IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS FUNDING (POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT)
“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower”
– Alexander Den Heijer
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Neurodivergent Affirming Practice
Contemporary PBS in a NDIS-funded context is underpinned by human rights and person-centred practice. It views all people as individuals that have the right to communicate in their own way and have their specific needs met. PBS aims to develop a shared understanding of the person’s needs, goals, and abilities with the purpose of improving their quality of life.
The Importance of Language
Spectrum Centre acknowledges that the word 'behaviour' can trigger distress in individuals, particularly those in the autistic community due to association with aversive models. Spectrum Centre adopts a neurobiological approach to understanding the adaptive stress response of individuals experiencing difficulty in their life. The word 'behaviour' is used in context of compliance with NDIS requirements for service providers, and to enable NDIS participants to understand and access the relevant services funded in their NDIS plan.
What is the difference between Positive Behaviour Support and Therapy?
Within the NDIS context, both Positive behaviour support (PBS) and Therapy are funding under the Capacity Building supports in a participant’s NDIS plan, however PBS funding is in the ‘Improved Relationships’ budget, and Therapy funding is in the ‘Improved Daily Living’ budget.
PBS services are required to be delivered by a professional registered as a behaviour support practitioner with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and delivered by a NDIS registered provider. Therapy services are delivered by suitably qualified professionals, however therapists are not required to be individually registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. PBS services require the completion of a functional behaviour assessment and development of behaviour support plans which provide positive strategies to caregivers and support workers. Behaviour support plans focus on strategies that those around the NDIS participant (i.e., caregivers, support workers) can implement preventatively to improve the quality of life, emotional regulation, communication, interactions, and well-being of the NDIS participant. Therapy focuses on specific skill development in a particular area with the therapist working directly with the NDIS participant one on one or in a group (e.g., psychology, occupational therapy, social work).
In more simple terms, PBS services are focused on creating positive changes implemented by people around the NDIS participant, while Therapy is focused on the NDIS participant’s development of individual skills.
PBS and the NDIS
Improved Relationships funding (CB Relationships) may be allocated to NDIS participants when there are situations or experiences during which participants are experiencing emotional dysregulation and/or unmet needs. This may include adaptive stress responses such as property damage, lashing out, running away and more which signal a need for further understanding and support.
NDIS participants with an Improved Relationships budget are able to access PBS services. PBS services are provided by practitioners who are registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission oversee all services and supports delivered with NDIS funding, including the quality of PBS services delivered by practitioners.
Practitioners carry-out a PBS assessment which includes input from the participant and relevant others (e.g., family members, caregivers, support staff, teaching/employment services, therapists, other relevant professionals and agencies). Assessment also includes a range of sources such as medical history, previous medical or allied health reports, support plans, incident reports or other data, formal assessment measures, and direct observation.
Based on the assessment, practitioners co-develop support plans with the participant and important others in their life. Support plans include proactive strategies to improve quality of life (e.g., changes in the environment, communication supports), and reactive strategies that outline how others can support needs and respond to minimise distress and risk of harm.
Practitioners provide coaching to implement the support strategies in the plan, as well as monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the strategies over time.
In some situations a restrictive practice may already be in place or recommended to protect people from harm. A restrictive practice is any intervention that restricts the rights, freedom of movement, or access of a person with disability. Plans that include a restrictive practice are required to be shared with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and any other providers who will be using or administering the restrictive practice/s in the plan. The plan also includes how to fade out the need for the restrictive practice over time.
PBS Service Process
Please refer to the PBS process visual for information about services delivered with Improved Relationships funding. The focus of the process is on partnering with participant and those around them to create improvements in emotional regulation and quality of life. We provide PBS services with a supportive approach centred on building a sense of safety, strong connections, and collaborative relationships to support participants to achieve their goals.
