Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a widely recognised framework for supporting people at risk of presenting with behaviours of concern and improving overall quality of life for people. At its core, PBS emphasises understanding the underlying causes of behaviour, teaching alternative skills, and creating supportive environments that reinforce positive actions. A key element of those supportive environments and the success of PBS is the ability of the service and the staff team to be able to maximise the participation and engagement of the people they support in their daily lives.
This blog explores why participation and engagement are critical in PBS and practical strategies to enhance them.
Why Participation and Engagement Matters in PBS
Participation and engagement are essential for several reasons:
- Increases Active Involvement
One of the key issues in residential and supported living settings, often linked with behaviours of concern, is that the person does not have anything to do for significant periods of time during the day. This is particularly an issue for people who have higher support needs. They are often very reliant on staff teams to help them engage in activities that they might enjoy or gain as sense of accomplishment from. Having a focus on maximising participation and engagement helps to reduce unoccupied time and the potential for behaviours of concern.
- Strengthens Relationships
Participation fosters collaboration between the person and those supporting them. Stronger relationships built on trust and communication enhance the effectiveness of PBS by creating a supportive environment where individuals feel understood, respected, and encouraged to succeed.
- Supports Skill Development
Active engagement provides opportunities for learning and practicing new skills. Whether it’s communication, activities which support independence, social interaction, or coping strategies, skills are reinforced through repeated, meaningful practice. When people are supported to engaged in these activities regularly, they are more to be able to use these skills more independently.
5. Supports Ownership and Responsibility
When individuals participate in planning and decision-making, they develop a sense of ownership over their life. This sense of control can lead to increased motivation, responsibility, and self-determination—core principles in PBS.
Strategies to Increase Participation and Engagement
Maximising participation and engagement requires intentional planning and flexibility. Here are several approaches that practitioners can employ:
- Build Trust and Rapport
Trust is foundational for engagement. Teams who demonstrate empathy, consistency, and respect are more likely to gain a person’s confidence. Simple actions such as active listening, validating feelings, and responding predictably can strengthen relationships and encourage participation.
- Use Person-Centered Planning
Person-Centered Planning (PCP) places the individual at the center of decision-making. By actively involving the person and/or their circle of support in goal setting and progress review, PCP ensures that PBS strategies are aligned with their priorities, strengths, and interests. This increases motivation and investment in the process.
- Provide Choice and Autonomy
Allowing people to make choices about how they participate fosters engagement and empowers them. Options can include choosing the task, deciding the order of tasks making choices throughout at tasks at various choice points. Autonomy increases motivation and promotes a sense of ownership.
- Incorporate Interests and Strengths
Arranging activities around a person’s interests and strengths increases engagement. For example, if a person enjoys being active then an activity which involves lots of movement will help to increase the likelihood of them participating in the activity. Leveraging strengths fosters confidence.
- Use Visual Supports and Structured Routines
Visual supports, schedules, and structured routines help people understand expectations and remain engaged. Visual cues, such as charts, checklists, or symbols, make abstract concepts concrete, reducing anxiety and promoting active participation. Structured routines provide consistency, making it easier for individuals to follow interventions reliably.
- Use an Active Support Approach
Active Support is a specific approach to training support teams to maximise participation and engagement. It helps staff to understand how to break tasks down, give the right level of support and make the whole activity rewarding for the person. You can read more about Active Support here https://redstonepbs.co.uk/active-support-why-its-key-to-pbs/
- Foster Collaborative Problem-Solving
Encourage both staff and people supported to participate in solving challenges or barriers to engagement. Collaborative problem-solving promotes critical thinking, self-reflection, and shared responsibility. When everyone contributes to finding solutions, they feel respected and valued.
Challenges and Considerations
While increasing participation and engagement is crucial, services and teams should be mindful of potential challenges:
- Time and Resource Demands: Strategies like Person-Centered Planning and collaborative problem-solving require time and effort.
- Balancing Structure with Flexibility: Plans must balance predictable routines with opportunities for choice and autonomy.
- Individual Differences: Engagement strategies should be tailored to different skills sets, communication styles, and cultural backgrounds.
- Resistance or Low Motivation: Some people may initially struggle to participate; consistent rapport-building and gradual introduction of activities can help overcome this barrier.
Conclusion
Participation and engagement are an essential part of Positive Behaviour Support—they are essential for maximising effectiveness. Engaged people are more motivated, less bored and less likely to present with behaviours of concern. They are also more capable of practicing skills that help them to have a sense of autonomy and a good quality of life.
Redstone Tips – consider the following questions.
- How are your teams supporting participation and engagement?
- What systems do you have in place for this?
- What barriers are your teams coming across?
If you would like to learn more about Active Support Coaching in Practice Programme get in touch info@redstonepbs.co.uk or call 0161 327 4511
Author
Kate Strutt – Director of Redstone PBS and Clinical Psychologist.
Kate has over 25 years experience of working with adults and children with intellectual disabilities and those who are autistic, both within statutory services and the independent sector. Kate is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. Bsc Psychology, D.Clin Psyc, MSc Applied Behaviour Analysis.
