Changing the face of challenging behaviour services: the Special Projects Team

The background to an exciting and probably unique initiative for people with challenging behaviour is described. The Special Projects Team (SPT) was established in the context of increasing knowledge of effective treatment responses, but lack of widespread expertise as well as growing crisis within challenging behaviour services. Unlike previous innovative approaches, the SPT is designed to focus on the development of new services and demonstration projects as well enhancing local knowledge through training and research, and encouraging collaborative developments by working with partners across agencies and across all sectors. The vision of the ideal multi-component, comprehensive, tiered system of support services is outlined, as are the project brief and principal objectives. Key activities in the initial years have encompassed resettlement, a major epidemiological and service mapping study, the development of the first of a series of accredited training courses, research reviews, and the establishment of formal links with other organizations, including the formation of the Unit for Development in Intellectual Disabilities. Aims for the next phases of the Team are highlighted.