Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a person-centred, evidence-based model that focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals by reducing behaviours of concern and fostering positive, sustainable ones.
A framework and service supported by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), it is used in various settings such as schools, disability services, and mental health programs, and is overall meant to support both the person with behaviours of concern and the people part of their support network.
PBS has several key elements that make up the holistic approach it is today.
The core of PBS is understanding each person receiving support. It’s about recognising individual unique needs, preferences, and goals, which helps to build positive relationships and experiences. This approach ensures that the support plan is tailored specifically to the individual rather than applying generic strategies.
PBS is a team effort that involves the chosen practitioner, the person needing the support, and the people part of their support network such as family, caregivers, and other support staff. It’s the constant collaboration amongst everyone that helps craft the most effective support plan that can lead to sustainable growth and recovery.
Behavioural observations, feedback from those involved, reports – these are some of the methods PBS practitioners use to effectively monitor progress and respond to changing needs and outcomes, resulting in a better experience for everyone involved.
Part of PBS is modifying the person’s physical, social, and educational environment to minimise and prevent behaviours of concern before they occur. This may involve adjusting routines, improving communication methods, or even providing sensory supports. More than anything, it’s important to note that safety is the top priority in any scenario.
A key service in the NDIS, PBS seeks to eliminate restrictive practices and instead support individuals with disabilities and their support network through proactive and sustainable strategies.
Apart from aiming to reduce behaviours of concern, PBS also puts importance on equipping the person in need of support with useful skills. Social skills, communication methods, coping mechanisms—these all help manage one’s own behaviour, make positive choices, and, for many, progress their way back to independence.
PBS can benefit a number of individuals! Apart from persons displaying behaviours of concern, it can also cater to those with:
Overall, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a holistic model that involves a biopsycho-social approach that looks at all the aspects of an individual’s life, considering unique needs and affecting elements in order to create personal, working strategies to improve quality of life.
A support plan, also known as a behaviour support plan (BSP), is a formal strategy developed by practitioners for a person with behaviours of concern and those in their support system. Each strategy is meant to suit the individual’s unique needs, equip them with the appropriate skills to address or prevent the behaviours of concern, and serve as a guide that helps them achieve a better quality of life.
In the case of NDIS-funded positive behaviour supports, a behaviour support plan must align with the guidelines laid out by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and can only be developed by accredited Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners. These accredited practitioners must also be registered under the NDIS (whether on their own or employed by a provider who is) and are equipped to create behaviour support plans.
We at LifeFul fully believe in your right to choice and control. If you are considering LifeFul for your positive behaviour support (PBS) needs, here are some of the top reasons why we think we'd be a fantastic provider for you:
