About this resource
Positive behaviour support aims to improve quality of life. This checklist prompts teams to reflect across eight commonly used areas, emotional wellbeing, relationships, material wellbeing, personal development, physical wellbeing, self-determination, social inclusion and rights, and plan improvements with the person.
Purpose
To keep quality of life at the centre of behaviour support.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Positive behaviour support practitioners. Also relevant for disability support workers, NDIS providers and support coordinators.
Client or participant group: Teams supporting people with behaviour support needs.
Practice setting: Behaviour support assessment, reviews and service quality planning.
Suggested uses
- Behaviour support assessment
- Plan reviews
- Service quality reviews
- Team planning
Instructions for practitioners
- Include the person's own view wherever possible.
- Use observations and examples, not assumptions.
- Plan improvements in the lowest areas.
- Review regularly.
Accessibility considerations
Ask the person about each area using their communication.
Scope and limitations
A reflection checklist. It is not a standardised quality of life measure.
Research basis
Person-centred planning shows positive but limited evidence of improving community participation and everyday choice for people with intellectual disability. Positive behaviour support aims to improve quality of life and reduce behaviours of concern by understanding their function and changing environments and skills. Human rights frameworks and research on the dignity of risk support people's right to make their own choices, including choices that involve some risk.
- 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
- Ibrahim, J. E., & Davis, M. (2013). Impediments to applying the ‘dignity of risk’ principle in residential aged care services. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 32(3), 188–193. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12014
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/rules-and-standards/ndis-practice-standards
- Ratti, V., Hassiotis, A., Crabtree, J., Deb, S., Gallagher, P., & Unwin, G. (2016). The effectiveness of person-centred planning for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 57, 63–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2016.06.015
- United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-persons-disabilities
What is included
A 2-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. Reflects widely used quality of life domains.
