How to recognise challenging behaviour

A variety of healthcare environments have the potential for individuals to present challenging behaviour. It can prove an issue for both employees and volunteers, and even for those caring for family members. Challenging behaviour can make it much harder for you to perform the role that is required of you. But one area where challenging behaviour is most likely to arise is in the healthcare sector, especially among those with learning disabilities.

People employed in care often find that they need help defining and recognising the full range of challenging behaviour. By recognising challenging behaviour, it’s easier to deal with it head-on. In fact, recognising both the indicators of and triggers for challenging behaviour can help you prevent many challenging situations from arising in the first place.

Image Credit

Signs of challenging behaviour

Recognising the signs of challenging behaviour is actually the easy bit. But before you do that, you need to know what the definition of challenging behaviour actually is. Behaviour is challenging if it is hard to manage, and/or if it puts anyone, including those displaying such behaviour, at risk. As a healthcare worker, for example, you can see quite quickly if someone is displaying behaviour defined as challenging. Physical aggression, verbal aggression, shouting, swearing, sexualised behaviour in public, throwing or breaking items, unhygienic practices, and self-harming all come under this definition.

According to the NHS behaviour might also be defined as challenging if it leads to the person having a poorer quality of life. Early signs of this might include hoarding, becoming increasingly unhygienic or a refusal to eat.

Image Credit

Take a course

This type of behaviour is called ‘challenging’ for a reason. Although it’s not too hard to see the signs of it, managing it in a care capacity can be extremely difficult for the caregiver. Especially if they have not been properly trained. Consider signing up for a challenging behaviour training course, such as the Tidal Training Challenging Behaviour Training Course. This will equip you with the knowledge, and the confidence, to both recognise, and tackle, challenging behaviour. Courses such as this are aimed primarily at those who work in healthcare, and/or with adults or children with learning disabilities.

Recognising the signs of challenging behaviour is the first step to managing it. This helps you create a safer environment, for yourself as the caregiver, but also for the service user and those around them.