What is Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)? 

• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a person-centred framework for providing support to people with learning disabilities, including those with additional support needs such as autism, or those with behavioural challenges. 
• PBS has an overall aim to improve quality of life, and to provide the right support at the right time, so that people can thrive, be happy and fulfil their potential. 
• PBS supports human rights and promotes a life without unnecessary restriction. 
• PBS means treating people equally and working in partnership with people with learning disabilities and their families. 

Positive Behaviour Support Community of Practice Scotland 

Following the publication of the Coming Home report in 2018, the Scottish Government made a commitment to develop a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Community of Practice for Scotland. 

Read SCLD’s Position Statement on PBS.

Read an Easy Read summary.

Read the Scottish Government’s Position Statement on PBS in Scotland

The PBS Community of Practice (CoP) for Scotland is led by a steering group of key stakeholders, including professionals and family carers who have experience and expertise in PBS, and who work at a strategic level.   

The PBS CoP is chaired by Dr Anne MacDonald (Scottish Government and University of Glasgow).  

The PBS Community of Practice Scotland is focused on:

• Leading the dialogue and discussion about PBS in Scotland
• Supporting the implementation of PBS in Scotland
• Delivering national events and webinars on PBS
• Sharing good practice and learning about PBS
• Ensuring that all sectors providing services to people with learning disabilities are well represented and involved with the work of the CoP.

We hope the PBS CoP will become a national focal point for all who have an interest in PBS and it’s use to support people with learning disabilities.

Understanding the PBS interactive learning resource

This interactive learning resource has been developed to introduce you to PBS. This resource is free for anyone to access via the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and National Education for Scotland (NES) websites. 

You can access ‘Understanding PBS’ – an interactive learning resource on the SSSC Learning Zone page. 

Homepage of the PBS interactive resource

Further information

• Sign up to our mailing list to receive our latest news, plus details of webinars and developments.
• To access PBS resources, follow the link to our Google Drive.
• Find out more about the history of PBS – Download the Evolution of PBS in Scotland PDF.

The Evolution of PBS