Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is an approach to support which focuses on promoting positive behaviours and improving the overall quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
It is about helping individuals by making changes to their environment, creating a supportive space for them to develop new skills and thrive. PBS aims to understand the reason behind the behaviour of concern and develop positive strategies to address them effectively. This is all with the aim of eliminating restrictive practices.
Hireup is committed to using positive behaviour support practices, using the NDIS Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework as a key tool to support individuals. This framework provides evidence-based practice and the safeguards for people who require behaviour support.
What is Behaviour?
It is important to remember that we all ‘behave’. Behaviours are our actions and how we respond to certain situations.
There are times when a person’s behaviour may become concerning because it has a negative impact on themselves or others. When this happens, these behaviours are often referred to as ‘behaviours of concern’. This is particularly concerning when the behaviour has the potential of causing harm to the person themselves, or others.
What is positive behaviour support (PBS)?
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is the term given to proactive, consistent positive support around the individual and their behaviours. The primary goal of positive behaviour support is to increase a person’s quality of life while decreasing the frequency and severity of behaviours of concern, and restrictive practices.
What are restrictive practices?
A restrictive practice is any practice or intervention that has the effect of restricting the rights of freedom of movement of a person with disability. When behaviours of concern present a risk to safety for a client or community a practice/intervention may be needed to minimise risk. These practices are referred to as restrictive practices because they restrict an individual. States and Territories are responsible for determining which practices are prohibited or restricted and/ or reportable.
The use of restrictive practices for people with disability can present serious human rights breaches. Hireup works with individuals, their behaviour support practitioner and support people to ensure any restrictive practices are appropriately managed and documented, with a focus on reducing and eliminating. Our focus is on implementing the person's Positive Behaviour Support Plan.
For more information, you can read our Statement on Restrictive Practices