5 Strategies for Strengthening Staff Retention

Staff retention is a priority for every school, care setting, and healthcare service — but it’s not a challenge that can be solved with a single initiative. In sectors where workloads are high and demands are constant, building a stable, confident workforce takes ongoing commitment.

Training staff in effective behaviour support is a crucial step in building confidence, knowledge, skills and understanding, but if training happens in isolation or as a one-off event, it’s unlikely to have a sustained impact across entire organisations.

Why staff retention needs more than a one-off approach

Initial training lays the groundwork, building shared language, boosting staff confidence, and creating safer environments. But without regular reinforcement, confidence around supporting behaviour can fade over time.

When organisations foster a culture of behaviour support and adopt a positive, proactive mindset, that’s when the real transformation begins. And it’s this cultural shift that could lead to higher staff satisfaction, lower turnover, and more resilient teams.

The case for continued investment

The numbers speak for themselves. In a recent survey of Team Teach training participants, confidence in supporting behaviour jumped from 49% to 90% for first-time learners, and from 73% to 94% for returning staff*.

This shows us something important: revisiting the training matters. It deepens understanding, boosts confidence even further, and supports a consistent approach across time and staff changes.

It’s not just about training new team members. Experienced teams also benefit from reflection, upskilling, and staying aligned — especially as needs evolve and new challenges arise.

5 practical strategies to support staff retention

If you’re looking to take a strategic approach to retention, here are five ways to keep building on the foundation you’ve already set:

1. Embed behaviour support into ongoing CPD plans

Make behaviour support an ongoing conversation, not just a one-time training event. Use tools like Staff Meeting in a Box, reflective activities, or scenario-based discussions to keep the learning fresh and relevant. Our wealth of resources can support you in making every staff meeting or training event practical, interesting, and useful for your team.