the continuing need for restrictive practices should be justified by the service provider, and evidence provided of the effectiveness of existing restrictive practices used, and a plan provided regarding progression towards reduction and elimination of the use of the practice. This process would bring greater compliance with the requirements of Article 12(4) of the Convention and provide a clear separation between the service provider and the person who has decision-making power for the person with challenging behaviour, and provide clear and transparent pathways for accountability. What processes or systems might be needed to ensure decisions to use restrictive practices in a behaviour support plan are right for the person concerned? Legislation should be enacted to ensure that the focus of a restrictive practices regime should be upon the development of the individual person and the services delivered to them. An individualised and flexible approach should provide for and specifically address the person’s specific needs and the circumstances of the individual case, as the essential element of providing proper care and support for the person with intellectual or cognitive disability and challenging behaviour. The positive behaviour support plan should be legislatively mandated to emphasise the development of positive, socially valued skills as well as strategies for reducing the challenging behaviour. The objective of the plan should be to eliminate, as much as possible, the need for the restrictive practice. The development of behaviour support plans and the plan for the care and support of the individual person should be developed by an appropriate specialist in conjunction with the person, and where appropriate, with his/her family member/carer, or guardian. Services need to be designed and implemented for the purpose of developing the individual and enhancing their opportunity for a quality life. An essential element in this process is the encouragement of a coordinated and cooperative relationship between disability service providers and other system providers, such as the health system, to ensure that a comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment of the person is undertaken. This is of particular consequence where the person has complex co-morbidities and needs, requiring disability, general health and psychiatric support. Establishment of an independent office holder, such as an Office of a Senior Practitioner, could assist in providing advice and training to the sector. This would enable a person with clinical and practical expertise to oversee and encourage implementation of best practice in reducing and eliminating the use of restrictive practices. It is also essential that the recruitment and development of suitably qualified allied health and other support staff and their ongoing training and personal development are a high priority within this sector so that staff know and implement best practice with respect to persons with an intellectual or cognitive disability with challenging behaviour.
the continuing need for restrictive practices should be justified by the service provider, and evidence provided of the effectiveness of existing restrictive practices used, and a plan provided regarding progression towards reduction and elimination of the use of the practice. This process would bring greater compliance with the requirements of Article 12(4) of the Convention and provide a clear separation between the service provider and the person who has decision-making power for the person with challenging behaviour, and provide clear and transparent pathways for accountability. What processes or systems might be needed to ensure decisions to use restrictive practices in a behaviour support plan are right for the person concerned? Legislation should be enacted to ensure that the focus of a restrictive practices regime should be upon the development of the individual person and the services delivered to them. An individualised and flexible approach should provide for and specifically address the person’s specific needs and the circumstances of the individual case, as the essential element of providing proper care and support for the person with intellectual or cognitive disability and challenging behaviour. The positive behaviour support plan should be legislatively mandated to emphasise the development of positive, socially valued skills as well as strategies for reducing the challenging behaviour. The objective of the plan should be to eliminate, as much as possible, the need for the restrictive practice. The development of behaviour support plans and the plan for the care and support of the individual person should be developed by an appropriate specialist in conjunction with the person, and where appropriate, with his/her family member/carer, or guardian. Services need to be designed and implemented for the purpose of developing the individual and enhancing their opportunity for a quality life. An essential element in this process is the encouragement of a coordinated and cooperative relationship between disability service providers and other system providers, such as the health system, to ensure that a comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment of the person is undertaken. This is of particular consequence where the person has complex co-morbidities and needs, requiring disability, general health and psychiatric support. Establishment of an independent office holder, such as an Office of a Senior Practitioner, could assist in providing advice and training to the sector. This would enable a person with clinical and practical expertise to oversee and encourage implementation of best practice in reducing and eliminating the use of restrictive practices. It is also essential that the recruitment and development of suitably qualified allied health and other support staff and their ongoing training and personal development are a high priority within this sector so that staff know and implement best practice with respect to persons with an intellectual or cognitive disability with challenging behaviour.
Sub_PG_NDIS-Quality-Safeguards-Framework_FINAL_7May15.docx