ABOUT YOUR BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT PLAN

Some people with learning disabilities need a Behaviour Support Plan -

If people with learning disabilities do these things, their support staff can find it very hard to know how to help.

Shouting / Hitting / Kicking
Biting / Not joining in / Hurting themselves

Some reasons why people do these things:

Pain or feeling unwell / Unhappiness / Loud noise
They do not like
certain people / People don’t understand
their communication
Being told to do things they don’t want to do / The type of learning disability a person has

Restrictive Intervention

Sometimes staff have to do things to keep the person or other people safe

This may mean that staff make someone do something they don’t want to do
Or stop them from doing something they want to do
They must do this if there is no other way to keep the person or other people safe

Different types of Restrictive Intervention

There are 4 main types of Restrictive Intervention

1.  Physical Restraint

Physical restraint or intervention is when staff stop the person moving part of their body. For example, holding them so they cannot hurt other people.
Staff must keep talking to the person to ensure they are calm and they must check that they are safe

2.  Mechanical Restraint

Mechanical restraint is when staff use something else to stop the person using part of their body. For example, a helmet, belt or splint on their arm.
Staff should only do this when nothing else stops the person hurting themself or other people.

3.  Chemical Restraint

Chemical restraint is when staff make the person take medicine to calm them down.

4.  Seclusion

Seclusion is when staff keep the person away from other people. This could be in a locked room. It is usually so the person cannot hurt others.
Staff can only do this if the law allows it.

Positive Behaviour Support

• Positive - good, helpful, respectful, hopeful

• Behaviour - the things that people do and say

• Support - help that people get with everyday things

It means trying to:

Understand why a person behaves the way they do.
Look at things like where they live and how they are supported.
Find ways to prevent the behaviour from happening.
Find good ways to deal with the behaviour when it does happen.
Avoid the use of punishments to change a person’s behaviour.

Positive Behaviour Support

Positive Behaviour Support has been proved to work. This means it has been tried with lots of people already, and it has helped them and their support staff.

The specifications could include things like:

Everyone whose behaviour causes challenges to the Service Provider must have a Positive Behaviour Support plan
This plan must be based on information about everything in the person’s life that could affect their behaviour
People with learning disabilities and their families must be involved in creating Positive Behaviour Support Plans
Organisations must work with people in Person-Centred ways
Staff must learn about Positive Behaviour Support

Change or Review of your Behaviour Support Plan

You will be notified when there is a review of your Behaviour Support Plan

You will receive a letter explaining that your Behaviour Support Plan is being reviewed
You can apply to VCAT if you do not agree with what is in your plan
An Independent Person will go over the plan with you to explain it to you. This will be a family member or someone you know very well.
The Plan will then be sent to the Office of the Senior Practitioner who will ensure your organisation is supporting you the right way