What is PBS? Let’s spread the word
We still have a lot of work to do to help more people understand what PBS is and how in North Wales PBS is helping us improve many aspects of good support. Here are some of the things we are asking people to do:
- Look at and share the PBS pages on the new North Wales Together website https://northwalestogether.org/the-right-support/positive-behaviour-support-pbs/
- Share the film and easy read in as many ways as you can!
- Organise 1-hour PBS awareness workshops for as many people as you can. Anyone with knowledge of PBS can run these. The workshop plan can be found here https://northwalestogether.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PBS-Awareness-Workshop.pdf and there are English and Welsh language easy read invites on our website too.
- Share what you are doing to raise awareness with your PBS county group.
Beyond North Wales, a group of us will be travelling to Bristol in May to open the BILD International PBS Conference with our film and a discussion. We’ll also be running two workshops at the event.
There is still lots of confusion about PBS so here are some extra points which might help you to clarify what PBS is in your conversations:
- PBS is NOT restraint training nor is it mainly about how we respond to unsafe behaviours. PBS is about understanding people and getting their support right all of the time. PBS advocates for reductions in the use of all restrictive practices.
- PBS is about getting support right. Getting support right day-to-day is sometimes called creating a ‘capable environment’. This includes things like person-centred approaches, active support, trauma-informed care, supporting communication and sensory needs etc.
- PBS is a tiered model. We can get support right for most people using the kinds of skills listed above. Some people need more specialist support (tier 2) and some people need intensive support from a range of specialists (tier 3). All the specialists that can support this in North Wales have agreed to use PBS as a shared approach. Whoever is involved and however big the risks there is a commitment to support being person-centred and compassionate.
Events
PBS Co-ordinators workshop – This will be held on January 29th. There are about 50 people booked to attend. Here is the agenda:
| Time | Activity |
| 9.30am | Arrival and drinks |
| 10am | North Wales Together Welcome, Introduction to the day and Update |
| 10.20am | What is your role? Activity and discussion – you will need your phones! |
| 10.40am | Learning Disability Nursing and Specialist Behaviour Support Service |
| 11.00am | Children’s learning disability psychology and other health services |
| 11.10am | Local Authorities role in PBS – Tracy Jones, Wrexham |
| 11.20am | Questions following the presentations |
| 11.30am | Break |
| 11.45am | Who does what as part of the tiered model of PBS? Creating a map for the region and for your organisation. |
| 12.45pm | Lunch |
| 1.15pm | Most Significant Change story gatherer training |
| 2.00pm | Reviewing PBS – Focus Session |
| 2.45pm | Evaluation, questions and reflections on the day |
| 3pm | Close |
PBS Community of Practice – Wednesday April 29th at Conwy Business Centre.
- Theme: Good PBS – Good Lives.
- 71 people booked so far.
- 22 possible presentations, sessions and displays so far including some big names and some great local best practice examples. Thanks to everyone who offered.
- Great feedback on the booking form in terms of what people want.
- Events planning meeting 2 Feb at 11am to review the offers for sessions and discuss the agenda. Anyone welcome to join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/32027497765676?p=HYjtsSqGWGbgWcrgx0
PBS Community of Practice – March 2027
- We have agreed to organise another event before the end of the RIF funding period in early March 2027. Date TBC.
PBS County Groups – Regular meetings now happening in all areas. Please could County groups:
- Share the PBS news
- Discuss their county PBS plan from the Senior Leaders PBS programme
- Discuss co-production (see below)
Co-production
The PBS Co-production group are looking for a new venue and members and until then do not have any planned meetings.
We would also like to encourage PBS County groups to review the PBS Co-production page of the website and discuss how co-production of PBS can be improved and embedded more widely. https://northwalestogether.org/the-right-support/positive-behaviour-support-pbs/involving-people-and-families-with-pbs-co-production/
Training
Good PBS – Good Lives – The first 70 Trainer packs have now been printed. We will be offering two open sessions to see the 2-day course in action in March: March 3rd and 4th and March 17th and 18th both at the OpTIC Centre in St Asaph. If you are considering becoming a trainer or want to see the course to decide if it would be a good fit for your organisation please come along. Contact belinda.bradley@flintshire.gov.uk to book a space. These will be delivered by Dr Maggie Hoeger and Belinda Bradley.
Trainer and Practice Leader programme – The first cohort of 20 trainers have started their trainer and practice leader training programme this month. If they were all to train and coach 20 people this year that’s 400 people who will have completed the 2-day training and had the all-important coaching support to put their learning into action!
Families training – Families training has been identified as a priority for 2026. The aim is to develop a family training strategy, map existing training offers and trial and evaluate options. If you would like to contribute to this strategy please contact Belinda.
Qualifications funding – Within the next two weeks we plan to advertise the opportunity to apply for funded qualifications places focusing on the BILD level 4 and 5 qualifications. Funding is very limited and if applications are similar to last year then we expect applications to far outnumber the funding available.
Future Plans
Future plans are being developed based on feedback from the PBS steering group and the LD Partnership, county PBS plans developed as part of the BILD Senior Leaders training and the soon to be released LD strategy. These will be discussed at the PBS steering group on 19th March at 9.30am.