Positive behaviour support and restrictive practices
How behaviour support plans work, what counts as a regulated restrictive practice, and the safeguards around them.
6 min read·
Behaviour support starts with understanding, not control
Positive behaviour support works from the premise that behaviour is communication. A functional behaviour assessment looks at what is happening before and after the behaviour, what need it is meeting, and what could meet that need differently — then the plan changes the environment and the responses of the people around the person.
Who can write a plan
Behaviour support plans that contain a regulated restrictive practice must be developed by an NDIS behaviour support practitioner considered suitable by the NDIS Commission. Providers implementing them must be registered for Specialist Behaviour Support (Module 2a) or as an implementing provider.
The five regulated restrictive practices
A restrictive practice is anything that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. Five categories are regulated under the NDIS rules:
- Seclusion
- Chemical restraint
- Mechanical restraint
- Physical restraint
- Environmental restraint
The safeguards that must be in place
Use of a regulated restrictive practice is only lawful within a tightly controlled framework. If any part of this is missing, it is a reportable incident.
- It must be authorised in line with your state or territory authorisation requirements
- It must be set out in a behaviour support plan lodged with the NDIS Commission
- It must be the least restrictive option, used as a last resort and for the shortest time
- Use must be recorded and reported to the NDIS Commission monthly
- The plan must include a strategy to reduce and eliminate its use over time
NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018; ndiscommission.gov.au behaviour support.
General information only. Rules and dates change — check ndis.gov.au or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 before acting on anything here.