Understanding and Supporting Behaviour DJ1N 34 Outcome 1 HNC Social Care Kerrie Snaddon 1000 1200 Words

1a. Define what is challenging behaviour. Give at least four examples of behaviour that might be perceived as challenging in your workplace. You should explain in some detail a broad range of behaviours that may occur within a social care setting explaining why they might be perceived as challenging. Explain how psychological and sociological theory helps you to understand behaviour that is challenging. 1b. Explain the factors that contribute to the occurrence of challenging behaviour by the individual. Explain why these factors may lead to challenging behaviour. You should discuss at least two internal and two external factors and explain how internal and external factors interact with one another. Behaviour can be labelled or described as challenging if it is perceived in a way that challenges service providers. Behaviour that is seen to be challenging differs depending on the nature of the care setting and the people group/s who display the behaviour. Challenging behaviour for example could be; self harm, aggression, violence, and communication difficulties. (Miller,J. 1996: 79). Within my workplace at Alzheimer Scotland day care centre I have witnessed a wide range of challenging behaviours, which are all, dealt with differently. Supporting people with Alzheimer disease who display differing behaviours that can be very unpredictable and can be very stressful for staff and other service users. Policies are in place within my workplace to deal with behaviours that commonly cause problems for both service users and staff. (http://www.alzheimerscotland.org/search/sessearch.php? q=behaviour&op=and). One behaviour that is perceived to be challenging within my workplace is distress (Emerson,E. 1995: 22). Alzheimer disease slowly takes away peoples abilities to function memories and can limit their communication. (Alzheimer Scotland Guide, 2008) I have witnessed on many occasions service users becoming distressed when they cant remember something for example where they live. This behaviour can be challenging because staff do not always know the answer in which service users are looking for and cannot help answer the question for them. It is my agencies policy that when any service user starts to display distress one-to-one support should be given by a member of staff, if possible they should be given their personal profile which states a range of facts and information about themselves in the hope that this will clarify any factors they have come to be distressed about.

(http://www.alzheimerscotland.org/search/sessearch.php? q=distresswork.doc) Another challenging behaviour is communication difficulties. Many service users have difficulty in communicating verbally; (Emerson,E. 1995: 22) their disease can in some instances restrict their ability to put into words exactly what they want to say. This behaviour can be challenging as staff can become confused and frustrated trying to pinpoint exactly what a service user is attempting to say. In an instance like this staff are required to try and encourage service users to complete their conversation and make sense of any statements that are made. Service users can grow easily frustrated when they cant communicate what they want to say, it is important to put them at ease and tell them to take their time minimising increased frustration as much as possible. Another challenging behaviour is aggression. (Emerson,E. 1995: 22) On multiple occasions I have witnessed service users becoming aggressive towards other service users. Other clients; distress, confusion, and communication difficulties have been displayed in the behaviour when service users have become annoyed/frustrated. The aggression displayed is normally very predictable as it is rooted from a long period of agitation, which can be clearly seen within the main sitting area of day care. When a service user displays such aggression it is my agencies policy that they should be moved if they are close to the person they are displaying this behaviour towards to minimise the risk of further aggression and violence. (Alzheimer Scotland, Day Care Guide, 2008). If such behaviour becomes too challenging the service user should be taken into the privacy of the office to discuss with staff exactly why they are displaying this behaviour and what they feel would minimise it. Another challenging behaviour is lack of concentration (Emerson,E. 1995: 22). Many service users experience a lack of concentration as a result of their disease that can in many instances be rather challenging for staff. It is required that where possible staff should initiate any comments made by service users into meaningful conversation to eliminate the risk of them becoming distracted and losing concentration. By involving service users in meaningful conversation you are also working on improving their socialization skills that is a main aim of day care. (Emerson,E. 1995: 22). When a service user displays this behaviour it puts a strain on staff to keep them as involved as possible to ensure they do not lose concentration on an activity they are part of. All challenging behaviours that occur can be explained in a number of ways making it easier to detect the ways in which to prevent them from occurring. Firstly behaviourist psychologist B. F. Skinner claimed, Behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. This leaves people to understand that if appropriate action is taken over a challenging
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behaviour in the first instance it can eliminate it from happening again but if no action is taken to deter someone from displaying such behaviour there is every chance that it will be displayed again. Depending on the positive or negative attitude given to a particular type of behaviour will determine if it has been encouraged or discouraged making an assumption as to how likely it is for someone to display the behaviour again. (College Handout: 5). Secondly Psychoanalytic theorist Sigmund Freud believed that it is the unconscious factors within a persons life that shapes their behaviour. Freud additionally thought all behaviours stem from a cause but people are commonly unaware of the motives. (College Handout: 6). Many factors can contribute to the occurrence of challenging behaviour within service users. These factors can be; individual, environmental emotional or cognitive. Every behaviour, which is perceived to be challenging stems from some form of a trigger point, these trigger points, can be either internal or external factors (College Handout: 21). Internal factors which result in challenging behaviour is commonly a result of other individual and emotional factors a person may be experiencing whereas external factors are commonly a result of other environmental factors. Many people use challenging behaviour as a way of getting what they want, this can be a learnt behaviour. For example, like a baby cries to be fed, if someone is to learn that by displaying challenging behaviour it will get them the attention that they desire, they may start to use the technique to aid themselves. A service user may display challenging behaviour because they have a hearing difficulty and feel frustrated when the television is on because they cannot hear it, this is an individual factor. Additionally a service user may display a form of challenging behaviour because the sun was shining through the window into their eyes, this could make a service user very uncomfortable and agitated. This would be an environmental factor aiding their behaviour. (Miller,J. 2005: 275).

References
Alzheimer Scotland, Day Care Guide, 2008. College Handout, HNC in Social Care by Distance learning, Understanding and Supporting Behaviour, Social Care, DJ1N 34. http://www.alzheimerscotland.org/search/sessearch.php? q=behaviour&op=and http://www.alzheimerscotland.org/search/sessearch.php? q=distresswork.doc Miller,J, (2005) Care Practice for S/NVQ 3. London: Hodder Arnold Miller,J, (1996) Social Care Practice. London: Hodder & Stoughton.