Training in positive behavioural support: increasing staff self-efficacy and positive outcome expectations

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of a six-and-a-half day, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) informed training course on staff’s self-efficacy and outcome expectations of managing challenging behaviour (CB). Training programmes for other non-psychology staff were deemed necessary due to the high demand for services and the specialist knowledge held by other professionals or carers.

A repeated measures design was used to capture changes in specific self-efficacy and outcome expectations before and after the training programme. A questionnaire methodology was employed.

Staff self-efficacy and positive outcome expectations increased on all four measured variables following training: understanding of CB, working out the functions of CB, developing and implementing a PBS plan, and managing CB for the benefit of the service user.

These findings are considered in light of previous research suggesting an impact on staff practice and burnout.

The findings suggest that the training model delivers changes in staff cognition and may be useful in other locations where demand for services is likely to increase in the future.

This research considers the impact of a medium length PBS training on staff cognition, evidencing the model’s utility in the current service context.