Learning disability care provider CMG has developed its own accreditation to recognise excellence in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), which, the organisation says, is transforming the lives of the individuals it supports.
Although PBS is embedded in government policy and widely promoted by charities and campaign groups for the role it plays in reducing hospital re-admissions, there has been no move on a national level to develop an accreditation that support providers can aim towards. In the absence of a UK-wide certificate, CMG decided to develop its own PBS award to ensure it is central to the support it provides.
In the 5 services to be awarded the accreditation, the greater emphasis being placed on PBS is already having an impact. For example, at a service in Hove, one person CMG supports has gone from being excluded from many community activities because of physically challenging behaviour to having built his self-esteem so much that he has been able to learn sign language, Spanish, maintain employment and travel to Barcelona.
The turnaround has largely been attributed to the bespoke plan CMG staff developed to help reduce challenging behaviour – this included developing common interests with staff members and setting small goals for the individual to achieve.
So far, the accreditation has been awarded to CMG services in Brighton and Hove, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, while services in Wales, Essex and London are also taking steps towards achieving it.
To achieve the accreditation, support and management teams take part in sessions aimed at providing them with an understanding of best practice in PBS. What they learn there is put into practice as they then develop bespoke plans for those people who are shown to present with behaviours which challenge.
Once a service reaches the outcomes identified in CMG’s Accreditation Framework, which are based on measures like quality of life outcomes, enhanced skill levels for individuals and minimising restrictive practices, they become eligible for the accreditation.
Michael Fullerton, clinical director at CMG, said: “A lot of what has been published at a national level on PBS can be quite technical. That’s why we wanted to create this accreditation – so staff at every level can understand its benefits and practice it in a jargon-free way for the benefit of the people we support across England and South Wales.
“You can see how much of a difference it’s already making in the five services [that] have gained the accreditation and we’re looking forward to introducing it more widely in the near future.”
Peter Kinsey, chief executive of CMG, added: “Introducing the accreditation highlights the lead CMG is taking in putting the people we support at the very heart of everything we do.
“PBS is proven to enhance the lives of people living with learning disabilities, which is why we’re delighted that all CMG services will be making a move towards gaining this accreditation very soon.”
