Investing in Confidence: Why Staff Retention Begins with Behaviour Support

Staff retention challenges aren’t new, but the scale and urgency with which they are growing is troubling. Across schools, care settings, and health services, recruitment shortfalls and burnout are contributing to what feels like a revolving door of staffing. And with each departure, the impact deepens: on relationships, on consistency, and most of all, on the quality of support individuals receive.

So how do we stop the cycle?

For many organisations, the answer begins with creating an environment where staff feel confident, capable, and safe. And central to that is effective behaviour support.

Why confidence matters for staff retention

It’s no surprise that uncertainty in responding to behaviour can drive stress, but the ripple effects are often underestimated. Unaddressed behaviours in need of support can erode morale, escalate workloads, and strain team dynamics. Over time, this not only affects wellbeing—it drives people away.

Yet when staff feel equipped, supported, and confident in their responses, everything changes. They are more likely to stay, more likely to thrive, and more likely to help others do the same.

That’s why high-quality behaviour training can be a powerful driver for staff retention across the education, health, and social care sectors. It’s not just about behaviour strategies. It’s about building shared language, shared approaches, and shared confidence.

Training that transforms staff confidence

At Team Teach, we’ve seen this confidence shift first-hand. In our recent survey for first-time participants in our training, reported confidence in supporting behaviour rose from 47% to 90%. For returning staff, confidence levels increased from 72% to 94%*.

This confidence in supporting behaviour is the foundation of safer, calmer environments where people want to stay.

A hidden link to inspection success

A stable, confident, and motivated staff team can also create positive outcomes for the individuals being supported. For instance, between 2019 and 2024, 96% of UK primary schools that partnered with Team Teach improved to a Good or Outstanding Ofsted behaviour rating.

While many factors contribute to a school or organisation’s success, it’s clear that consistent, confident approaches to behaviour can transform outcomes.

Behaviour support isn’t a bolt-on—it’s a retention strategy

Improving staff retention doesn’t always require us to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes, it’s about focusing on the basics: giving people the skills and support they need to do their jobs well.

When organisations invest in consistent, practical training—grounded in real-world needs—they can reduce stress, promote safety, and build trust. Not just between staff and the individuals they support, but across entire teams.

And in sectors where burnout is real and the stakes are high, that kind of confidence is more than a perk—it’s a lifeline.

Let’s talk about confidence, culture, and staff retention

If you’re looking to retain staff by strengthening behaviour support across your organisation, we’d love to explore how Team Teach can help.