Mapping the Positive Behaviour Support Conference Calendar: National, Regional, and Specialist Events Explained
As someone who is quiet by nature, but loud in my inner world of ideas, I find conferences to be fascinating microcosms. They’re places where practitioners, researchers, families, and curious souls come together to share, learn, and sometimes argue passionately about the best ways to support people with learning disabilities and behaviours of concern. In this article, I’ll walk you through what the PBS-related conference calendar in the UK (and nearby) typically looks like: national, regional, and specialist events. I’ll also share who tends to attend these, what you can expect to gain, the costs and logistics, and what published feedback or evidence (if any) exists about PBS conferences. Plus, yes – I’ll sneak in a cooking metaphor or two, because that’s how my mind works.
What is PBS? A friendly overview
Why go to a PBS conference? (Yes, even for a quiet person like me)
Let me start with the “why,” because if it’s not compelling, you won’t plan the trip (or justify to your other half why you’re away).
Here’s what I see as the common gains:
- Learning new practice ideas – Workshops, case studies, and fresh perspectives you might not otherwise see in your own service or region.
- Connecting with peers (networking, relational support) – Even though I’m quiet, I value that moment when you meet someone who “gets it” – the challenges, the data, the values.
- Keeping up to date with research and policy – Changes in guidelines, emerging tools, or new evidence get shared first (or more vibrantly) in conferences.
- Reflection and inspiration – Sometimes stepping away from daily routines lets you think about where your practice is going – “Am I just firefighting, or am I building quality of life?”
- Credibility & continuous professional development – Having conference attendances on your CV can help in roles such as Registered Manager, or can help you gain more trust in your service.
That said, there are costs: registration fees, travel, accommodation, possibly time away from family. But when conferences are done well, I believe the return on investment (in ideas, connections, energy) can be worth it.
3 hacks to becoming a PBS practitioner
Types of Positive behaviour support conferences in the UK
From my browsing and attending, I see three broad “flavours” of PBS conferences in the UK (and nearby):
- National / flagship conferences
- Regional / local PBS meetings / dissemination days
- Specialist / thematic / research-oriented events
Let me unpick each, and then share examples.
1. National / Flagship Conferences
These are the big ones. Think broad scope, multiple tracks, keynote speakers, sometimes international presenters, and a mix of practitioners, academics, families, and organisations.
Example: The International Positive Behaviour Support Conference 2025, organised by BILD, held 13–14 May in Newcastle (plus online) is a prime example.
As described by BILD, it covers “Foundations for Change: Building Capacity and Putting It into Practice,” with keynote presentations, workshops, debate, and networking.
Who attends:
- Senior PBS / behaviour analysts
- Managers, service leaders
- Academics and researchers
- Lived experience speakers and family advocates
- Practitioners who want exposure to “big picture” issues
What you gain:
- Exposure to national/international perspectives
- Access to innovation and cutting-edge research
- Networking across the UK and beyond
- Opportunity to share your own work (posters, presentations)
- Visibility for your organisation
Costs & logistics:
- Registration tends to be higher
- Travel/accommodation may be required
- Online option sometimes provided (helpful)
- Often during weekdays, so you’ll need to plan cover for work/family
Feedback / published reflections:
I couldn’t find many peer-reviewed studies about the conferences themselves, but BILD’s write-up of its 2025 conference mentions that people came from across the globe, interactive workshops, and relational themes of empathy and inclusion.
Also, PBS UK’s “Good Practice Conference 2024” offers recorded videos, presentations, and qualitative feedback from participants.
2. Regional / Local PBS Gatherings and Dissemination Events
These are smaller, more focused, often organised by local PBS teams, regional networks, or special interest groups. They might be half-day, one-day, or occasional “dissemination days” sharing local practice, case studies, or new research.
Who attends:
- Practitioners in or near that region
- Local management and operational staff
- Family carers and support staff
- Occasionally regional service leaders or commissioners
Advantages:
- Lower cost (often subsidised or token entry)
- Easier travel (often local)
- More practical, “on-the-ground” content
- Better opportunity for informal conversation and follow-up (you might actually have lunch with the speaker)
Costs & logistics:
- Often minimal — just registration and possibly travel
- May be held in local university campuses, care provider training centres, health boards
Feedback / published reflections:
Regional dissemination is less often documented academically, but in UK PBS documents we often see “dissemination” days listed alongside Good Practice Conferences (for example, PBS UK’s resources page lists previous dissemination days).
One challenge noted in the broader PBS literature is that workforce training “roll-outs” often falter because local staff don’t get enough supervision or support beyond one-off training. That suggests regional events are helpful but not sufficient if not backed by follow-up systems.
3. Specialist / Thematic / Research-Oriented Conferences & Workshops
These are narrower in scope: perhaps focused on a particular population, setting (e.g. forensic, autism, children), research methodology, or new trends (trauma-informed PBS, etc.). They might be run by universities, research groups, or special interest groups.
Examples / hints:
- PBS UK’s Good Practice Conferences sometimes have thematic focuses (e.g. “Trauma-Assumed PBS” in their 2024 edition)
- Specialist workshops or training sessions tied to universities or research projects (e.g. methods workshops, new tools)
- International or cross-border PBS/behaviour analysis conferences (though not UK-based) — e.g. APBS (Association for Positive Behavior Support) in the US.
Who attends:
- Researchers / PhD students
- Advanced PBS practitioners, specialists
- Commissioning or policy leads interested in those particular settings
- Occasionally family advocates or lived experience leaders interested in specific topics
Advantages:
- Depth over breadth — you dive deep into a topic
- Discussion with peers who share that niche interest
- Helps you push your own practice or research edge
Costs & logistics:
- Usually smaller scale, so lower registration
- Might be held in universities or hybrid (online/in-person)
- Could require submission of proposals or abstracts
Feedback / published reflections:
In the PBS research literature, we often see acknowledgments to conference workshops as incubation points for new ideas or collaborations, but less formal evaluation of the events themselves.
One related peer-reviewed article looked at training delivery formats in positive behaviour work and discussed workshops, modules, group instruction and team-based learning as common formats.
Another more recent scoping review of behaviour support programs notes that embedding dissemination (which includes conferences/workshops) is a component in the program components studies examined.
When (and where) do these events tend to run?
From what I’ve seen:
- Timing: Many flagship/National PBS conferences run in spring or early summer (e.g. May for the 2025 International PBS Conference by BILD)
- Venue: Usually larger UK cities (e.g. Newcastle for 2025 BILD PBS) with a hybrid option.
- Regional events: Tied to local authorities, universities, or health/social care networks, so held in regional hubs or training centers
- Specialist workshops / university events: Often in university departments (psychology, behaviour analysis, disability studies) or tied to research centres
Always keep an eye on PBS UK’s events page (they often post upcoming events via Eventbrite) Eventbrite, and BILD’s events calendar for PBS conferences.
Who should attend which kind of event?
Here’s a rough “ladder of fit”:
| Your role or interest | Best event type to prioritise | Why it suits you |
|---|---|---|
| A new PBS practitioner / front-line support worker | Regional / local dissemination events | Lower cost, practical focus, more accessible |
| A mid-level practitioner, lead, or local manager | National / flagship conferences + regional events | Exposure, networking, bigger trends |
| A specialist, researcher, or someone with a niche interest | Thematic / specialist workshops & conferences | Depth, peer engagement, research exchange |
| A family member or advocate | Regional / local + selected national sessions | More accessible scale, chance to hear lived experience |
If I were advising myself (with three children, a partner, limited travel appetite), I’d mix a few regional events with at least one national flagship (if possible hybrid) — enough to stay connected without burning out.
Things to watch out for / tips from someone who likes planning ahead
- Early bird / member discounts: Many conferences offer lower rates for early registration or for being a member of relevant organisations (e.g. BILD, PBS UK).
- Hybrid/online options: These reduce cost and travel. For example, the BILD 2025 International PBS Conference offered an online track.
- Proposal deadlines: If you want to present, poster, or run a workshop, check deadlines months in advance.
- Travel & family planning: Coordinate early for childcare or coverage if you’ll be away.
- Review past programme books: They give indicators on themes, speaker types, session formats, costs.
- Look for “participant feedback” or “evaluation reports” after the conference: Some organisers publish post-conference reviews or reflections (e.g. PBS UK’s video archive and participant reflection after Good Practice Conference)
- Consider going as “support staff / co-worker” if your organisation funds you: Some roles attend as part of a team or “shadowing” package.
What does the academic / peer-reviewed literature say about PBS conferences?
Literature specifically on PBS conferences is limited. Most PBS research focuses on interventions, implementation, and workforce issues, rather than evaluating the conferences themselves. Still, here’s what I found relevant:
- Barriers & facilitators to implementing behavioural / psychosocial interventions: A UK qualitative study interviewed stakeholders (people with intellectual disabilities, families, professionals) about what helps or hinders psychosocial interventions (including PBS) in practice. They emphasised that supportive relationships, consistency, and systems/structures matter a lot. Conferences can help with those “system supports” by connecting people, fostering culture, and spreading good practice.
- Reviews of PBS / behaviour support more broadly: The systematic literature review by Konstantinidou et al. (2023) synthesises evidence for PBS in staff change, service user outcomes, and implementation challenges. While it doesn’t study conferences, it underscores the gap between “knowing good PBS” and “doing good PBS” – conferences can help bridge that gap (if followed up).
So, while we don’t yet have many “conference efficacy studies,” the surrounding literature suggests that learning, networking, and culture change are key – and well-run conferences can facilitate that.
Suggested sample conference calendar (UK & nearby) + tips for your 2026 planning
Here’s a sketch of what you might see or plan for in 2026, based on patterns and known events:
- BILD International PBS Conference — likely spring (e.g. May) in a UK location, with hybrid options.
- PBS UK Good Practice Conference — held annually, with themes, workshops, and video replays.
- Regional PBS dissemination days / local PBS networks — check your county, health board, local authority, PBS providers’ websites.
- University / research workshops or symposia — e.g. a UK university with a behaviour analysis / intellectual disability research centre.
- International PBS or ABA conferences (for broader exposure) — e.g. APBS in the US or Europe-based behaviour analysis conferences.
If I were you, I’d mark April–June as “conference season,” keep a buffer in July, and reserve September–October for local events. And I’d aim for one big event and a few smaller regional ones.
When you see a Call for Proposals, I’d encourage you (quiet though I am) to submit a case study or practical insight you’ve had – you have unique perspectives from your studies and your values-driven work that people will want to hear.
ABA Tutors: becoming one (or hiring)
Final thoughts (from a quiet, cookbook-collecting, motorbike-missing me)
Mapping the PBS conference calendar feels a bit like planning a menu for a dinner party. You want variety (appetizers, mains, desserts), you want to balance flavours (theoretical and practical), and you want to consider dietary constraints (time, cost, travel). You don’t need to attend everything, but thoughtfully choose the ones that nourish your values, your growth, your network, and your mission.