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The Advanced Diploma in Leading Positive Behavioural Support in organisations, develops knowledge, understanding and competence in using PBS. It also enables the facilitation of practice-based learning, competency assessment and ongoing supervision of others within their own organisation providing support to those with learning disability and/or autism with or at risk of behaviours that challenge.

The programme is provided at 2 levels to offer flexibility to those who lead or manage staff, who may have differing academic profiles and entry levels. At each level, the student will engage with, critically analyse, and evaluate the theory of PBS as an approach. Students will understand and apply the core concepts in practice, critically reflecting on their own practice and that of others in contributing to functional behaviour assessment, and the factors that may influence behaviour. Students will collect and synthesise data, drawing conclusions regarding behaviour (formulation) and develop, implement, and critically evaluate behaviour support plans. Students will develop expert knowledge in PBS and be assessed in theory and in practice. 

Students will develop knowledge and skills in developing and assessing the proficiency of others within their organisation and giving constructive feedback and support using a coaching approach. Students will provide ongoing supervision to team members who are using a PBS approach in practice

Programme Aims

  • To develop knowledge in the principles and theory underpinning positive behavioural support
  • To develop competence in completing functional behaviour assessment, implementing, and evaluating positive behavioural support plans
  • To develop competence in leading positive behavioural support

Course Structure

The programmes are made up of 3 modules each worth 20 credits, totalling 60 credits, delivered over 12 months. They will be delivered via blended learning, which involves remote delivery, university-based contact days, on-line supported learning, guided study, practice-based learning & competency assessment, and academic assessment. On successful completion of this programme, participants will achieve an Advanced Diploma (level 6) or Post Graduate Certificate (level 7).

Application process

You must follow the below steps to apply for this programme. Further information will be provided closer to the timescales.

  • Information sessions (usually occur April/May)
  • More information on the programme and the overall workforce development approach to PBS is provided.
  • Expression of interest application process (May/June)
  • You will be asked to submit an individual and organisational expression of interest application. Both must be submitted in order to progress to the interview stage.
  • Interview process (June/July)
  • University application and enrolment process (July/August)
  • Start date for the programme September

 

This programme is part of a regional workforce development approach to PBS. It focuses on increasing the infrastructure within organisations.

The programme includes both academic and competency based assessment and requires you to attend supervision, which is unlike other programmes at this level of study. 

Course Information

Level of Study
Undergraduate

Mode of Study
1 year Part Time (Distance Learning)

Location
Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2025

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

TBC

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: TBC

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.


International Fee in Year 1: TBC


Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

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Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

AC6676 -

Applying Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) in Practice PBS (Core,20 Credits)

This module enables you to develop the knowledge, skills and values required to lead the process of functional behavioural assessment and develop, implement and evaluate a behaviour support plan (BSP) to support the specific needs of an individual with a learning disability and behaviour that challenges. It includes learning activities related to functional behaviour assessment, an analysis of the social and physical environment as well as mediator analysis to understand the context for the behaviour and implementation of the plan.

You will develop skills in gathering appropriate history, establishing clear descriptions of behaviour and obtaining information about factors that may contribute to challenging behaviour e.g. communication, level of social, cognitive, emotional skills/abilities and mental illness. You will utilise a range of assessment strategies and measures/tools e.g., checklists, questionnaires, interviews, observation and evaluate their respective validity and reliability. You will interpret this data and use the 4-term contingency to generate a formulation as to the function of the challenging behaviour.

This module will enable you to lead the development and implementation of a BSP with a range of strategies designed to improve an individual’s quality of life and reduce the likelihood of behaviour that challenges. You will learn how to monitor/review the effectiveness of a BSP and address attitudinal, individual and environmental barriers to its successful implementation.

As well as enabling you to meet the requirements of a Northumbria Award it will also enable you to demonstrate behaviour specialist/supervisor/manager competencies of The PBS Coalition Competence Framework (2015) nationally recognised as best practice in this field.

More information

AC6677 -

Leading PBS in Organisations (Core,20 Credits)

This module will enable you to lead PBS in your organisation. You will have developed your knowledge and proficiency in PBS in the previous two modules including the ability to contribute to assessing behaviour, as well the development, implementation and review of behaviour support plans. This module enables you to critically analyse and apply the most effective strategies to facilitate learning in adults and act as a leader of learning within your organisation to others who are learning about and developing their proficiency in PBS. You will do this through a coaching approach providing support, supervision and feedback to others as they learn

You will analyse how adults learn knowledge, skills and values, and how to best facilitate the development of each. You will learn how to model good practice, how to coach and support others when they are learning, and how to give effective feedback on performance. You will observe and assess proficiency in PBS of staff within your organisation, applying your understanding of factors which improve the validity and reliability of assessment. You will analyse and apply theories and models of supervision demonstrating ability to provide effective ongoing supervision to others utilising PBS plans and providing feed-back which is supportive, constructive and helps individuals reflect upon and develop their own practice. You will learn about other system wide aspects which influence the ability of the workforce to use PBS in practice; these include leadership, allocating resources effectively, and understanding, developing and utilising policies and practices central to safe effective PBS.

As well as to meeting the requirements of a Northumbria Award the module enables you to demonstrate the behaviour specialist/supervisor/manager competencies in the PBS Coalition Competence Framework (2015) nationally recognised as best practice for those who support people with learning disabilities /autism with challenging behaviour.

More information

AC6678 -

Principles of Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) (Core,20 Credits)

This module enables you to develop the knowledge, skills and values required to understand the Principles of the Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) approach to support someone with autism/a learning disability who displays behaviour that challenges. It enables you to meet the requirements of a Northumbria Award and evidence relevant competencies identified in the PBS Coalition Competence Framework (2015) nationally recognised as best practice.
The module helps you to critically analyse the meaning and impact of Learning Disability and Autism, the causes of challenging behaviour and the use of a functional approach to understanding behaviour as a key concept of positive behavioural support. You will explore and critique the theory and context of PBS as a way of improving quality of life and reducing behaviour that challenges. You will develop your understanding of the importance of values-based support for people with a learning disability which acknowledges them as individuals, ensures choice and participation in their own lives and treats them with dignity and respect. You will analyse the factors affecting behaviour to identify why someone may display behaviours that challenge and understand the purpose and development process of behaviour support plans (BSP) to improve quality of life and ensure the least restrictive support strategies are used. The module helps you appreciate the importance of working together with the person, their family and other workers to assess, plan and develop behaviour support plans, understand your own role and contribution to the process and how to support the person and each other.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

AC6676 -

Applying Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) in Practice PBS (Core,20 Credits)

This module enables you to develop the knowledge, skills and values required to lead the process of functional behavioural assessment and develop, implement and evaluate a behaviour support plan (BSP) to support the specific needs of an individual with a learning disability and behaviour that challenges. It includes learning activities related to functional behaviour assessment, an analysis of the social and physical environment as well as mediator analysis to understand the context for the behaviour and implementation of the plan.

You will develop skills in gathering appropriate history, establishing clear descriptions of behaviour and obtaining information about factors that may contribute to challenging behaviour e.g. communication, level of social, cognitive, emotional skills/abilities and mental illness. You will utilise a range of assessment strategies and measures/tools e.g., checklists, questionnaires, interviews, observation and evaluate their respective validity and reliability. You will interpret this data and use the 4-term contingency to generate a formulation as to the function of the challenging behaviour.

This module will enable you to lead the development and implementation of a BSP with a range of strategies designed to improve an individual’s quality of life and reduce the likelihood of behaviour that challenges. You will learn how to monitor/review the effectiveness of a BSP and address attitudinal, individual and environmental barriers to its successful implementation.

As well as enabling you to meet the requirements of a Northumbria Award it will also enable you to demonstrate behaviour specialist/supervisor/manager competencies of The PBS Coalition Competence Framework (2015) nationally recognised as best practice in this field.

More information

AC6677 -

Leading PBS in Organisations (Core,20 Credits)

This module will enable you to lead PBS in your organisation. You will have developed your knowledge and proficiency in PBS in the previous two modules including the ability to contribute to assessing behaviour, as well the development, implementation and review of behaviour support plans. This module enables you to critically analyse and apply the most effective strategies to facilitate learning in adults and act as a leader of learning within your organisation to others who are learning about and developing their proficiency in PBS. You will do this through a coaching approach providing support, supervision and feedback to others as they learn

You will analyse how adults learn knowledge, skills and values, and how to best facilitate the development of each. You will learn how to model good practice, how to coach and support others when they are learning, and how to give effective feedback on performance. You will observe and assess proficiency in PBS of staff within your organisation, applying your understanding of factors which improve the validity and reliability of assessment. You will analyse and apply theories and models of supervision demonstrating ability to provide effective ongoing supervision to others utilising PBS plans and providing feed-back which is supportive, constructive and helps individuals reflect upon and develop their own practice. You will learn about other system wide aspects which influence the ability of the workforce to use PBS in practice; these include leadership, allocating resources effectively, and understanding, developing and utilising policies and practices central to safe effective PBS.

As well as to meeting the requirements of a Northumbria Award the module enables you to demonstrate the behaviour specialist/supervisor/manager competencies in the PBS Coalition Competence Framework (2015) nationally recognised as best practice for those who support people with learning disabilities /autism with challenging behaviour.

More information

AC6678 -

Principles of Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) (Core,20 Credits)

This module enables you to develop the knowledge, skills and values required to understand the Principles of the Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) approach to support someone with autism/a learning disability who displays behaviour that challenges. It enables you to meet the requirements of a Northumbria Award and evidence relevant competencies identified in the PBS Coalition Competence Framework (2015) nationally recognised as best practice.
The module helps you to critically analyse the meaning and impact of Learning Disability and Autism, the causes of challenging behaviour and the use of a functional approach to understanding behaviour as a key concept of positive behavioural support. You will explore and critique the theory and context of PBS as a way of improving quality of life and reducing behaviour that challenges. You will develop your understanding of the importance of values-based support for people with a learning disability which acknowledges them as individuals, ensures choice and participation in their own lives and treats them with dignity and respect. You will analyse the factors affecting behaviour to identify why someone may display behaviours that challenge and understand the purpose and development process of behaviour support plans (BSP) to improve quality of life and ensure the least restrictive support strategies are used. The module helps you appreciate the importance of working together with the person, their family and other workers to assess, plan and develop behaviour support plans, understand your own role and contribution to the process and how to support the person and each other.

More information

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.

Leading Positive Behavioural Support in Organisations - Advanced Diploma

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Bronwyn Mthimunye (Programme Lead)

bronwyn.mthimunye@northumbria.ac.uk

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