WE EMPOWER LIVES.

Our adult services are available through local NHS commissioners, hospitals or mental health services.

HOW WE SUPPORT ADULTS.

We use a systematic approach to support adults engaging in behaviours of concern to transform their lives.

This involves us collaborating with the person and their network to establish a comprehensive understanding of their life situation and the degree to which their unique needs and preferences are aligned with their environment. We will assess their overall quality of life, interpersonal, sensory, communicative, and health needs. Based on the information we have gathered, we will then proactively work with them, their family members and support workers, to develop, implement and evaluate life-changing support plans.

WHO WE HELP.

We have extensive experience of working with adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems and autism who live in their own homes in the community, a residential care setting, or a supported living environment.

As well as providing direct support to an adult to live their best life, we work closely with the people who support them.

We believe it’s critical that good PBS systems and strategies are in place within an organisation, and that professionals in their network have the right PBS knowledge and skills, to ensure the best outcomes and improved quality of life for an adult client.

In addition, professionals need to be proactive in the delivery of PBS, engaged with what it can achieve, and involved in its planning and delivery.

WHAT WE DO.

When we start to work with an adult with a behavioural support need who displays challenging behaviour, we use a tried and tested model.

First, we get to know the client and their network and carry out a functional behavioural assessment that involves input from the a client and the people who care for and support them.

This assessment helps us to identify the specific needs of each client and what support strategies they may require from Positive Support Group to empower them to grow and thrive.

In addition, the assessment also clearly pinpoints the training, systems, environmental changes, and procedures that need to be put in place for services and support workers to meet the client’s unique needs.

Support typically provided to an adult client

Teaching of skills that help clients reach their own goals and aspirations, and/or to increase communication and independence.
Increased opportunities for choice, self-determination and holistic growth.
Support to find employment and meaningful occupation.
Planning and initiating regular activities that are meaningful to the person and help to make them happy.
Sensory assessments that explore any sensory processing issues a client may have and what adaptations may reduce the sensory triggers for the person.
Development of sensory diets (individually tailored programmes to meet the sensory needs of the person).
Planning and initiating activities that are meaningful to a person and help to make them happy.
Active Support that helps a client to take part in everyday activities, regardless of their level of disability. This gives people more control, improves confidence and increases independence.

Support typically provided to care services and professionals

Establishing a person-centred approach and planning in an organisation so an individual’s personal needs, wants, desires and goals are central to the support provided.
Supporting families, support workers, and the wider network to understand the meaning of the client’s behaviours of concern.
Supporting the network to effectively implement compassionate, function-based procedures that de-escalate behaviours of concern.
Setting up of data systems to monitor the frequency and severity of behaviours of concern.
Analysis of incidents and accidents and how a client reflected on their actions.
Development of total communication environments which may use a number of modes of communication, including signed, oral, auditory, written and visual aids.
Development of communication profiles that clearly set out a client’s language and communication abilities and needs, and the best strategies to use to facilitate communication.
Functional Behaviour Assessments to determine the underlying function or purpose of a behaviour. This leads to the development of Positive Behaviour Support plans.
Training of staff in Positive Behaviour Support, learning disabilities, autism and effective communication.
Undertaking of risk assessments to identify and analyse events that may potentially have a negative impact on a client. These assessments are also used to identify positive risk-taking opportunities that could lead to personal change or growth for a client.
Establishing person-centred approach and planning in an organisation so an individual’s personal needs, wants, desires and goals are central to the care provided.
Training a PBS champion in an organisation so they have advanced Positive Behaviour Support skills and knowledge which they can pass on to other staff members.

OUR LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT.

Our work with an adult who engages in behaviours of concern and the professionals who support them, typically results in the following positive outcomes:

Outcomes for an adult client

Increases in quality of life, well-being, choice, and self-determination.
Increase in skills that help the person live the life they want and promote autonomy and communication.
Increased opportunities to pursue goals and aspirations.
Improved physical health.
Higher quality of interpersonal relationships (e.g., family members, friends, romantic partners, support workers).
A reduction in the frequency and severity of their behaviours of behaviours of concern.
A reduction in physical interventions to manage the client’s behaviours of concern.
A reduction in hospital admissions, which can amplify behaviours of concern.

Outcomes for support services and professionals

Better understanding of the unique meaning of behaviours of concern.
Increased understanding of the importance of person-centred support.
Increased understanding of the unique quality of life-related needs of each client.
Positive Behaviour Support will be fully embedded and integral to a care service’s or professional’s offering.
Increased stability of clients and fewer placement breakdowns and unplanned moves from a service.
Improved interaction between professionals and clients, including more timely engagement and appropriate support.
Improved mental and physical health and general well-being of staff members.
Increased job satisfaction and a reduction in staff turnover.
An increase in ‘outstanding’ results following a CQC inspection.
Services are more likely to receive an Autism Accreditation award.