Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
What is PBS and who is it for?
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a person-centred approach to supporting people with learning disabilities – they may also be autistic and/or have mental health conditions.
It is an ethical approach that focuses on understanding and meeting an individual’s needs – particularly when someone is distressed or at risk of harm. It aims to improve quality of life, reduce restrictive practices, and offer compassionate, respectful support that is tailored to the individual.
Our approach at Avenues
Within supported living and residential care at Avenues, PBS helps us create environments where people feel safe, respected and empowered. We proactively work closely with families, friends and support teams to make sure support is consistent, compassionate and tailored to each person.
Our highly experienced PBS and Active Support team provides expert guidance to both individuals and services. They:
- Monitor the quality of support across Avenues services.
- Deliver person- and service-specific training to help teams develop their practice.
- Work in partnership with services and professionals to develop best practice in key areas – always keeping the person at the heart of everything we do.
Our PBS training is accredited by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD), at least one member of our executive management team is trained in PBS to diploma level, and our training team takes part in the PBS Peer Review Initiative led by Skills for Care. This means our teams are not only well-trained, but part of a wider learning community committed to delivering the best possible support.
Key features of PBS
How is Positive Behaviour Support different from Applied behaviour Analysis (ABA)?
PBS first emerged in the 1980s as a response to growing concerns about intensive Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), which often relied on punishment and restrictive strategies. While PBS has some historical links to ABA, it has evolved into a distinct and widely recognised support approach. The National Autistic Society describes PBS as ‘an ethical and person-centred method’ and uses it in a range of their services.
At Avenues, we do not use ABA. We strongly reject any practice that seeks to change or ‘normalise’ people. Our focus is not on shaping or stopping people’s behaviour, but on enhancing each person’s wellbeing and supporting them in ways that respect who they are.
How does Avenues use PBS in its support for autistic people and others with complex needs?
PBS is just one of several person-centred approaches Avenues may use to support autistic adults, people with learning disabilities, and others with complex needs. When it is used, PBS is never a blanket or one-size-fits-all solution – it is always bespoke and guided by the individual’s choices, rights and wellbeing.
Our practitioners work with each person and those close to them to understand what matters to them, how they communicate, and how best to support them. We never try to make people fit into predefined expectations. Instead, we focus on supporting them to live well on their own terms.
As a member of the Autism Alliance, Avenues is part of the national conversation around PBS, ABA, and other support models – and we are committed to transparency, collaboration, and listening to autistic voices to inform the way we work.
Where can I find out more about PBS?