About this resource
Most of the impact in positive behaviour support comes from what happens when things are going well. This planner helps teams identify proactive strategies across five areas, environment, routine and predictability, communication, choice and control, and meaningful activity, and agree who will put them in place.
Purpose
To shift the team's focus to proactive changes that improve the person's day and reduce the likelihood of distress.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Positive behaviour support practitioners. Also relevant for disability support workers, educators and school support staff.
Client or participant group: Support teams, families and educators working with a person who experiences behaviours of concern.
Practice setting: Homes, supported living, schools and day programs, with a behaviour support practitioner.
Suggested uses
- Team planning with the behaviour support practitioner
- Refreshing strategies after changes in the person's life
- Onboarding new team members
- Reviewing whether proactive strategies are in place
Instructions for practitioners
- Start from what a good day looks like for the person.
- Identify strategies in each of the five areas.
- Agree who will put each strategy in place and how consistency will be checked.
- Review regularly with the behaviour support practitioner.
Accessibility considerations
Include the person's own views using their preferred communication. Keep agreed strategies short and visible to the team.
Scope and limitations
A proactive planning tool. It is not a behaviour support plan, does not cover responses to incidents and does not recommend restrictive practices.
Research basis
Positive behaviour support aims to improve quality of life and reduce behaviours of concern by understanding their function and changing environments and skills. Understanding what happens before and after behaviour is the basis of functional assessment, which guides support.
- Allen, D., James, W., Evans, J., Hawkins, S., & Jenkins, R. (2005). Positive Behavioural Support: Definition, Current Status and Future Directions. Tizard Learning Disability Review, 10(2), 4–11. https://doi.org/10.1108/13595474200500014
- Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., & McCord, B. E. (2003). FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PROBLEM BEHAVIOR: A REVIEW. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36(2), 147–185. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2003.36-147
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/rules-and-standards/ndis-practice-standards
What is included
A 3-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
