The accessibility and usefulness of positive behaviour support plans: The perspectives of everyday support people in South Australia

Background: Positive behavioural support (PBS) emphasises the importance of a collaborative approach among key stakeholders, including family members and direct support staff. These stakeholders are often tasked with implementing behaviour support plans written by other people, but there is little research examining their perspectives in translating written PBS plans into effective practice. This paper examines those perspectives with the aim of guiding good-quality PBS practice among all team members.

Method and materials: Forty-six respondents completed an online survey about: (a) the accessibility (comprehension and readability) and usefulness of written PBS plans, and (b) the support needed to effectively implement those plans.

Results: A majority of respondents described PBS plans as accessible and useful, but also as too lengthy, and not person centred. They indicated a need for increased involvement of both family and support staff in the development of PBS interventions, and more support in implementing them, such as onsite training.

Conclusions: These findings suggest future research directions to replicate and strengthen the study’s findings, and to examine how to best involve and support everyday support people to translate PBS plans into quality practice.