1.1. Identify positive behaviours

This guide will help you answer 1.1. Identify positive behaviours.

Positive behaviour refers to actions, attitudes, and ways of interacting that show respect for others, create a safe environment, and help people achieve positive outcomes. It is about doing things in a way that benefits not just yourself but also those around you. In health and social care, positive behaviour is important for both staff and service users. It helps maintain trust, supports effective communication, and ensures people feel valued and respected.

Positive behaviour can be encouraged in all care settings. It is linked to values such as respect, empathy, responsibility, and fairness. Workers who display positive behaviour set a good example and support the emotional and physical wellbeing of service users.

Examples of positive behaviour include speaking politely, listening actively, and showing patience during challenging moments. It can also involve promoting independence, maintaining dignity, and respecting individual differences.

Positive behaviour is about choice and self-control. In a professional setting, staff choose to behave in a way that contributes to a supportive and respectful culture. This often requires consistency and awareness of the impact actions have on others.

Whats Does Positive Behaviour Look Like?

Positive behaviour is easy to spot once you understand the features that define it. In health and social care, these features directly affect the experience and safety of service users.

Common features include:

• Respect for others’ views and feelings
• Clear and calm communication
• Respecting privacy and dignity
• Responsibility for actions and decisions
• Cooperating with colleagues and service users
• Being honest and reliable
• Managing emotions effectively
• Encouraging and supporting others
• Following agreed procedures and policies

Each of these behaviours supports a safe, friendly, and caring environment. When everyone works in this way, trust between staff and service users grows.

Examples in Everyday Practice

Positive behaviour appears in daily routines and interactions. In a care home, it might look like helping a resident get ready for the day with patience and encouragement. For a support worker, it may mean helping a service user with a task while letting them do as much as possible for themselves to build confidence.

Other examples include:

• Greeting people warmly and by name
• Allowing time for responses in conversation
• Giving clear information about choices available
• Listening without interruption during assessments or discussions
• Praising effort and achievements
• Remaining calm under pressure and avoiding raised voices

These actions may seem small, but together they create a culture where service users feel respected and valued.

Positive Behaviour in Challenging Situations

In health and social care, there will be times when situations are stressful or service users display challenging behaviour. Positive behaviour from staff is critical in these moments. It helps prevent escalation and supports everyone’s safety.

Key responses can include:

• Speaking in a calm, steady tone
• Maintaining respectful body language
• Offering space and time for a person to calm down
• Using active listening to understand underlying concerns
• Avoiding language that could be seen as threatening
• Focusing on solutions rather than blame

By showing respect even during conflict, workers help maintain dignity and keep relationships intact.

Encouraging Positive Behaviour in Others

Health and social care staff not only model positive behaviour but can actively encourage it in others. This can be done by praising constructive actions, setting clear expectations, and supporting the development of skills.

Ways to encourage positive behaviour include:

• Recognising achievements and efforts
• Giving constructive feedback on behaviour that could improve
• Setting a consistent example in your own conduct
• Offering rewards or recognition for meeting behavioural goals
• Encouraging self-reflection from service users
• Creating an environment where respect is the norm

Service users may need extra support to learn and maintain positive behaviour. This is especially true for people who have difficulty controlling emotions, communicating, or understanding rules.

Positive Behaviour and Communication

Good communication is central to positive behaviour. When people communicate clearly and respectfully, misunderstandings are less likely and relationships improve.

Examples of communication that supports positive behaviour:

• Using kind and respectful words
• Speaking in a way that is easy to understand
• Checking understanding by asking open questions
• Maintaining eye contact at a comfortable level
• Using body language that shows openness and patience
• Acknowledging other people’s feelings

Poor communication can lead to frustration and conflict. For instance, speaking too quickly or using jargon can make someone feel excluded. Positive behaviour means adapting communication to suit the person you are speaking with.

Respect and Dignity

Respect and dignity are at the heart of positive behaviour. Showing respect means recognising the value of every person regardless of their background, abilities, or circumstances. Treating someone with dignity means supporting their self-esteem and protecting their privacy.

Examples include:

• Knocking on doors before entering
• Speaking to the person rather than over them to a colleague or family member
• Helping someone dress in private
• Allowing people to make their own choices wherever possible

These behaviours help service users feel safe, respected, and in control of their lives.

Responsibility and Honesty

Positive behaviour also involves taking responsibility for actions. This means owning up to mistakes, learning from them, and making changes to avoid repeating them. In a care setting, honesty builds trust with service users, colleagues, and families.

Responsible and honest behaviour can include:

• Admitting if you have forgotten to complete a task
• Reporting incidents accurately and promptly
• Not covering up errors or blaming others unfairly
• Keeping accurate and truthful records
• Following through on promises or agreed actions

When workers behave this way, it strengthens teamwork and encourages a culture of openness.

Equality and Inclusion

Equality means giving everyone the same opportunities and rights. Inclusion is about making sure everyone feels welcome, involved, and valued. Both are part of positive behaviour because they support fairness and respect for all.

Examples in practice:

• Avoiding stereotypes when speaking or making decisions
• Using language that does not discriminate
• Making adjustments so that everyone can join in activities
• Listening to and considering different perspectives
• Standing up against discriminatory behaviour or comments

Inclusion not only benefits individuals but also improves the environment for everyone by promoting respect and understanding.

Self-Control and Emotional Awareness

A core part of positive behaviour is managing your own feelings, particularly when under stress. In health and social care, workers may face pressure, but they must remain professional and calm.

Skills that support this include:

• Recognising when you feel frustrated and taking steps to calm down
• Avoiding reacting in anger to difficult situations
• Using breathing exercises or short breaks to manage stress
• Keeping the focus on the needs of the service user rather than personal feelings

By controlling emotions, workers reduce the risk of conflict and maintain a positive atmosphere.

Teamwork and Cooperation

Working well with others is another expression of positive behaviour. Cooperation helps tasks get done more efficiently and improves outcomes for service users.

Positive teamwork behaviours include:

• Sharing information that supports care
• Offering help to colleagues without being asked
• Accepting feedback and using it constructively
• Respecting different roles and responsibilities
• Communicating clearly and openly about tasks and changes

In a care setting, teamwork ensures that service users receive consistent, high-quality support.

Continuous Improvement

Positive behaviour also includes seeking ways to improve your own skills and knowledge. By learning and developing, workers can provide better support to those in their care.

This might involve:

• Attending training sessions
• Asking for feedback from supervisors and colleagues
• Reflecting on how situations were handled and what could be improved
• Staying up to date with relevant policies and guidance

Workers who focus on improvement set an example to both colleagues and service users.

Dealing with Mistakes Positively

Everyone makes mistakes. Positive behaviour means responding to mistakes in the right way. This involves being honest, correcting the error, and focusing on preventing it from happening again.

Steps may include:

• Reporting the mistake quickly
• Apologising where necessary
• Working with a supervisor to find a solution
• Reviewing procedures to stop similar errors in future

This approach builds trust and shows respect for those affected.

Building Trust

Trust is an outcome of consistent positive behaviour. It grows when people see that you act fairly, keep promises, and respect others. In health and social care, trust allows service users to feel safe in your care.

Behaviours that build trust:

• Being reliable and consistent in actions
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Speaking truthfully
• Respecting boundaries and agreements

Once trust is established, it makes communication easier and improves the relationship between staff and service users.

Linking Positive Behaviour to Outcomes

Positive behaviour is not just about being polite or kind. It directly impacts the quality of care and the wellbeing of service users. When staff show respect, patience, and responsibility, service users are more likely to feel secure, valued, and understood.

Positive behaviour supports:

• Better emotional wellbeing
• Increased cooperation from service users
• Fewer incidents of conflict
• A safer care environment
• Greater satisfaction with the service provided

This shows why positive behaviour should be part of training, supervision, and daily practice in the sector.

Final Thoughts

Identifying positive behaviour is more than listing polite actions. It means recognising how certain behaviours directly contribute to a respectful, safe, and caring environment. In health and social care, every word, action, and attitude has an impact on the experiences of service users. Positive behaviour builds trust, supports effective working, and improves outcomes for all.

By understanding the signs of positive behaviour, you can make conscious choices about how you interact with others. Each positive action, no matter how small, contributes to a healthy working culture and better quality of care. It is a skill that can be developed over time and one that benefits both the worker and the people they support.