Positive Behavioural Support: First Steps to Foundation

Standards-aligned PBS training for social care teams supporting autistic people and adults with learning disabilities who may display behaviours that challenge.

Duration: Approximately 10 hours online learning, plus recommended 50 hours supervised practice.
Intended audience: Direct-contact staff in adult social care, team leaders and registered managers.

Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) is a person-centred, evidence-based approach that aims to improve quality of life and reduce the need for restrictive practices. It focuses on understanding the reasons for distressed behaviours and addressing these through capable environments, Active Support and the teaching of alternative skills, rather than relying on restraint and other restrictive practices.

The First Steps to Foundation course provides the basic knowledge competencies specified at the foundation level of the UK PBS Competence Framework. It reflects Skills for Care’s First Steps in PBS guidance and supports PBS Academy Training Standards. The course is designed for staff working with autistic adults and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may display behaviours that challenge or distressed behaviours.

The course is self-paced and staff progress through short video briefings, interactive consolidation tasks and reflection exercises that encourage application to everyday practice. An AI learning co-pilot is available throughout to clarify concepts, offer examples and answer questions in the learner’s own words. A final assessment provides evidence that core knowledge competencies have been met.

To embed learning in practice, the PBS Academy recommends a minimum 1:5 ratio of theory to supervised practice. Providers are therefore encouraged to provide supervision, coaching and observation so that PBS principles are reflected in daily support and service culture.

Course Structure and Modules

Course content is delivered across six modules.

Module 0: Enrolment, Orientation and Foundation Knowledge

Introduces the blended nature of PBS training and how supervised practice complements online learning.

Module 0 orients learners to the course structure, navigation, reflection tasks and assessments. It explains the need to combine formal learning with in-situ practice leadership, supervision and mentoring to achieve full PBS competence.

Module 1: What Is PBS and Why Is It Needed?

Helps trainees understand what good support looks like and why PBS is needed in contemporary social care.

This module explores changing societal attitudes towards people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including historical abuses, and explains the shift towards rights-based, least-restrictive support. It reviews models of disability and their real-world consequences, key legal frameworks and the values and evidence base underlying PBS. Staff are introduced to key concepts such as Active Support and Capable Environments.

Module 2: The Role of the Direct Support Worker

Places support workers at the centre of PBS success.

This module focuses on the central role of direct support staff in delivering PBS. Learners examine how the quality of everyday interaction influences autonomy, wellbeing and safety, and how involving families and social networks supports person-centred care. Emphasis is placed on promoting choice, communication, inclusion and positive relationships.

Module 3: Behaviours That Challenge and Behavioural Approaches

Explains that all behaviour happens for a reason and how behaviour is influenced by its context.

Behaviour is presented as a form of communication and as a response to environmental conditions. Learners are introduced to reinforcement, motivation and behavioural contingencies (three- and four-term) and consider how these can be used ethically to prevent escalation and support dignity.

Module 4: Functional Assessment and Measurement

Builds knowledge to contribute confidently to Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA).

Module 4 introduces both indirect and direct assessment methods, including frequency, duration and interval recording, scatterplot analysis and ABC recording. Learners practise defining behaviour objectively, collecting accurate data and developing initial summary statements that can inform person-centred support plans.

Module 5: Components of a Behaviour Support Plan

Shows how function-based plans can reduce distress and improve quality of life.

Learners explore proactive and antecedent strategies, non-contingent reinforcement, differential reinforcement, teaching functional alternatives (including Functional Communication Training) and awareness of the escalation cycle. The focus is on designing and implementing responses that increase autonomy, participation and safety while reducing the need for restrictive practices.

Module 6 (Optional): Contemporary Issues and Barriers to Quality PBS

Encourages critical reflection on systems, commissioning and culture.

This optional module examines how commissioning arrangements, staffing structures, procedures and team norms can either support or undermine PBS. Learners consider how everyday decisions about rotas, routines, risk and resources can limit or expand people’s opportunities, and how advocacy and ethical leadership can help embed PBS values in service design.

Commissioning Benefits Snapshot

• Reduces the likelihood and severity of distressed behaviours and crisis incidents.
• Improves access to rights-based, least-restrictive support.
• Builds a confident frontline workforce able to anticipate need and respond early.
• Enhances safeguarding by reducing risk triggers and supporting de-escalation.
• Strengthens family involvement and continuity of relationships.
• Improves documentation, governance and inspection readiness.
• Supports more stable placements and reduces reliance on agency staff or out-of-area solutions.

Inspection Evidence Providers Can Generate

Benefits for People and Organisations

Impact for people who receive support

When PBS is implemented well, distressed behaviours are more likely to result in supportive adjustments, skill development and environmental changes rather than coercion or exclusion. Communication improves, relationships become more trusting and people gain greater access to ordinary life opportunities, valued roles and community participation.

Impact for staff and provider organisations

For organisations, PBS training contributes to safer services, fewer incidents and more consistent de-escalation practices. It supports staff confidence in high-pressure circumstances and can help reduce turnover linked to stress and burnout. Providers benefit from stronger workforce capability, more stable placements, improved governance and clearer evidence for commissioners and inspectors.