'It's Been Adapted Rather than Impacted': A Qualitative Evaluation of the Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Positive Behavioural Support of People with an Intellectual Disability and/or Autism

Background: We used a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of social care staff regarding the provision of positive behavioural support (PBS) to people with an intellectual disability at the height of the COVID-19 restrictions. Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 staff who had recently completed a PBS workforce development programme. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified in the context of the restrictions: The challenges to maintaining quality of life and PBS of the people being supported and staff attempts to overcome these; the ways in which PBS and behaviour support plans were implemented and the impact on behaviours that challenge; the ways in which PBS principles were applied at organisational levels to help to understand and address staff stress and distress. Conclusions: Overall, the staff identified many unexpected benefits of the restrictions. The results are discussed in the context of the study limitations.