PBM and PBS, and Why?
Many professionals benefit from this training:
| Role | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|
| Support Workers & Carers | They work closely with people every day. |
| Nurses (especially Mental Health Nurses) | They manage safety in hospitals. |
| Special Needs Teachers | They help children with complex needs. |
| Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists | They help create support plans. |
| Care Home & Community Staff | They support people with learning disabilities, autism, and dementia. |
| Managers | They need to understand and apply these methods correctly. |
What Laws and Guidelines Are Important?
Positive behaviour approaches are supported by several key laws and policies in the UK:
- Mental Capacity Act (2005)
- Human Rights Act (1998)
- Health and Social Care Act (2008)
- NICE Guidelines (NG11 and NG93)
- Equality Act (2010)
- CQC Regulation 13 (Safeguarding)
- Oliver McGowan Training (for learning disability and autism awareness)
Quick Note:
You can take an online Positive Behaviour Management or Positive Behaviour Support course through Train Healthcare. Each course takes about 1 hour to finish and gives you a certificate and 1 CPD point.