Designing specialist community-based behavioural support teams

Background: Given concern over inpatient treatment models for individuals with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour, there has been increased interest in specialist community-based behavioural support teams in the UK. Methods: We discuss the approaches, priorities and outcomes specialist community-based behavioural support teams should be focused on by examining research, outputs from the Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) Academy and drawing on professional experience. Results: We propose that teams should adopt the PBS framework intervention model, targeting vulnerability/ impact factors and maintaining processes, in a preventative, multi-disciplinary model. The use of standardised measures (baseline and post-input) supports service evaluation. Specialised community-based behavioural support teams should report outcomes of case work to commissioners of services including quality of life and social validity impacts. Conclusions: We conclude that teams should additionally contribute to proactive service wide approaches that include developing capable environments, policy, training and screening. We discuss service capacity and qualification requirements, and consider the importance of practice leadership.