Anthony McGrath explains how observations of clients’ challenging behaviours can influence the development of interventions to prevent them

Research has shown positive behaviour support to be effective in minimising challenging behaviours and replacing them with socially valid alternatives. The success of interventions depends largely on identifying the function of each person’s behaviour. A thorough functional assessment will rely, at least in part, on information given by carers. This article reviews contemporary literature to explore carers’ influence on this process.