Positive behaviour support Getting it right from the start

60 Positive behaviour support: Getting it right from the start - Facilitators reference manual
PowerPoint 84
PowerPoint 85
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Step 2: What happens, before, during and after the behaviour?
Now that we know what the behaviour is, we need to gather as much information as possible
about the behaviour.
• What happens before the behaviour? (Setting events: triggers and warning signs)
• What happens during the behaviour? (Action: What did the person actually do? What did it
look like?)
• What happens after the behaviour? (Results: What is the person getting from the behaviour?)
It is not necessary here to be able to identify exactly what triggered the incident. This is
sometimes difficult. Our task is to take careful note of relevant events that preceded the episode.
By doing this we will often be able to uncover patterns in the behaviour. As mentioned earlier,
behaviour is often predictable: that is if A happens B will follow.
Setting events, triggers and warning signs
In identifying setting events it is important to consider possible background factors. What was
happening in the environment? Where did the behaviour occur? Who was there at the time?
General setting events
The following events may influence whether the behaviour occurs.
Factors external to the person
• Staff changes
• Level of structure in the
environment
• Activity levels in the environment
• Level of stress or tension in the
environment
• Isolation
• Noise levels.
Action
Factors internal to the individual
• Pain
• Hunger
• Stress
• Tension
• Depression
• Tiredness
• Frustration
• Medical factors (medical
conditions, medication and
side effects).
Warning signs that the
individual displays to indicate
that something is not quite right
• Person withdraws
• Repetitive questioning
• Facial expression changes
• Mood changes
• Pacing
• Over activeness
• Difficulty attending to task.
Describing what the person actually did? What did the behaviour look like?
Examples:
• Person used left fist to hit co-resident Mary on the head twice.
• Banged back of head on wall five times.
• Picked up television with both hands and threw it towards the window. The window did
not break.
• Person picked up chair with both hands and threw it across the kitchen towards staff member.
Results: Identifying the result or outcome is about developing an understanding of what the
person is getting from the behaviour that motivates them to do it again and again that is what
happens following the behaviour that achieves an important result for the person.