Positive Behaviour Support Services

Interim Response

• People with behaviours of concern may experience periods where their behaviours place them or others at risk of harm. This is the – managing risk and safety phase. It is important for behaviour support practitioners to be aware of what is happening, why, when and how. Practitioners need to focus on protecting the person and others, with the aim of minimising and eliminating the risk of harm.
• An Interim behaviour support plan may be required within 1-month if restrictive practices have been identified.
• In the case where an interim behaviour support plan being developed contains regulated restrictive practices, a functional behaviour assessment and comprehensive behaviour support plan must be developed within six months of the specialist behaviour support provider being engaged to develop the plan.

Functional Behaviour Assessment – understanding you and your environment

• A behaviour support assessment, including a functional behaviour assessment, must be undertaken before a comprehensive behaviour support plan is developed for an NDIS participant, whether or not restrictive practices are included in the plan.
• Understanding unmet needs, helps to understand the person and how their environment impacts them and their services.
• Places the participant at the center of the services and uses person-centered practices during the assessment phase.
• The functional behaviour assessment should always identify the strengths of the person, their will and preference for important elements of their life, and the person’s environmental context.
• When the presenting behaviours are complex, the functional behaviour assessment should be interdisciplinary to allow for an integrated formulation as to why the behaviours of concern are occurring. We often collaborate with allied therapists, supports, medical practitioners, or other stakeholders in this process.

Planning – development of a person-centred, evidence-informed positive behaviour support

• A comprehensive plan must be proactive, reflect the person’s individual needs, improve their quality of life and support their progress towards positive change.
• Your NDIS goals are discussed and created into SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).
• Adaptations may be suggested to your environment, supports, and plans created to best support you.
• Ongoing liaison with relevant stakeholders to monitor progress and collect.
• Strategies that are preventative and proactive are explored, including strategies for replacement behaviours.

How your Improved Relationships funds are used

Throughout the PBS process above, funds are used in the following ways:

• Direct and indirect assessment, observations and meetings with the participant and stakeholders, including the NDIS.
• Travel to meet participant or stakeholders.
• Collaboration and communication: emails, phone calls, online meetings, in-person meetings, joint sessions with other therapists and supports.
• Planning and liaison: working with those who are involved in your supports, gathering information, collecting data, effectively sharing information to improve services once consent is gained.
• Goal progression, monitoring data, end of session notes, and actioning requests.
• Creating easy to read documents, plans, supports letters, reports, and resources.
• Online and in-person training, including resource making, training videos, recordings, images, and data recording measures.
• NDIS management plans and reports as per participants’ needs (with or without restrictive practices).

Implementation

• Implementation is about putting a behaviour support plan into action. It involves providing tailored support and training, maximising proactive measures and support so your plan is implemented effectively.
• Implementers include anyone who may be involved in the implementation and monitoring of a plan, such as disability support workers, family and carers. This role may at times extend to other roles, such as teachers or volunteers.
• Implementation should be approached in partnership with the person, their support network and other relevant professionals. As part of implementation, provisions must be made to increase the capacity of the person and improve their quality of life.

Knowing it Works – systematic monitoring and evaluation

• This ensures ethical and accountable practice that meets the needs of the person.
• Effective monitoring and evaluation include the capacity to distinguish between the effectiveness of a behaviour support plan and the effectiveness of its implementation.
• A behaviour support plan is a live document where results are incorporated, reviewed and updated as required.
• Apply and interpret measures that capture an increase in behaviours or use of restrictive practice, or decrease in quality of life

Maintenance and Review

• Open communication regarding barriers to implementation and supports, effective problem solving, changes to support services, reduction and elimination of restrictive practices may require plans to be reviewed.
• We report to stakeholders and the NDIS regarding progress or barriers to services and supports, as well as making further recommendations.

How your Improved Relationships funds are used

Throughout the PBS process above, funds are used in the following ways:

• Face to face meetings or observations with you and / or your support people
• Telephone conversations or emails with you and / or your support people
• Internal liaising – communicating with Mindspace Behaviour Support therapy team via telephone calls, emails or direct meetings
• External liaising – communicating with other supports you may have via telephone calls, emails or direct meetings (e.g. medical professionals, school staff etc.)
• Progress notes
• Scoring and analysing assessments or data/outcome measures
• Resource making
• Preparation and delivery of training
• Report writing
• Travel to you and /or your support people