Contribution of occupational therapists in positive behaviour support

Abstract

Positive behaviour support employs specific strategies which aim to both reduce the incidence of behaviours of concern and enhance the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities. This study aims to identify activities and experiences of occupational therapists working in behaviour support contexts to understand how they see their contributions in this area. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 10 occupational therapists who have provided behaviour support for people with intellectual disabilities. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Three major themes emerged from the interview data: contextualising and understanding behaviour; occupational therapy - why and how?; and 'challenges, strengths and expanding horizons'. Participants saw themselves as providing an occupational perspective in the delivery of behaviour support, to individuals with behaviour support needs. They highlighted that this was achieved utilising their skills and knowledge about positive behaviour support strategies. Their approaches were seen as drawing on: their understanding of neurological function and how it relates to a person's occupational engagement; combining occupationally focussed approaches with behavioural analysis methodology to guide practice; and advocating for person-centred interventions. These observations form the basis for exploring ways in which occupational therapists can advance their contributions in positive behaviour support settings.