Call : (03) 9938 9800 Email : reception at boutiquepsychology.au
Why Positive Behaviour Support Plans?
The Positive Behaviour Support Plan is developed with the individual’s unique needs and circumstances in mind, with the goal of promoting their independence, well-being, and quality of life. It is a person-centred approach that takes into account the individual’s preferences, strengths, and needs.
What is a Positive Behaviour Support Plan?
A behaviour support practitioner, often referred to as a BSP, helps identify the triggers to behaviours or actions that are limiting someone’s ability to participate in different areas of their lives, such as school, work, or access the community. Behaviour Support Practitioners complete a comprehensive assessment with individuals, their families, carers and support team to identify challenging behaviours. By working collaboratively with an individual and their supports, taking a holistic approach to identify the underlying reasons, and addressing challenging behaviour by meeting the person’s fundamental needs and enhancing their abilities to adapt and respond effectively.
Our Positive Behaviour Support services aim to minimise or eliminate the use of restrictive measures while promoting the independence of participants, enabling them to lead fulfilling lives.
At our organisation, we take a compassionate and respectful approach to our services. This includes conducting comprehensive assessments in the individual’s own environment, completing functional behavioural assessments, providing team training and support, and developing personalised interim and comprehensive behaviour support plans.
Our services take an integrated approach that combines positive behaviour support with therapeutic interventions and skill-building opportunities. By tailoring our approach to the individual’s needs and goals, we aim to promote their independence and overall well-being.
The Behaviour Support Practitioner develops a Behaviour Support Plan, which includes:
1. Conducting a functional assessment: This involves gathering information about the person’s behaviour, such as what triggers it, what the consequences are, and what the person’s needs and preferences are. This information is used to develop hypotheses about why the behaviour is occurring.
2. Developing a hypothesis: Based on the information gathered in the functional assessment, a hypothesis is developed about why the person is engaging in the behaviour. This helps to identify the underlying needs that the behaviour is serving.
3. Developing interventions: Based on the hypothesis, a range of interventions are identified that can help to address the underlying needs and reduce or eliminate the challenging behaviour. These may include teaching new skills, modifying the environment, or changing the consequences of the behaviour.
4. Creating a written plan: The interventions are then documented in a written Behaviour Support Plan, which outlines the goals, strategies, and supports needed to implement the plan. This plan is shared with all members of the support team and can be updated as needed based on ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the person’s progress. The roles of a behaviour practitioner are to conduct an assessment and then write out a “behaviour support plan”. The plan consists of interviewing the client’s closest contacts so the practitioner can gather as much information as possible to devise the right plan. The BP might reach out and contact the clients’ teachers, family members, and healthcare workers.
Upon gathering as much information as possible, the Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner will look to identify what challenging behaviours the client has and the frequency of them. The practitioner will look specifically into events leading up to challenging behaviours and come up with the best way to prevent them and best cope with them when they occur.
How can a Behaviour Support Plan Help me?
Addressing underlying needs: A BSP is designed to address the underlying needs that the challenging behaviour is serving. By doing so, the individual’s needs are being met in a positive and supportive manner, which can lead to increased feelings of well-being.
Enhancing skills: A BSP may include teaching new skills or strategies to replace the challenging behaviour. This can help the individual to become more independent and capable, which can increase their self-esteem and confidence.
Improving relationships: A BSP involves collaboration between the individual and their support team. This can lead to improved communication and understanding, which can strengthen relationships and improve overall social functioning.
Reducing restrictions: Challenging behaviour can often lead to restrictions or limitations in the individual’s life, such as reduced access to community activities or employment opportunities. By reducing or eliminating challenging behaviours through a BSP, these restrictions can be lifted, leading to increased opportunities and greater participation in the community.
Meet our team
Working together, these two professionals can bring their individual expertise and perspectives to the development of Positive Behaviour Support Plans (PBSPs). With their combined knowledge and skills, they can more effectively assess the individual’s needs and create a comprehensive plan that addresses all aspects of the person’s life.
Additionally, their collaboration can help ensure that the PBSP is person-centred, incorporating the individual’s preferences, strengths, and goals, and focusing on enhancing their quality of life.
Finally, working as a team can provide support and accountability for the implementation of the PBSP, ensuring that it is carried out effectively and that the person receives the best possible support.
How is Positive Behaviour Support Plan different?
Each Positive Behaviour Support Plan (PBSP) is unique and tailored to the individual’s specific needs and circumstances. This includes taking into account factors such as the individual’s age, disability, and existing supports. The development of a BSP involves a thorough functional assessment of the individual’s behaviour, which helps to identify the underlying reasons for the behaviour.
Once the underlying reasons have been identified, interventions are developed that are specific to the individual’s needs and circumstances. For example, if an individual has a developmental disability, the BSP may include teaching new skills that are appropriate for their age and developmental level. Similarly, if an individual has existing supports such as family members or friends, the PBSP may involve working with those supports to develop strategies for addressing the challenging behaviour.
Overall, the BSP is developed with the individual’s unique needs and circumstances in mind, with the goal of promoting their independence, well-being, and quality of life. It is a person-centred approach that takes into account the individual’s preferences, strengths, and needs.
What are restrictive practices?
The concept of least restrictive practices is a fundamental principle of disability rights and involves using the least restrictive interventions possible to support an individual’s needs. This means that the most minimal amount of intervention should be used that still ensures the safety and well-being of the individual. This includes using positive behaviour support strategies and interventions that are least restrictive, such as teaching new skills, modifying the environment, or providing appropriate support.
When it is necessary to use a more restrictive intervention, such as physical or chemical restraint, a fade-out plan should be developed to minimise the use of that intervention over time. A fade-out plan involves gradually reducing the use of the intervention while gradually increasing the use of more positive and least restrictive alternatives. This helps to ensure that the individual’s rights and freedoms are respected while still ensuring their safety and well-being.
The NDIS requires that all restrictive practices are used in accordance with strict guidelines and regulations. This includes a requirement for regular monitoring and review of the use of restrictive practices, with a focus on reducing the use of these practices over time. The use of restrictive practices must also be reported to the relevant authorities, with a clear plan in place for phasing out the use of those practices as soon as possible.
Overall, the NDIS has a strong focus on promoting positive behaviour support strategies and the use of least restrictive practices, with a clear emphasis on minimising the use of restrictive interventions and ensuring that individuals with disabilities are able to live as independently and fully as possible.
What is considered a behaviour of concern?
Challenging behaviours can manifest in a variety of ways, including aggression, self-harm, property destruction, running away, and disruptive or disruptive behaviours.
Is a Positive Behaviour Support Plan just for home?
A PBSP can be beneficial in a range of environments, including homes, schools, workplaces, and community settings. The goal is to create a supportive environment that promotes positive behaviours and reduces the likelihood of challenging behaviours.
This may involve modifying the physical environment, providing additional support or resources, and developing strategies to address specific triggers or behaviours. The most effective environments for PBS are those that prioritise the individual’s well-being and work collaboratively with them to achieve their goals, while also respecting their autonomy and independence.
Our service area
Although our offices are located in South Melbourne we identified a need for support in the Western Suburbs. We travel to Werribee and surrounding suburbs and to Taylors Lakes and surrounding suburbs.
Our service provides support to individuals in the inner and outer western suburbs of Melbourne.
This area includes suburbs such as Footscray, Yarraville, Seddon, West Footscray, Sunshine, Braybrook, Maidstone, Maribyrnong, Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Keilor, Taylors Lakes, Deer Park, Caroline Springs, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, and Truganina.
However, we do not provide support to individuals located in suburbs such as Melton and Gisborne, which are located outside of this area.”
Boutique Psychology accepts NDIS self and plan-managed participants for Psychology intervention and assessment
-
Early Intervention – Psychology
-
Improved Daily Living (Psychology) Intervention and Assessment
-
Assessment and report for a participant to access behaviour support funding – assessment funded under IDL Psychology.
Fees:
NDIS rate = $214.41 per hour.
Travel quoted per participant depending on location
Improved Relationships:
Behaviour Support – Boutique Psychology is a registered behaviour support practitioner and currently subcontracts for Sunny Steps Psychology. We are able to service clients with Improved Relationships funding.
