In response to a need for positive approaches when services support people whose behaviours challenge them, a 12-day training programme was developed. Stephanie Durnin and Sue Freeman compare the impact of the training on staff who received it with those who did not

The need for in-service training to support staff groups working with people with learning disabilities in community settings has been well documented over a number of years (McVilly 1997, Murray et al 1999, Smith et al 1996). People with learning disabilities who present a challenge to services pose additional training needs (Knapp et al 1989, Smith et al 1996).