Positive Behaviour Support and Reducing Restrictive Practice
Recognise restrictive practice, understand why people's behaviour changes, and support people in ways that protect their rights
A short presenter-led introduction to “Positive Behaviour Support and Reducing Restrictive Practice” will appear here.
About this course
This course is for care and support workers who support people whose behaviour may challenge services, including people with a learning disability, autism, dementia or a mental health condition. It explains what restrictive practice is, the law and rights that govern it in England, including the 2026 change to the meaning of deprivation of liberty, and how to understand behaviour as communication. It then covers positive behaviour support plans, preventive and early-response strategies, and what must be true if a restrictive intervention is ever used as a last resort. It is an awareness-level course and does not teach restraint. Five modules, eighteen lessons, around two hours, finishing with an assessment and a SupportiveBridge certificate.
What you'll learn
- By the end of this module, you will be able to explain what restrictive practice is, recognise it in everyday care, and describe why reducing it protects people's safety, dignity and rights.
- By the end of this module, you will be able to describe the main laws and rights that govern restrictive practice in England, including the 2026 change to the meaning of deprivation of liberty, and explain your own part in keeping within them.
- By the end of this module, you will be able to explain why people may behave in ways that challenge, describe what positive behaviour support is, and record behaviour factually so it can be understood.
- By the end of this module, you will be able to explain what a behaviour support plan contains, carry out preventive and early-response strategies as written in a person's plan, and know when to ask for help.
- By the end of this module, you will be able to describe what must be true if a restrictive intervention is used as a last resort, record and report it properly, take part in a debrief, and play your part in reducing restrictive practice.