The purpose of this policy is to support the delivery of high-quality, ethical, and evidence-based positive behaviour support to participants to improve their quality of life and protect their rights. It applies to all potential and existing participants receiving positive behaviour support, their family members, carers and other supporters, as well as all staff of Continuity Care . It meets relevant legislation, regulations and Standards.

Implementing Behaviour Support Plans – Behaviour Support in the NDIS Outcome Each participant accesses behaviour support that is appropriate to their needs which incorporates evidence-informed practice and complies with relevant legislation and policy frameworks. Indicators ·         Knowledge and understanding of the NDIS and state and territory behaviour support legislation and policy frameworks. ·         Demonstrated appropriate knowledge and understanding of evidence-informed practice approaches to behaviour support. ·         Demonstrated commitment to reducing and eliminating restrictive practices through policies, procedures and practices. Implementing Behaviour Support Plans – Supporting the Assessment and Development of Behaviour Support Plans Outcome Each participant’s quality of life is maintained and improved by tailored, evidence-informed behaviour support plans that are response to their needs. Indicators ·         The specialist behaviour support provider is supported to gather information for the functional behavioural assessment and other relevant assessments. ·         Collaboration occurs with the specialist behaviour support provider to develop each participant’s behaviour support plan and the clear identification of key responsibilities in implementing and reviewing the plan. ·         Relevant workers have the necessary skills to inform the development of the participant’s behaviour support plan. ·         Relevant workers have access to appropriate training to enhance their skills in, and knowledge of, positive behaviour supports and restrictive practices. Implementing Behaviour Support Plans – Behaviour Support Plan Implementation Outcome Each participant’s behaviour support plan is implemented effectively to meet the participant’s behaviour support needs. Indicators ·         Policies and procedures that support the implementation of behaviour support plans are developed and maintained. ·         Work is actively undertaken with the specialist behaviour support providers to implement each participant’s behaviour support plan and to align support delivery with evidence-informed practice and positive behaviour support. ·         Workers are supported to develop and maintain the skills required to consistently implement the strategies in each participant’s behaviour support plan consistent with the behaviour support skills descriptor. ·         Specialist behaviour support providers are supported to train the workers of the providers implementing behaviour support plans in the use and monitoring of behaviour support strategies in the behaviour support plan, including positive behaviour support. ·         Workers receive training in the safe use of restrictive practices. ·         Collaboration in undertaken with other providers that work with the participant to implement strategies in the participant’s behaviour support plan. ·         Performance management ensures that workers are implementing strategies in the participant’s behaviour support plan appropriately. Implementing Behaviour Support Plans – Behaviour Support Plan Review Outcome Each participant has a current behaviour support plan that reflects their needs, and works towards improving their quality of life, reducing behaviours of concern, and reducing and eliminating the use of restrictive practices. Indicators ·         The implementation of the participant’s behaviour support plan is monitored through a combination of formal and informal approaches, including through feedback from the participant, team meetings, data collection and record keeping, other feedback and supervision. ·         Information is recorded and data is collected as required by the specialist behaviour support provider and as prescribed in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018. ·         Identification of circumstances where the participant’s needs, situation or progress create a need for more frequent review, including if the participant’s behaviour changes. ·         Contributions are made to the reviews of the strategies in a participant’s behaviour support plan, with the primary focus of reducing or eliminating restrictive practices based on observed progress or positive changes in the participant’s situation. Implementing Behaviour Support Plans – Interim Behaviour Support Plans Outcome Each participant with an immediate need for a behaviour support plan receives an interim behaviour support plan based on evidence-informed practice, which minimises the risk to the participant and others.     Indicators ·         Collaboration is undertaken with mainstream service providers (such as police and/or other emergency services, mental health and emergency department, treating medication practitioners and other allied health clinicians) in contributing to an interim behaviour support plan developed by a specialist behaviour support provider. ·         Work is undertaken with the specialist behaviour support provider to support the development of the interim behaviour support plan. ·         Workers are supported and facilitated to receive training in the implementation of the interim behaviour support plan. Definitions Behaviours of Concern – behaviours that, due to their intensity, frequency or duration, threaten a person’s quality of life, and/or the safety of themselves or others, impacts on their capacity to engage in daily life, limits the building of relationships and opportunities, and will likely require restrictive responses. Positive Behaviour Support – an evidenced-based approach to managing behaviours of concern that incorporates ongoing functional assessments and person-centred interventions to assist with improving an individual’s quality of life.

Continuity Care  is committed to providing positive behaviour support for participants that is appropriate to their needs, incorporates evidence-based practice and maintains the dignity and rights of participants. All positive behaviour support will be provided in a way that considers participants’ rights and ethical requirements, regardless of the existence of behaviours of concern. Continuity Care  will ensure all positive behaviour support provided to participants reduces behaviours of concern while improving their quality of life. Behaviour support will be tailored to be responsive, strengths-based, person-centred and reflective of participants’ unmet needs.

Positive Behaviour Support Positive Behaviour Support strategies used by Continuity Care  will be for the primary purpose of improving a participant’s quality of life through: ·         providing strengths-based, person-centred support to participants; ·         using a participant’s preferred method of communication; ·         supporting a participant’s own decision making and providing options to assist with this; ·         providing participants with opportunities to participate in mainstream services and community activities that promote the development of new skills; ·         promoting and encouraging the reduction of behaviours of concern through ensuring support meets the participant’s needs and that the participant is able to, through their own methods, articulate what their needs are; and ·         understanding and learning that all behaviours of concern provide a function to the participant to have their needs met. Where a participant’s behaviours of concern require staff to take a positive behaviour support approach, but do not require the use of restrictive practices, a behaviour support plan should be developed. Where a participant’s behaviours of concern place themselves or others at risk of harm, and a regulated restrictive practice is required to help manage this, Continuity Care  a behaviour support plan must be developed. Continuity Care ’s Use of Restrictive Practices Policy and Procedure [or equivalent] details what should be included in a behaviour support plan. Responsibilities The Care Coordinator is responsible for: ·         ensuring that all behaviour support practitioners used by  Continuity care are assessed as suitable to deliver specialised positive behaviour support; ·         ensuring that each behaviour support practitioner engages in ongoing professional development in the field of behaviour support, that is inclusive of evidenced-based support and best practice standards; ·         ensuring each behaviour support practitioner has access to clinical supervision from a specialist behaviour support clinical supervisor on a regular basis in relation to the provision of positive behaviour support practices; .         ensuring workers are supported to develop and maintain the skills required to consistently implement the strategies outlined in behaviour support plans, in line with the NDIS Commission’s Positive Behaviour Support Competency Framework; and ·         ensuring behaviour support practitioners are supported to train workers implementing behaviour support plans on how to implement the strategies contained within the plan. Continuity Care must use its performance management processes (see the Human Resources Policy and Procedure [or equivalent]) to ensure that staff involved in positive behaviour support are implementing strategies in participants’ behaviour support plans appropriately. Staff must: ·         when providing positive behaviour support, ensure their delivery aligns with evidence-informed practice, and that their skills and knowledge are appropriate for the strategies included in behaviour support plans; ·         support participants using positive behaviour support principles as well as a person-centred approach, and respect individuals’ right to dignity of risk; and ·         at all times, minimise the occurrence of behaviours of concern by providing support that meets the needs of participants. Record Keeping Information and data collected and recorded by [behaviour support practitioners and support workers must comply with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018, Continuity Care ’s Use of Restrictive Practices Policy and Procedure [or equivalent] and Continuity Care ’s Records and Information Management Policy and Procedure [or equivalent]. Records must be kept for seven years from the day the record is made. Continuity Care ’s feedback collection mechanisms, such as participant satisfaction surveys, will assess: ·         participant and other stakeholder awareness of their rights and the extent to which they feel able and supported to exercise them; ·         participant and other stakeholder satisfaction with Continuity Care ’s complaints processes; and ·        the extent to which participants feel safe and protected in their dealings with Continuity Care . Continuity Care ’s Continuous Improvement Register will be used to record identified improvements and monitor the progress of their implementation. Where relevant, this information will be considered as part of Continuity Care ’s service planning and delivery processes