Positive Behaviour Support & Restrictive Practices Policy

1. Purpose & Commitment

Safe Hands is committed to supporting all participants - including those with complex behaviour support needs - in a way that upholds their dignity, autonomy, and human rights. Positive behaviour support (PBS) is our preferred and primary approach to supporting participants whose behaviour may sometimes put themselves or others at risk.

We recognise that behaviours of concern often reflect unmet needs, communication difficulties, or an environment that is not working for the participant. Our goal is always to address the root cause - not just manage the behaviour.

2. Legislative Framework

• National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) - Part 7A (Behaviour Support)
• NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018
• NDIS Practice Standards - Behaviour Support Module
• NDIS Code of Conduct 2018
• NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014
• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

3. What Is a Restrictive Practice?

Under the NDIS Rules, a restrictive practice is any practice or intervention that has the effect of restricting the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. There are five regulated categories:

4. Our Primary Approach: Positive Behaviour Support

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is an evidence-based framework that focuses on understanding why a behaviour occurs and changing the environment, interactions, or supports to address the underlying need. PBS does not punish behaviour - it works to make behaviours of concern unnecessary.

Safe Hands’s PBS approach includes:

• Functional behaviour assessment: Understanding what triggers the behaviour, what it communicates, and what consequences maintain it
• Environment modification: Changing settings, routines, or interactions to remove triggers and reduce the need for the behaviour
• Teaching alternative skills: Building communication, coping, and emotional regulation skills so participants have better ways to meet their needs
• Proactive strategies: Implementing strategies before a behaviour occurs to prevent escalation
• Reactive strategies: Planned, proportionate responses when behaviours occur - focused on safety and de-escalation, not punishment

5. Behaviour Support Plans

Participants who require behaviour support strategies must have a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) developed by a qualified Behaviour Support Practitioner. Safe Hands does not develop BSPs internally - we implement them as directed by an independent, NDIS-registered Behaviour Support Practitioner.

5.1 Requirements for a Valid BSP

• Developed by an NDIS-registered Behaviour Support Practitioner
• Based on a comprehensive functional behaviour assessment
• Developed with the participant’s meaningful involvement and consent (or that of their authorised representative)
• Approved by the relevant state authority if it contains regulated restrictive practices (in NSW: the Senior Practitioner, NSW)
• Reviewed at least annually or when the participant’s circumstances change significantly

5.2 Worker Obligations

Workers assigned to a participant with a BSP must:

• Read and sign that they have understood the BSP before working with the participant
• Implement only the strategies outlined in the approved BSP
• Never implement a restrictive practice not included in the approved BSP - even if requested by the participant’s family
• Record all uses of any restrictive practice in the Incident Register immediately after it occurs
• Notify their manager of any use of a restrictive practice on the same day

6. Authorisation of Regulated Restrictive Practices

A regulated restrictive practice may only be implemented if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The participant’s NDIS plan includes funding for behaviour support and the relevant supports
2. A Behaviour Support Plan has been developed by a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner
3. The practice is included in the approved BSP with full justification
4. Authorisation has been obtained from the relevant NSW authority (Senior Practitioner, NSW) where required
5. The participant (or their authorised decision-maker) has given informed consent
6. The worker implementing the practice has been specifically trained in the technique

7. Emergency Use of Physical Restraint

In a genuine emergency where immediate physical restraint is used to prevent imminent harm to the participant or others, and where no authorisation exists in a BSP, the following must occur:

• Use the minimum force necessary to prevent the immediate harm - no more
• Cease the restraint as soon as the immediate danger has passed
• Notify the manager immediately by phone
• Complete an Incident Report Form before the end of the shift
• The incident is automatically a reportable incident and must be reported to the NDIS Commission within 5 business days
• A review must be conducted to understand what led to the emergency and what proactive strategies can prevent recurrence

Emergency use of physical restraint does not authorise ongoing use of that practice. A BSP must be developed or updated to address the behaviour before any further restraint can be used.

8. Reducing and Eliminating Restrictive Practices

Safe Hands is committed to the active reduction and elimination of restrictive practices over time, as required by the NDIS. We do this by:

• Treating every use of a restrictive practice as an opportunity to review and improve our approach
• Working collaboratively with Behaviour Support Practitioners to revise BSPs toward less restrictive alternatives
• Investing in staff training in PBS and de-escalation techniques
• Reviewing the Incident Register quarterly to identify patterns and systemic improvements
• Setting reduction targets for any ongoing restrictive practices in participant plans

9. Reporting Obligations

10. Training

Workers supporting participants with behaviour support needs must complete:

• Induction training on this policy and the NDIS restrictive practices framework before working with any participant who has a BSP
• Training on the specific strategies in each participant’s BSP before implementing them
• Safe Hands may also arrange formal PBS training and non-violent crisis intervention training for relevant workers

11. Related Documents

• Incident Management & Reporting Policy (POL-INC-001)
• Human Rights & Participant Rights Policy (POL-RTS-001)
• Person-Centred Service Planning Policy (POL-PCP-001)
• Child Safety Policy (POL-CSP-001)
• NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018
• NDIS Behaviour Support - Senior Practitioner (NSW)