The impact of COVID‐19 restrictions in the United Kingdom on the positive behavioural support of people with an intellectual disability

The way that people with an intellectual disability are supported is very important. The COVID‐19 virus has changed the way that staff help people with an intellectual disability. We wanted to know about those changes and whether learning about positive behavioural support (PBS) helped staff to cope with them. The main changes were that people with an intellectual disability could not go out or see family and friends as often. Staff came up with new things to do for the people they supported, and PBS learning seemed to help staff to cope. ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that COVID‐19 and the associated restrictions are likely to have a negative impact on the provision of positive behavioural support (PBS) to people with an intellectual disability. METHODS: Fifty‐eight staff, who had recently completed an accredited positive behavioural support (PBS) programme, responded to an online questionnaire, which asked them to rate the impact of COVID‐19 on factors related to PBS. RESULTS: Participants reported a neutral or somewhat positive impact on all the areas measured, with the exception of the activities and quality of life of those they supported, which were somewhat negatively affected. The participants rated the learning from their PBS programme as helping them cope with COVID‐19 to some extent. Examples of positive and negative effects and ways in which PBS helped staff to cope are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Many staff developed creative solutions that allowed them to provide PBS despite the COVID‐19 restrictions. PBS learning appeared to help staff cope with the negative impact of the restrictions.