Frequently Asked Questions
What is Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)? Positive behaviour support is a particular approach to working with people with mental illness and disabilities that aims to improve their life with positive strategies and by addressing challenging behaviours. Positive Behaviour Support, or Specialist Behaviour Intervention Support, involves intervening to improve a person’s life, particularly where they have been showing challenging behaviours.
What are Behaviours of Concern? Behaviours of Concern are usually described as behaviour(s) of such intensity, frequency or duration that the physical safety of the person or others is placed in serious jeopardy. Such behaviours may include, but are not limited to, self-harming, aggression (physical or verbal), property damage, and more. These behaviours can impact on an effected person’s life and also make it difficult for others around them to be able to provide the required support.
What is a behaviour support plan & why is it important? A behaviour support plan is a document prepared with the participant, their family and carers, and any support people that help address the needs of the person identified as having complex behaviours of concern. The behaviour support plan contains evidence-informed strategies and seeks to improve the person’s quality of life. It is therefore important as it aims to strengthen positive behaviours of the participant which can in turn create more of these behaviours.
How often should a behaviour support plan be reviewed? At a minimum, any behaviour support plan that contains a regulated restrictive practice needs to be reviewed every 12 months or earlier if the participant’s circumstances change.
What are Restrictive Practices? ‘Restrictive practice’ means any practice or intervention that has the effect of restricting the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability, with the primary purpose of protecting the person or others from harm. This may include seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint, and environmental restraint. The Regulated Restrictive Practices Guide outlines NDIS providers’ obligations when implementing regulated restrictive practices.