Why PBS Staff Training Needs More Than a One-Off Session

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) isn’t just about having trained staff. It’s about having staff who understand, reflect, and apply those principles daily — especially when supporting people with learning disabilities who communicate through behaviour.


📅 One Session Doesn’t Build a PBS Culture

Yes, a single day of training ticks a box. But commissioners and inspectors are looking for something deeper: signs that your organisation is embedding PBS into everyday practice.

That means:

  • 🔁 Ongoing training and refreshers — not just induction
  • 💬 Supervision focused on practice, not just paperwork
  • 🧠 Staff who can explain why they do what they do

🛠️ Practical Skills and Real-Life Examples

Good PBS training should be grounded in your real-world support work — not just generic slides. Include practice scenarios, reflective discussion, and follow-up so staff can test and embed what they’ve learned.

Ask yourself: would a new staff member in week four of your service know how to respond to early signs of distress? Could they explain your approach to avoiding restrictive practice?


🧾 How to Evidence This in Tenders

Don’t just say “PBS trained.” Show the journey:

  • 📚 How you train (and re-train)
  • 👥 How managers support practice
  • 📈 How you evaluate understanding over time

The best learning disability bids give real examples: how training has changed outcomes, prevented incidents, or helped staff interpret behaviour as communication.


🎯 Show You’re Building a PBS Workforce

Commissioners want reassurance that PBS is more than a buzzword. Use tenders to show how you build confidence and competence — and how that supports safer, more personalised care for people with learning disabilities.


    Written by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd — specialists in bid writing and strategy for social care providers

    Visit impact-guru.co.uk to browse downloadable strategies, method statements, or get in touch about tender support.

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