Strategies to implement an NDIS Behaviour Support Plan
Understanding Behaviour Support Plans and Restrictive Practices
The regulation of restrictive practices has been one of the most critical areas for oversight by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission since the initial rollout of the NDIS. Since then, we have seen the evolution of behaviour support plans, behaviour support practitioners and both state and federal systems updating around the regulation of restrictive practices.
Behaviour support plans are essential for individuals struggling with behaviours of concern. This approach provides a structured means of addressing behaviours and empowering individuals to make positive changes in their lives. Proactive strategies focus on creating a supportive environment and aligning supports in a way that reduces the likelihood of the behaviours occurring.
In understanding the factors that contribute to certain behaviours of concern, it’s possible to develop strategies to prevent or minimise the occurrence of these behaviours, which also helps reduce associated risks and harm. A proactive approach helps individuals to overcome challenges and promotes their overall health and wellbeing.
The implementation of a behaviour support plan can only be done by a disability service provider who is not only registered as an NDIS provider, but is also specifically registered for the additional NDIS Practice Standards module to implement behaviour support plans.
As a registered implementing provider since 2020, we work collaboratively with the behaviour support practitioner to monitor the effectiveness of proposed and trialed strategies, providing evidence and input to strategies and the plan.
At Hope Circle, we use a number of strategies to implement a behaviour support plan. In so doing, these strategies can help us work to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices; and support our clients to live the life they want to lead.
Getting Started with the behaviour support plan
There are two types of behaviour support plan (BSP): interim and comprehensive.
According to the NDIS Commission, an interim behaviour support plan “is a short document that includes ways to help keep the person with a disability and others safe. The main focus of the plan is to protect the person and lower risks. It includes:
- strategies that help prevent the behaviour from occurring
- strategies to reduce harm when the behaviour is occurring
- if, when, and how certain regulated restrictive practices may be used.”
They also define a comprehensive behaviour support plan as “more detailed and based on a behaviour support assessment. The assessment explains the person’s behaviour, what is happening and why. Based on the information in the assessment, the plan builds on the interim plan and includes:
- strategies to help improve the person’s life and create positive change
- supports to change things around the person to meet their needs
- strategies to teach the person new skills
- if, when, and how certain restrictive practices may be used and gives detailed steps on how to reduce and eliminate them over time.”
The behaviour support plan helps to educate staff on the client’s presentation and the reasons behind it, enabling staff to support the client in a way that is informed and empathetic.
As a disability services provider of supported independent living, in-home and community supports, we work with behaviour support practitioners to provide them with reports on past incidents and case notes regarding a participant, to pick up on patterns and help enable the strategies to be developed including regulated restrictive practices, if required.
Once a behaviour support practitioner has prepared the plan (interim or comprehensive), our internal Compliance Officer reviews the draft plan/s and provides feedback based on our experience of the client and past incidents/support services provided; enabling a plan to be finalized after that by the practitioner.
Implementing the behaviour support plan
Once a behaviour support plan is agreed, we take the following steps to implement it:
- If there is a regulated restrictive practice in place, work with state-based regulators (such as the South Australian RPAS unit) to authorize the plan.
- Share the BSP within our team and store in our CRM/software so it is accessible to workers where required.
- Arrange client-specific training for the team who supports the client for the behaviour support practitioner to train staff in the plan.
- Implement strategies from the plan with the client/NDIS participant, when needed.
- Report on the use of regulated restrictive practices in case notes and incident reports.
- Report to stakeholders where restrictive practices are being used.
- Regularly review and monitor incident reports to identify patterns, trends and the effectiveness of implemented strategies.
- Provide feedback to the behaviour support practitioner on what is/isn’t working from the strategies that can be used to improve the plan, including to reduce or eliminate restrictive practices.
Additionally, we review on a regular basis the regulated restrictive practices in place across all our clients so we can assess if there are – for example – restrictive practices that haven’t been implemented for some time and could possibly be reduced or eliminated.
Monitoring and corrective action
Included in our supported independent living, in-home and community support services, our disability support workers make case notes and report incidents as part of their responsibilities.
Hope Circle’s service coordinators and managers in the office review these case notes and incidents on a regular basis to determine what needs escalation to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and where any corrective actions are needed.
Our weekly team meeting with CEO/COO and service coordinators/managers then further reviews where there are multiple or more serious and reportable incidents requiring further investigation, and agreeing any further actions.
The service coordinators are proactive to follow up with stakeholders – including behaviour support practitioner – so that there is transparency to the people who need to know.
We seek out feedback on what is and isn’t working with the behaviour support plan – because it helps make adjustments so that the fewest restrictive practices are in place as possible.
Where restrictive practices are required, we want these to be the least restrictive possible so will engage with the behaviour support practitioner to review the options together.
In order to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices, we’re always looking for opportunities where we can consider phasing out or trialing a phase out of a restrictive practice where we think the client might manage without it.
Conclusion
At Hope Circle, it’s part of our core identity that we work to help our clients live the life they want to lead. We work to provide them with dignity of risk, hope for the future and increase the control they have over decisions.
As part of this, we work with the client, behaviour support practitioner, support coordinator, parent/guardian and others to put in place strategies to implement the behaviour support plan including restrictive practices so that only the fewest and least restrictive practices are in place.
Want more?
Hope Circle is a registered NDIS provider specialising in providing SIL and in-home & community support, to individuals with complex disabilities.
Our team has extensive experience working with NDIS participants who have corrections or forensic histories, mental health and physical disabilities.
For more information regarding our services in Adelaide or Perth, please contact us here.
