Challenging behaviour and learning disabilities: prevention and interventions for people with learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges

NICE has written advice about good support for people with a learning disability and behaviour that challenges.

The advice is for everyone who works with children, young people and adults with a learning disability, and their families and carers.

We've produced an EasyRead version of our advice about good, safe support.

If you have a learning disability you may want to look at this with support from a family member, friend or carer.

View the EasyRead version about support

People sometimes behave in a challenging way when things are not right for them. This advice is about:

• making sure you always have a say in your care
• making a plan together to support your behaviour
• helping staff look out for things that might not be right for you and deal with problems early
• thinking about how your health might affect your behaviour
• making sure staff know how to keep you safe
• giving your family and carers support too.

We want this advice to help people with a learning disability, and their families and carers, get the right care and support to live a good life.  

NICE has also written advice about services for people with a learning disability and behaviour that challenges.

It goes with this advice about good support.

View the EasyRead version of our advice about services

There is also a short video explaining the advice. 

NICE has also worked with experts to agree 12 things that services could do to make the most difference to people’s care. This is called a quality standard.

• There is 1 person in charge of all local services for people with a learning disability, who knows what people need.
• You have a detailed health check up every year.
• You are asked about the things that might make you behave in a way that challenges in an assessment. This is so staff can understand you and help stop it happening.
• You have 1 person that you can contact if you have questions or need help from different services.
• Your family or carers help plan your support and know what to do if you have a crisis.
• Parents or carers of children under 12 get special training.
• You can do an activity every day that you enjoy.
• You can get support close to home from specialist staff.
• You have choice about where to live.
• If staff need to restrict you (like holding you) to keep you safe they should write down what they do and talk about how to make things better for you.
• You are only given medicine to help your behaviour if you have talking therapy too.
• If you are taking medicine staff should check often if it is working and if you can stop taking it.

These people can give you more advice and support.

Their information is not written by NICE.

• Mencap, 0808 808 1111
• Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
• The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
• Include Me TOO, 01902 711604/399888
• The Judith Trust.

NICE wrote this guideline with people who have a learning disability, their families and carers and staff who support them. All the decisions are based on the best research available.

ISBN: 978-1-4731-2908-5