ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a brief description of challenging behaviour and outlines three approaches that are important to effective management, personal safety and the care and quality of life of the person presenting the behaviours labelled ‘challenging’: the use of interpersonal skills, the sensitive planning of routines, and physical environment and positive reinforcement and behavioural approaches. Dealing with behaviours described as ‘challenging’ can be anxiety-provoking, challenging in itself, and can leave a void in one’s sense of control. ‘Challenging behaviour’ refers to actions observable by their commission or omission, and their resulting consequences. The challenge for social work practitioners is to analyse and understand the meaning of and intention underlying the behaviour, which can lead to the design of effective interventions. In order to begin a behavioural programme to manage challenging behaviour effectively, a period of observation, monitoring and recording is first necessary.
