The Importance of training staff effectively when using proactive strategies in a Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP) for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities(I/DD)

Supporting individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) requires skilled

strategies to be implemented daily. These strategies include training staff on how to apply

positive behavior support strategies effectively and understanding how to meet the individual's needs. Behavior specialists ensure that Positive Behavior Support plans are a person-centered approach that are focused on reducing challenging behaviors while promoting meaningful skills and independence. This document explores the importance of training staff effectively and the importance of using proactive and reactive strategies. The challenges of each approach when implementing in group settings.

What is a Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP)? A Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP) is an evidence-based approach that aims to prevent challenging behavior, teach replacement skills, and improve an individual's quality of life.

As a behavior specialist, the PBSP ensures that the implemented strategies include:

● Understanding the function of each behavior.

○ Access

○ Tangible

○ Escape

○ Sensory

○ Physical

● Observing the environment and routines to reduce triggers.

● Provide Proactive strategies and Reactive strategies.

● Teaching new, appropriate/functional behaviors to meet the same needs or align with the function.

● Increase independence and communication.

● Promote safety and coping skills.

Proactive strategies are best described as planning and implementing services before problem behavior arises. These strategies can include preferences and strategies to maintain the client in a positive baseline when in their environments. Individuals with cognitive delays struggle with sudden changes or when given instructions/tasks. Implementing and understanding the individual-specific triggers are essential for every staff member to understand and identify, to help best support that individual daily.

Reactive strategies are important as well to determine how the supports can react to certain

behaviors after they occur. The proactive strategies are useful tools to prevent behavior, and

reactive strategies are tools to utilize when the behavior has already occurred.

Understanding how to respond is essential for staff to understand to ensure that the behavior is not adversely reinforced and that functional replacement of the behavior occurs. The staff response is a crucial component in how the behavior is maintained and can help decrease over time.

Training staff effectively ensures that the implementation and understanding of the plan are

applied correctly to the individual. Without strong training, different evidence-based approaches can be misapplied and ignored. It was systematically reviewed by Mahon et al., (2021), who analyzed 32 different case studies to understand the types of training, different methods of improvement, and the impact on the lives of those who receive these trained supports. In the research conducted by Mahon et al. (2021), it was found that the most effective training models combined different factors such as:

● Instructions (What to do)

● Modeling (How to do it)

● Practice (Try it)

● Providing Feedback (Redefine it)

● Coaching (Substitute it)

Single feedback with a supervisor or behavior analyst showed long-term impact on the staff & overall retention and training understanding. Ongoing coaching and understanding of their role led to lasting improvement in how staff delivered PBSP.

The importance of training and why training matters:

Training staff effectively is a responsibility and a necessity in a field that is prone to burnout and frustration. The people who are supported have deficits in cognitive reasoning and require patience and well-prepared individuals to provide appropriate support. When training is implemented effectively, it empowers staff and creates a supportive and proactive environment. With the correct training, staff become skilled, confident individuals ensuring people with disability receive respectful and effective support.

Author: Veronica Mireles, Miren Behavior Consultant

Reference: Mahon, J., Reeves, E., Healy, O., & Leader, G. (2021). A systematic review of training methods to increase staff’s knowledge and implementation of positive behaviour support in residential and day settings for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support, 11(1), 36–51.