A practitioners’ definition of Positive Behaviour Support

Purpose The purpose of this article is to provide a definition of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), developed by a group of practitioners of PBS, in the United Kingdom (UK). Design/methodology/approach The definition was developed through a series of online meetings with a group of practitioners, and through reference to the existing research. Findings A definition is presented in the form of 9 defining characteristics. These include a specific underpinning philosophy (functional contextualism), a focus on promoting quality of life, rights, relationships, the use of Applied Behaviour Analysis, functional assessment to inform function-based strategies, the provision of multielement support, collaborative working and implementation support. Originality/value There are numerous pre-existing definitions of PBS. However, this article seeks to present a definition specifically from the perspective of practitioners in the United Kingdom.