Stepping Out Blog

3 Ways to Manage a Service User Displaying Challenging Behaviour.

Stepping Out specialises in accommodating and supporting clients with challenging behaviours. We pride ourselves on supporting such service users to become less challenging and more constructive via our semi independent living projects and our specific outreach support services.  Based on years of experience, we’ve compiled a 3 point plan to combat challenging behaviour and promote productivity, and eventually independence.

Challenging Behaviour

Challenging Behaviour


1. Listen & Learn.

Depending on the service user’s condition, they may have difficulty expressing themselves. This can often be mistaken for challenging behaviour, when really all they want is time to voice their opinion over a matter. In time like these, it is best to sit down somewhere quietly with the service user, and listen to their concerns and issues. Once you have done this, changes can be made in the future to better suit the service user’s needs, thus causing less challenging behaviour. Often a safe place to talk is all they require.

2. Set weekly goals.

Goals lasting longer than a week can often be daunting. The service user can also lose sight of the goal, and begin to forget about its existence. Setting weekly goals allows the service user to by-pass these obstacles. The goals could be to save a certain amount of money, to cook 3 meals independently, and so on. Not only will achieving these goals improve self-esteem, but giving the service user something to concentrate on will also alleviate challenging behaviour.

3. Respect their privacy & individuality.

A care worker needs to distinguish good care practise and invasion of privacy. Caring for a service user does not necessarily mean you have to crowd them, and many care workers seem to forget this. You can ensure their safety and promote good practises such as cleaning and cooking without being imposing. Depending on how much care the service user needs, the carer must also allocate time for the service user to have some alone time.

All the above points will undoubtedly reduce the amount of challenging behaviour the service user displays to staff and other service users around them. Why not put them into practise and see?

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