Positive behavioural support (PBS) recognises the importance of understanding the basis of why someone is exhibiting a behaviour that is challenging, and that there is a need to consider both proactive and reactive strategies in developing interventions. There has been a good deal reported in the literature about the training needs of paid carers in this area, but very liitle attention seems to have been paid to the needs of family carers, despite the majorty of people living with families.

The researchers in this study set out to look at the effectiveness of some specially designed training in physical interventions to six sets of family carers. The authors were keen also to find out about the family carers’ experiences of the training.

Using a longitudinal design, they gathered qualitative and quantitative data prior to the training; immediately after  and three to four months after the training.

The results of the analysis of the data revealed positive impacts of the training, in terms of the impact on the behaviours as well as positive feedback about the experience of undertaking the treaining.

They conclude that

training parents in behaviour management strategies has the potential to be a useful component of PBS interventions in family settings.

Training family carers in reactive strategies within a PBS framework, Hawkins S et al., in International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support, 1,  1, 32-44