Positive Behaviour Support Service (PBSS)

Part of Knowsley's Local Offer ( Knowsley Local Offer )

What is the key purpose of your service and how does it contribute to better outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability and their families

• The key point of the service is support individuals whose behaviours challenge and their families and care providers to decrease challenging behaviour and increase quality of life. The service uses Applied Behavioural Analysis principles to determine function of behaviour through functional asessment and design person centred intervention. In the long term the service aims to reduce challenging behaviour, but also provide the caregivers around the child with strategies and knowledge to recognise function of behaviour and enable them to provide effective support without PBSS Guidance.
• There are 4 different types of responses from the team. The first, Technical Support, referrals which are made to the team and a functional assessment and intervention is carried out in all environment’s the child access’s. The second Crisis Prevention is training support for parents/ carers to support individuals who may engage in behaviour that challenges in the future. Lastly Placement development is where we support individuals to return to their home or local community from out of borough placements.  The service also offers one of training responses.

What are the typical activities that you do?

• Each case has 3 different phases. Firstly an assessment phase, this is where we will carry out interviews and questionnaires with the people closest to the individual referred.  Observations are conducted in the different environment the individual access's and data is collected to provide us with information around the behaviour of concern. When all information is collected the function of behaviour will be hypothesised through the write up of a functional assessment, and an intervention plan will be devised.
• The second phase the service will support families and other professionals to introduce intervention. Families and carers will be trained in Applied Behaviour Analysis and then supported to introduce intervention. Data is still taken during this phase to monitor the effectiveness of intervention.
• The third stage is maintenance; the team slowly fade out supporting the family and/or caregiver.  For a time period continue to monitor to ensure that behaviours continue to reduce.

Do you provide any on-going support?

• Yes, support is provided to families to implement plans, this is withdrawn over time once behaviour have reduced.

Where are your main locations and do you work across the whole local authority area?

• The service covers the whole authority.

Are there any differences in your offer in different parts of the local authority area?

• No. 

What types of need and age ranges do you cover?

• The service is available to both adults and children whose behaviour is challenging services.

 
What are the eligibility criteria to use your service?

• Individuals referred will have a mild to severe learning disability and/or autism.
  
  

Are there any types of disabilities that you do not provide for?

•  See above

Can I make direct contact or would there need to be a referral from someone else and if so, who?

• Social Workers, Educational Psychologists and CAMHS can make referrals, N.B. please see PBSS referral pathway and flow diagram from service for further details.

Do you charge for the service and if so what are the costs?

• No charge

Can I use my personal budget to pay for the service or to add to the service?

• N/A

Are there any waiting lists and if so, how long are they?

• Yes there is a waiting list. Unfortunately due to the nature of the service we are unable to give a time scale of waiting times
                                                                                  

How are decisions made about who can use your service and who makes them?

• Once a referral is made, a panel will check the referral meets criteria. If the criteria is met the referral is triaged and placed at the appropriate level on a waiting list.

 
How will I know the reasons behind their decisions?

• The criteria would need to be met to be accepted.

How will you help me understand them?

• The service can be contacted to support explanation 0151 511 8444.

Does your service have a complaints policy and where can I see it?

• Complaints can be made to the Principle Manager of the team.
• Maria Saville MSc, BCBA, Behaviour Analyst, Principal Manager, Positive Behaviour Support Service, Halton Borough Council, Town Hall, Heath Rd, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 5TD.  Email: Maria.Saville@halton.gov.uk  Telephone: 0151 511 8668

How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making/planning?

• All interventions are person-centred; we will use a variety of different methods to seek the views of the service user such as Visual Support and signing.

What leaflets and information do you have?

• The service can be contacted for further information.

How does the service communicate with parent carers whose first language is not English?

• Support would be sourced from interpreter.

 
How will I know how well my child or young person is doing?

• The service is a data driven service, and data will be continuously taken and monitored.

Do you offer any parent training or learning events?

• Yes, training is offered to parents whilst they are on the waiting list.  We also hold training events in conjuncion with Bluebell Park and Central Primary School.

Is you service fully accessible?

• The service works in the environment’s in which the service user access, therefore this question is not applicable.

What training and accreditation do the staff supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability have or are having?  Are there any specialist staff?

• All Behaviour Analysts have completed an Applied Behaviour Analysis Masters, and have or are working towards Board Certified Behaviour Analytic (BCBA) qualification.

 
Do any other services work closely with yours?

• We work closely with all services who work around the individual.

 
Who can I contact for further information?

• This question is not applicable as due to the nature of the team we would be unable to discuss behaviour if the case has not been accepted as a referral.