'It's been adapted rather than impacted': A qualitative evaluation of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the positive behavioural support of people with an intellectual disability and/or autism

Abstract

Background: We used a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of social care staff regarding the provision of positive behavioural support (PBS) to people with an intellectual disability at the height of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 staff who had recently completed a PBS workforce development programme. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Three themes were identified in the context of the restrictions: The challenges to maintaining quality of life and PBS of the people being supported and staff attempts to overcome these; the ways in which PBS and behaviour support plans were implemented and the impact on behaviours that challenge; the ways in which PBS principles were applied at organisational levels to help to understand and address staff stress and distress.

Conclusions: Overall, the staff identified many unexpected benefits of the restrictions. The results are discussed in the context of the study limitations.

Keywords: behaviours that challenge; covid-19; intellectual disability; positive behavioural support; qualitative; quality of life.