High-intensity supports
A Guide to Positive Behaviour Support
Positive Behaviour Support is about developing strategies that address the needs of a person with disability and behaviours of concern.
The goal of Positive Behaviour Support is to preserve the dignity and quality of life of people with disability who require specialist behaviour support, while using evidence-based and personalised approaches to reduce the need for regulated Restrictive Practices.
Specialist behaviour support providers must comply with the requirements outlined by the NDIS.
With this guide, you’ll learn more about what Positive Behaviour Support involves, who can provide it and how.
What is Positive Behaviour Support?
Positive Behaviour Support is focused on creating supportive environments where people can learn new skills and adopt positive behaviours, while avoiding situations that could increase behaviours of concern.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this type of support, which is why you first develop a Positive Behaviour Support Plan with a registered practitioner.
What is a Positive Behaviour Support Plan?
A Positive Behaviour Support Plan outlines specific strategies and interventions to reduce behaviours of concern. This plan is tailored to the person’s needs, preferences and their environment. It aims to:
- identify and educate on the causes of the individual's behaviours of concern
- develop proactive strategies to reduce the behaviours of concern
- teach new skills to replace the behaviours of concern
- provide consistent and meaningful responses to encourage positive changes in behaviour
- reduce and eliminate the need for Restrictive Practices.
These plans are designed to help the person with disability's support network to understand how they can proactively, positively and appropriately respond to behaviours of concern.
Who writes a Positive Behaviour Support plan?
An NDIS registered Behaviour Support Practitioner, who specialises in developing strategies to address behaviours of concern, will develop the plan. This could be a Psychologist, Occupational Therapist or Speech Therapist.
Writing a Positive Behaviour Support plan is a team effort, bringing together the person with disability, their family, school staff and carers.
Luka’s behaviour support is a ‘learning adventure’ for mum, Amy
Amy has been self-managing Luka’s support for many years. But as Luka’s condition progressed into requiring behaviour support and elements of restrictive practice, she needed to find a disability support provider.
Positive Behaviour Support and NDIS funding
NDIS funding for Positive Behaviour Support comes under the “Improved Relationships” category of your Capacity Building Supports budget.
You can learn more about Capacity Building Supports budgets on the NDIS website.
Who can provide Positive Behaviour Support?
While the Positive Behaviour Support plan must be developed by an NDIS registered practitioner, the supports themselves can be carried out by family, school staff, carers and support workers.
Hireup's approach to Positive Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices
Hireup’s experienced team of Behaviour Support Relationship Managers are focused on creating supportive environments where people can learn new skills and adopt positive behaviours, while avoiding situations that could increase behaviours of concern.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this type of support, learn more about how it works with Hireup.
