CARE SERVICES
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT POLICY
1.
Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is create a framework within which Sunflower Care Services can include
positive behavioural support as part of its daily services and support to individuals. This Policy will assist
Sunflower Care Services to:
 maintain the safety and dignity of individuals
 minimise the frequency and severity of behaviours of concern
 ensure that restrictive practices are used as an intervention of last resort
 ensure that staff receive training in the use of positive behaviour support interventions.
2.
Scope
This Policy applies to all employees and volunteers of Sunflower Care Services and all services and
support delivered.
3.
Definitions
Client: a person with a disability receiving a service and/or support from Sunflower Care Services.
Staff: a member of a team of people at Sunflower Care Services, paid or voluntary, that provides direct or
indirect support to a person with a disability who is in receipt of services and/or support from Sunflower
Care Services.
Positive Behaviour Support: an evidence-based approach with a primary goal of increasing a person’s
quality of life and a secondary goal of decreasing the frequency and severity of their challenging
behaviours.
Behaviours of Concern: ‘Behaviours of such intensity, frequency or duration that the physical, emotional
or psychological wellbeing and safety of the person or others is placed in serious jeopardy, or behaviours
which are likely to seriously limit or deny access to and the use of ordinary community facilities’.
(Emerson, Mc Gill and Mansell, 1994)
Behaviours of Concern may include:
 self-injury and self-mutilation which leads to physical trauma and/or disfigurement requiring
medical attention;
 behaviour which has the potential to cause physical injury or emotional trauma to self or others;
 persistent refusal to follow necessary treatment procedures for medical conditions such as
epilepsy, diabetes or other conditions that, if not treated, will further endanger the person’s health;
 absconding;
 behaviour which is likely to elicit negative community reactions;
 sexual behaviour which puts the person or others at risk; or
 behaviour which has the potential to jeopardise the person’s accommodation, work placement or
day placement.
Any response to behaviours of concern must be based on an understanding that the behaviour;
 occurs in the context of the person’s individual characteristics, lifestyle and environment
(including the interpersonal environment);
 has many possible functions – including communicative – which must first be assessed and
understood before an appropriate behaviour support strategy can be put in place.
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The positive approach to behavioural support aims to create responsive service environments in which it
is no longer necessary for the person with disability to resort to displaying behaviours of concern to have
their needs met. It is based on the premise that all service recipients will benefit when services:
 have as their focus the achievement of positive outcomes for people with disability, including
increased independence and community participation;
 are planned around the individual needs, goals and characteristics of the person with disability;
 are designed to promote the competence of, and enhance the community perception of people
with disability; and
 provide meaningful and rewarding lifestyle choices for people with disability.
Restrictive Practices: Restrictive Practices are those practices which could cause physical or emotional
pain to the person with disability. Restrictive Practices include punishment-based practices such as loss
of privileges and denial of participation in social and recreational activities. Restrictive Practices are not to
be used without the informed consent of the person with disability, their key family member or their legally
appointed guardian. When used outside the guidelines of this policy, the following restricted practices
could constitute criminal assault or false imprisonment:
 physical restraint, i.e. restricting voluntary movement by holding the person
 mechanical restraint, i.e. restricting voluntary movement through the use of belts, straps, ties, etc.
 seclusion (time out), i.e. removing the person to another setting where they are coned in a room
and unable to leave at will
 medication administered to control behaviour in the absence of a specific organic cause or
diagnosed psychiatric condition.
The Use of Physical Restraint: In crisis situations where the person’s behaviour is posing an immediate
and serious threat to himself/herself or others, physical restraint may, in some cases, be justified to
prevent an even greater harm occurring.
Prohibited Practices:
The following Restrictive Practices are prohibited within Sunflower Care Services:
 any procedures which degrade or demean the person with disability
 physical abuse, e.g., hitting, pushing, shaking, force feeding, scratching, biting, cold showers
 emotional abuse, e.g., teasing, bullying, threatening
 verbal abuse, e.g., name-calling, insulting remarks, using sexist or racist language, swearing
 depriving the person of food, drink or shelter
 destroying the person’s possessions
 neglect of a person’s social, physical and emotional needs
 the use of restricted practices without authorisation.
4.
Policy Statement
Sunflower Care Services is committed to positive behaviour support practices that focus on positive
outcomes for people with a disability.
Sunflower Care Services has a duty of care and is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to
reports of behaviours of concern, having due regard for the rights of the person displaying the behaviours,
the rights of any other person(s) affected by the behaviour and Sunflower Care Services’ duty of care
obligations. Wherever possible, interventions designed to support people with behaviours of concern will
focus on improvements to the person’s life style and environment and the provision of opportunities for
skills maintenance and development.
Sunflower Care Services supports the Disability Services Commissions ‘Code of Conduct on the
Elimination of Restricted Practices’ and as such does not support the undocumented use of restricted or
aversive practices across all services.
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5.
Strategies
Sunflower Care Services will use the following strategies to achieve the goals of this Policy:
1. Person-centred approaches: A person-centred approach helps identify the needs and goals of
the person and emphasises community participation, meaningful social relationships, more
opportunities for choice, the creation of valued roles respected by others and ongoing
development of personal competencies.
2. Inclusion of relevant stakeholders: Positive Behaviour Support works best when the relevant
people who live with the person in different environments are involved in the assessment,
planning and implementation of positive support strategies.
3. Assessment-based intervention: Positive Behaviour Support uses assessments that look
beyond the behaviour itself and more towards the social, emotional, cognitive and/or
environmental factors influencing the behaviour. A functional assessment offers a better
understanding of the function or purpose behind behaviour.
4. Behaviour support plans: Following a comprehensive assessment of the person’s needs and
their environment, a behaviour support plan may be developed. The plan aims to summarise the
supports the person and their carers, staff and family need to make positive changes to address
unmet needs.
5. Reduction in restrictive practices: These types of approaches include strategies such as
exclusion and social isolation, physical injury, abuse and neglect. Sunflower Care Services does
not support the undocumented use of restricted or aversive practices across all services.
6. Skill building: Positive Behaviour Support develops the skills of the person displaying the
challenging behaviour to help them:
a. experience success and personal satisfaction across a variety of settings, including
recreational, educational, work, social, community and family settings
b. develop more appropriate ways to communicate their needs
c. develop skills in daily living that meet potential gaps in being able to engage in
meaningful activities.
7. Staff development: Education and training also helps staff develop effective behaviour
management plans and build a better understanding of a person’s behaviour. Sunflower Care
Services will ensure staff receive training in Positive Behaviour Support.
8. Environmental re-design: Behaviour is influenced by the environment of the person. Positive
Behaviour Support is a way of looking at the goodness of fit between the person and the
environment they find themselves. It could include changing factors such as staff attitudes,
physical factors such as reducing noise levels or ensuring increased choices to the person with
disability.
9. Systems change: There are a broad range of issues that may influence the implementation of
Positive Behaviour Support that may need to be addressed in a systems change process.
Changes may include reviewing the mission, vision and values of the service, using
administrative support for buy-in and accountability, changing policies and procedures,
developing and educating staff, promoting collaboration and ensuring consultation and technical
assistance is available.
5.
Performance Standards
This policy will be made available to clients prior to the provision of service to them and the creation of
their client record file. This policy will be reviewed on a two-yearly basis, with consultation of
representatives of parties involved. All Sunflower Care Services staff will be informed of and be familiar
with the Policy, and staff will undertake training on the policy within Sunflower Care Services. All staff and
volunteers are responsible for their own individual actions in complying with the Policy.
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6.
Related Documents
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7.
Duty of Care
Code of Conduct
Person Centred Approach Policy
Elimination of Restrictive Practices Policy
Sources, Legal and Regulatory Standards
This Policy was developed in accordance with:
8.
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National Standards for Disability Services – 1 to 6
The Community Care Common Standards – Standard 1: Effective Management.
The Community Care Common Standards – Standard 3: Service User Rights and
Responsibilities
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Positive Behaviour Support Information for Disability Sector Organisations
(http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/disability-service-providers-/for-disability-serviceproviders/services-for-disability-sector-organisations/positive-behaviour-strategy/)
Authorisation and Review
Authorised by: Joseph Karunarathna
Director
Reviewer:
Date:
Next review:
01/12/2017
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