Understanding Behaviour Support and its Role in the NDIS

Behaviour support is a crucial service under the NDIS, designed to help individuals with disabilities manage challenging behaviours and improve their quality of life. This blog explores how behaviour support works.

Behaviour support is an essential service designed to improve quality of life for people with disability by addressing behaviours of concern. These behaviours can pose a risk to the person or to others and limit their ability to take part in everyday life. The NDIS recognises the importance of behaviour support and funds services that help participants achieve better outcomes through tailored interventions.

What is behaviour support?

Behaviour support is a person-centred approach that focuses on understanding the reasons behind challenging behaviours and developing strategies to reduce or eliminate them. Those behaviours might include aggression, self-harm, property damage, or other actions that affect the person and the people around them. The goal is never to punish or control, but to identify the underlying causes and address them in a positive, constructive way.

An experienced behaviour support practitioner from Ivy Psychology works closely with the individual, their family, carers, and other supports to build a plan that fits the person's needs, preferences, and goals. We believe in a balanced focus on personally meaningful experiences, goals, and quality of life alongside the safe management of behaviours of concern.

How behaviour support works through the NDIS

Under the NDIS, behaviour support is funded to help participants manage behaviours of concern and improve their overall wellbeing. The process generally follows four stages.

1. Assessment and understanding

A registered behaviour support practitioner conducts a thorough assessment, seeking to understand the person's behaviour in the context of their environment, history, and personal circumstances, and to identify the triggers and factors contributing to behaviours of concern. Ivy Psychology's behaviour support team is led by an experienced clinical psychologist and senior behaviour support practitioner, so our assessments are informed by evidence-based psychological models.

2. Developing a Behaviour Support Plan

Based on the assessment, a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) is developed. It sets out proactive and reactive strategies and may include environmental adjustments, skill-building activities, communication strategies, and therapeutic interventions, all aimed at promoting positive behaviours and improving quality of life.

3. Implementation

Once finalised, the plan is implemented with the support of the person's network, including family, carers, and support workers. The NDIS may fund the services and resources needed to put it into action, such as training for carers or access to therapeutic services. Ivy Psychology practitioners work closely with everyone involved to make sure the plan is carried out effectively.

4. Monitoring and review

Behaviour support is a continuous process, not a one-off intervention. The plan is regularly monitored and reviewed so it stays effective and relevant as the person's needs change, with adjustments made to reflect progress, setbacks, or new goals.

The role of restrictive practices

In some cases, regulated restrictive practices may be considered as part of a plan. These are a last resort for behaviours that pose a significant risk, and their use is strictly regulated. Any use must be accompanied by a behaviour support plan that sets out how the practice will be reduced or eliminated over time, and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission oversees their use to ensure they are applied only when absolutely necessary and in the least restrictive way possible.

Why behaviour support matters

Behaviour support empowers people with disability to lead more independent and fulfilling lives. By addressing the root causes of challenging behaviours and providing tailored interventions, it helps people build new skills, improve communication with their supports, and take part more fully in the community. A well-matched environment of support makes better outcomes possible.

For NDIS participants, behaviour support can be a transformative service that opens up new opportunities. It is a key part of the NDIS's commitment to person-centred care that respects the rights, dignity, and aspirations of people with disability.

In summary

Behaviour support under the NDIS is a comprehensive, person-centred approach to improving the lives of people with disability. Through careful assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring, and by empowering individuals and their support networks, it helps participants reduce challenging behaviours and work towards their goals.

Looking for a behaviour support practitioner?If you or a participant you support is seeking behaviour support, get in touch with Ivy Psychology to find an experienced practitioner who can help. Start a referral