16 GHP Mental Health Awards 2026 Since 2008, Positive Support Group (PSG) has been dedicated to delivering highquality support to individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people facing behavioural challenges and complex needs. At the heart of the organisation is a simple belief: every child, young person, and adult should have access to the right support for their needs. Founder and CEO Sarah Wakeling spoke with us following PSG’s recognition as the Most Innovative Learning Disability & Autism Support Organisation 2026 – UK. Transforming Lives Across Communities PSG specialises in improving the quality of life for people living with significant behavioural, emotional, or mental health challenges. Working across England, the team blends behavioural science, psychology, and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) to help individuals of all ages lead happy, meaningful lives within their families, schools, and communities. This often involves collaboration with the NHS, local authorities, schools, and other support providers, ensuring interventions are integrated and sustainable. PSG’s work spans a wide spectrum—from children struggling to attend school, to at-risk individuals transitioning from hospital back into the community, and adults experiencing complex mental health needs, including suicidal ideation. For PSG, success is measured not just in clinical terms but by the ability of individuals to remain in their communities, return to school or education, and re-engage in meaningful relationships and activities that are meaningful to them. A Holistic, Collaborative Approach The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health highlights that behaviours do not exist in isolation: distress, risk, and behaviours of concern often arise from mismatches between a person’s needs, environment, and opportunities. PSG operationalises this principle by collaborating closely with each person’s wider network, understanding that meaningful change occurs when everyone around the individual works together. “Rather than viewing distress solely through a diagnostic lens, we seek to understand the wider conditions that shape a person’s mental health, including relationships, communication, autonomy, and meaningful activity.” — Sarah Wakeling Sarah emphasises the importance of operating at the intersection of mental health, neurodiversity, and quality of life. Many individuals supported by PSG have complex neurodevelopmental profiles, autism or learning disabilities often co-occurring with trauma or emotional challenges. “Our team take a holistic and biopsychosocial approach to wellbeing, recognising that mental health is shaped by the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors.” “Rather than viewing distress solely through a diagnostic lens, we seek to understand the wider conditions that shape a person’s mental health, including relationships, communication, autonomy, and meaningful activity.” For Sarah, this encapsulates the essence of a holistic approach geared towards comprehensive, long-term support. PSG’s Five-Stage Framework Ensures Quality and Safety PSG’s success is underpinned by a five-stage framework spanning engagement, understanding, delivery, celebration and review. A key feature is a built-in quality assurance system that integrates the elements of effective support to safely reduce stress and deescalate concerning behaviours in a humane way. One standout example is PSG’s suicide prevention model for autistic individuals, which combines PBS with evidence-based safety planning and close engagement with the person and their support network. Another is a co-production project developed with autistic organisations and families, exemplifying PSG’s commitment to collaboration and lived experience. Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond PSG continues to innovate, particularly in hospital discharge support for people with complex needs, helping individuals transition smoothly from inpatient settings back into community life. With a focus on continuous enhancement of existing services and pioneering approaches to community-based behavioural support, PSG combines innovative thinking with proven PBS practice across autism, learning disabilities, complex mental health conditions, and more. A Well-Deserved Recognition By blending a pioneering spirit with evidence-based support, PSG’s work is transforming lives across the UK, earning it the title of Most Innovative Learning Disability & Autism Support Organisation 2026 – UK in this year’s GHP Mental Health Awards. For more on PSG’s outstanding work, visit: https:// positivesupportgroup.com/ Contact: Sarah Wakeling Company: Positive Support Group Web Address: https://positivesupportgroup.com/ Most Innovative Learning Disability & Autism Support Organisation 2026 – UK
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