Challenging Behaviour Learning Disablities

Course Profile: Challenging Behaviour & Learning Disabilities (2 Days)

"Challenging Behaviour" is a term that is open to broad interpretation and this can be very unhelpful in preparing staff to provide appropriate support to service users. The term can be used to describe behaviour that service users adopt that staff simply don't like i.e. preferring compliant behaviour. The term can always become a euphemism for violent and aggressive behaviour or indeed displays of anti-social behaviour, like stripping off in public.

This course aims to give staff the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to anticipate and avoid crisis, episodes of aggression and/or challenging behaviour. It involves elements of care planning, abuse, gentle teaching. The emphasis throughout is on self-control rather than staff control of any given behaviour. Physical interventions will not be taught on this course.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course participants should:

Understand the terminology used in Behavioural Assessment
Be able to name and describe a variety of assessment tools
Understand how their behaviour affects the behaviour of the user group
Be able to discuss a range of proactive interventions when supporting users that exhibit challenging behaviour
Be able to describe a behavioural chain and the importance of devising early intervention and de-escalation plans

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course participants should:

Understand the terminology used in Behavioural Assessment
Be able to name and describe a variety of assessment tools
Understand how their behaviour affects the behaviour of the user group
Be able to discuss a range of proactive interventions when supporting users that exhibit challenging behaviour
Be able to describe a behavioural chain and the importance of devising early intervention and de-escalation plans

Course Content:

Unit One: Awareness

• An historical Perspective
• Source of administrative support
• “Traditional” methods used in the past
• Elements of protection, rights and abuse
• The Law in relation to learning disabilities and challenging behaviour

Individual specific intervention in management
• Principles of “Normalisation” and “Ordinary Living”
*Elements of protection, rights and abuse

Unit Two: Prevention

• The role of the team
• The importance of documentation
• Local policy and procedure re: Prevention
• Techniques for strengthening desirable behaviour
• Basic steps to develop, adapt and implement individual specific approaches to challenging behaviour

UNIT THREE: UNDERSTANDING

* IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAY EFFECT RESPONSES IN CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR OR CRISIS SITUATIONS.
* IDENTIFY ANTECEDENTS TO CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR & IDENTIFY STEPS TAKEN TO ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH FACTOR
* DISCUSS & IDENTIFY PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL REACTIONS EXPRESSED (FOR ALL CONCERNED). THIS INCLUDES STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES.
* STAFF TO IDENTIFY THEIR OWN FEELINGS & ATTITUDES IN RESPONSE TO CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON FUTURE APPROACHES.
* STAFF TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS EARLY BEHAVIOURAL SIGNS OF CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR AND BECOME MORE AWARE OF BEHAVIOURAL CLUES PRIOR TO CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR.

UNIT FOUR: CALMING TECHNIQUES

* CALMING TECHNIQUES
* PREPARING STAFF TO DEAL WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR AND IDENTIFY PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR SITUATIONS (INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES).
* STAFF RESPONDING TO EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR BY USING V ERBAL AND NON-VERBAL CALMING TECHNIQUES.
FOCUS THROUGHOUT
* STAFF BEHAVIOUR
* UNITS 3 & 4: STAFF ABILITY TO WIND UP SITUATIONS & WORKING AFTERWARDS.

SELF CONTROL OF SERVICE USER - RATHER THAN STAFF CONTROL- TO MINIMISE CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR.

Second Floor, 42 Station Road, Portslade, East Sussex, BN41 1AG
Telephone: 01273 414000 Fax: 01273 422777
E mail: admin@normanmark.net