Celebrating a very impressive achievement
DATE: 19.07.2023
One of the people we support from Ravenna Lodge in Hampshire, has completed her level 2 Diploma in mental health including other subjects such as anxiety, ADHD and dementia.
Built over 25 years' experience, we have a history of introducing pioneering approaches to specialist care. Choice Care was one of the first providers to introduce an in-house Positive Behaviour Support Team, we are leaders in the use of intensive interaction and outcomes-based measurement tools, and routinely trial and integrate new assistive technologies.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a person-centred approach to supporting people who display or are at risk of behaviours which challenge. It involves understanding the reasons for the behaviour and considering the person as a whole - including their life history, physical health and emotional needs - to identify ways of supporting them. It focuses on creating physical and social environments that are supportive and capable of meeting people's needs, and teaching people new skills to replace challenging behaviours.
Positive Behaviour Support is fully integrated into the Choice Care approach. We have our own in-house PBS team, structured on a regional basis, who work closely with our homes to monitor the behavioural, emotional and psychological needs of those we care for. This allows them to assess and intervene rapidly with individual guidance designed to help staff respond in the most appropriate way to improve quality of life, reduce distress and ensure each individual has the support that best meets their needs.
Challenging behaviour
We support a large number of people with complex needs, many of whom join us with a history of behaviour that has challenged previous services. The PBS team offers a flexible, person-centred approach to reduce challenging behaviour and self-injury, which can be distressing for all concerned. We focus on understanding the reasons for the behaviour, altering the situation if necessary and encouraging more appropriate methods of communication.
Training and prevention
Our social care workers play a critical role in maintaining everyday positive interaction and responding to potentially challenging incidents. The PBS team provides staff training, tailored where an individual need is recognised.
The PBS team is also involved in preventative work, running group and one-to-one sessions to educate and promote emotional and psychological well-being.
PROACT-SCIPr-UK® is a method of working which encourages staff to look at the strengths and needs of the individual. Underpinned by the principles of Positive Behaviour Support, it's a consistent, supportive team-based approach to working with people who may display behaviour that challenges. The approach is holistic and designed to reduce the need for individuals to use aggression or violence to achieve a desired outcome.
PROACT-SCIPr-UK focuses on the three necessary forms of Positive Behaviour Support:
- Proactive interventions before problems arise - understanding an individual's triggers and preventing them where possible.
- Active interventions designed to meet problems as they occur and de-escalate them before crisis.
- Reactive interventions as behaviour is displayed, then waiting for individuals to return to Active and Proactive stages so we can fully address their needs.
Intensive Interaction is a gentle intervention that can be particularly valuable in enhancing two-way communication with individuals with complex needs, such as autism, sensory loss and severe learning disabilities, who have limited or no verbal abilities.
Choice Care first introduced the approach in 2009, and it is now used throughout our services to build positive relationships with those we support. Intensive Interaction can have a hugely affirmative impact on behaviour, overall happiness and well-being.
Communication partners
In this approach, a communication partner takes the lead from the person who is learning to become more social and communicative by responding to selected aspects of behaviour, for example by altering their voice, gaze or body language.
By responding to and joining in with what the individual likes to do, the communication partner appears less threatening and is able to build the other's confidence through repetition, structure and developing patterns of communication over time.
Intensive Interaction is about spending time together. Sessions are intended to be fun and playful and take place at a pace and intensity that never overwhelms. The approach can be used daily, while recognising when the individual concerned needs to pause or rest.
Success StoriesWe incorporate a range of assistive personal technologies into our care plans to support people's safety, privacy and independence, from smart sensors to adapted mobile phones. In every case, we consider the requirements of the individual first, and then match the technology to their needs. Examples include:
- Personal alarms
- "˜On-call' external alarm systems
- Voice activated smart speakers
- Easy-to-use, pre-programmed mobile phones
- Adaptive wheelchairs
- Door alarms
- Listening devices
- Motion detector and camera display epilepsy monitors
- Sink and bath sensors
- "˜Neater Eater' equipment for people with eating or drinking difficulties
- Automatic medication dispensers
- Variable pressure air mattresses, to prevent bed sores
Success stories
