This introductory course, Positive Behaviour Support: First Steps to Foundation, is designed to equip social care staff working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a foundational knowledge of PBS principles. Inspired by the UK PBS Competency Framework and aligned with Skills for Care’s First Steps in PBS Framework, this training offers an essential starting point for embedding PBS practices within care settings. The course is intended to cover approximately 10 hours of learning, providing one-third of the foundation-level competencies from the full PBS Competency Framework.
Participants will explore key topics including autism, intellectual disability, mental capacity, and other foundational concepts. While much of the content is also relevant to other populations—such as children with learning disabilities or neurotypical children and adults—these groups are not the course’s primary focus. Importantly, this training is not a substitute for more comprehensive training in these areas but aims to provide essential context and understanding.
In line with the PBS Academy’s Training Standard 1.g, this course addresses the “To Know” competencies. To meet the PBS Competency Framework requirements, the theoretical knowledge gained here must be paired with in-person, practice-based training at a recommended ratio of at least 1:5. For example, trainees completing 10 hours of theoretical learning should undertake 50 hours of relevant, supervised practice-based work. This ensures that new principles and knowledge are embedded into daily practice.
This course is particularly relevant for direct-contact staff who play a pivotal role in implementing PBS within their organisations. However, achieving a PBS model requires more than staff training. Organisations must ensure they have appropriate ratios of people the requisite managerial/supervisory and wider-organisational competencies to support and sustain effective PBS practices (See the PBS Competence Framework for more details).
By engaging with this course, participants will begin their journey towards delivering compassionate, person-centred Positive Behavioural Support that enhances the quality of life for the people they serve.
- Module 0: Enrolment, Formative Assessment and Instructions
- Module 1: What is PBS and Why is it Needed?
- Module 2: The Role of the Direct Support Worker in PBS
- Module 3: Behaviours that Challenge and Behavioural Approaches
- Module 4: Functional Assessment and Measurement
- Module 5: Components of a Behaviour Support Plan
- Module 6: Contemporary Issues and Barriers in Positive Behaviour Support
- Module 7: Summative Assessment and Certificate
We recommend that people explore the following resources before starting the course: