What is Positive Behaviour Supports (PBS)
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is an evidence-based model (hence funded by the NDIS) and supports the ideal that all behaviours, whether good or bad have a meaning.
Behaviour is a means of communication.
When there is a mismatch between supports, environments and the needs of a person, there may be "behaviours of concern" or "behaviours that challenge", which can cause difficulties and limit a person’s ability to have a good life.
This behaviour challenges everyone who supports the person to understand why it is happening and seek a solution so that the person’s needs can be met in better ways.
Positive Behaviour Supports (PBS) Practitioners seek to understand behaviours of concern from multiple perspectives and work in partnership with the person, person's family and the support network to develop plans and goals for meaningful change.
They can also work with the person’s support staff, such as Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists to understand and develop the PBS support plan to assist the person or family member/carer.
As the NDIS Commission states, “the aim of positive behaviour support is to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices."
What is a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) and who can deliver it?
A behaviour support plan can only be developed by practitioners who:
- are considered suitable by the Commissioner to undertake functional behaviour assessments and
- develop behaviour support plans.
For example a psychologist.
A Behaviour Support Plan is developed for a person with challenging behaviour to help them and the people that support them:
- strengthen positive behaviours and personal interests
- understand the causes of the behaviour, including the effects of trauma
- equip them with appropriate strategies and skills to address or prevent challenging behaviours which have concerning consequences
- clearly identify the circumstances under which any restricted practices can be used within the context of behaviour management, and include the appropriate authorisation of those.
A Behaviour Support Plan should be reviewed within the first few weeks, and then every three months from then on to ensure its success.
The Positive Behaviour Capability Framework governs who is suitable to create a behaviour support plan.
IMPORTANT: In the NDIS, Behaviour Support Practitioners (whether a sole provider or employed by a provider) must be registered with the NDIS to provide specialist behaviour support. They must also be supervised by Behaviour Support Practitioners with a greater level of experience than them and must also provide evidence to the NDIS commission via a Self Assessment.
Can I use non-registered NDIS providers to deliver PBS?
Behaviour Support Practitioners need to be registered in their individual right with the NDIS Commission. A practitioner may work for a registered or non-registered NDIS provider.
Only registered providers can implement restrictive practices, so if there are no restrictive practices being implemented by the provider, non-registered providers can be used (so long as their PBS Practioner is registered).
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