NDIS positive behaviour support (PBS) is a service where a qualified practitioner works out why a behaviour of concern is happening, then builds a plan that teaches new skills and adjusts the person’s surroundings. In Blacktown, participants usually fund it through the Improved Relationships line in their Capacity Building budget.
What is NDIS Positive Behaviour Support Blacktown?
PBS starts from a simple idea: behaviour is communication. When someone shouts, hits, runs off or shuts down, they are often telling us something they can’t say another way. They might be in pain, overwhelmed, bored or misunderstood. A PBS practitioner looks for that message instead of trying to suppress the behaviour with punishment or restraint.
The aim is a better life, not just quieter days. Success might be a teenager who can ask for a break, an adult who enjoys the weekly community outing again, or a family that stops dreading the supermarket.
Who can benefit in Blacktown?
PBS supports children, teenagers and adults with disability, including people with autism, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or psychosocial disability. Blacktown City covers a lot of ground, from Seven Hills and Marayong out to Quakers Hill and Mount Druitt, so support often happens at home, at school or in the community rather than only in a clinic.
It is worth considering when behaviours put the person or others at risk, limit school or work, strain family life, or make it hard to keep support workers.
How the PBS process works
- Referral and intake. A family member, support coordinator or plan manager gets in touch. The provider confirms goals and funding.
- Functional behaviour assessment. The practitioner observes, interviews family and support workers, and reviews records to understand what triggers the behaviour and what it achieves for the person.
- Behaviour support plan. Strategies are written in plain language: how to prevent difficult moments, which skills to teach instead, and how to respond safely.
- Training. Family, carers and support workers learn to apply the plan consistently across settings.
- Review. The team checks progress against the data and adjusts the plan as needs change.
Behaviour support plans and the rules that apply
Behaviour support plans must be developed by an NDIS behaviour support practitioner who the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has considered suitable to undertake behaviour support assessments and develop behaviour support plans. The practitioner must also be engaged by a registered specialist behaviour support provider, or be registered themselves as a specialist behaviour support provider.
Where a specialist behaviour support provider is engaged to develop a plan, the NDIS Commission states that an interim behaviour support plan should be developed within one month of engagement and a comprehensive behaviour support plan within six months. These timeframes do not apply in the same way to plans that do not contain regulated restrictive practices, although the Commission says they should still be used as a guide to safe and quality behaviour support.
An interim plan focuses on immediate safety and reducing risk. A comprehensive plan is based on a behaviour support assessment and includes strategies to improve quality of life, teach new skills, adjust the person’s environment and reduce risks associated with behaviours of concern.
Where regulated restrictive practices are included, they must be authorised as required under relevant state or territory rules, used as a last resort and for the shortest time possible, and the plan must include strategies aimed at reducing and eliminating their use over time.
How is PBS funded?
Supporting evidence can help explain the participant’s behaviour support needs and the impact on daily life, relationships, safety and participation. Depending on the circumstances, relevant information may include assessment reports, incident records, previous behaviour support plans and information from treating or support professionals.
How to choose a behaviour support provider in Blacktown
- Check that the provider is registered with the NDIS Commission and that the practitioner is considered suitable to write behaviour support plans.
- Ask whether the practitioner has been considered suitable by the NDIS Commission to undertake behaviour support assessments and develop behaviour support plans, and ask about their relevant qualifications, experience, supervision and PBS capabilities .
- Look for practitioners who observe in real settings, not only in an office.
- Ask how the practitioner will train or support the people involved in implementing the behaviour support strategies across the participant’s usual environments.
- Get fees, cancellation terms and reporting in writing before you start.
- Ask how they work to reduce or eliminate restrictive practices.
Getting started with AD Healthcare
AD Healthcare supports NDIS participants across Sydney, including Blacktown and the wider Western Sydney region. Our positive behaviour support service works alongside our allied health services, including NDIS occupational therapy and speech therapy.Where additional allied health input is relevant, behaviour support may be coordinated with other supports such as occupational therapy or speech pathology, with the participant’s consent.
Ready to talk? Complete our client intake form, visit the contact page or call 0493 061 477.
Frequently asked questions
What is NDIS positive behaviour support?
It is an evidence-based approach where a practitioner identifies why a behaviour of concern occurs and creates a plan to teach new skills and change the environment. The focus is quality of life, not control.
Is positive behaviour support available in Blacktown?
Yes. Providers deliver PBS to Blacktown participants, often through visits to home, school or community settings. Contact AD Healthcare to confirm availability for your suburb and situation.
Who can refer me?
You can contact a behaviour support provider directly to discuss your needs. A family member, support coordinator, plan manager, GP, school or another person involved in your support may also help start the conversation, with the participant’s consent where required. The provider will then discuss goals, support needs and funding arrangements.
How long does it take to get a behaviour support plan?
For plans involving regulated restrictive practices, an interim plan is due within one month of engagement and a comprehensive plan within six months. Timelines for other plans depend on complexity, and providers should set them out in your service agreement. NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
What does PBS cost?
The cost depends on the type and amount of behaviour support required, including assessment, plan development, implementation support and training. Your provider should explain the proposed services, pricing and any applicable terms before support begins.
Can PBS work alongside school?
PBS can work alongside school and other settings. With the participant’s consent, the practitioner may work with teachers and other people involved in the participant’s support so that relevant strategies can be understood and applied consistently across settings.
Do I need behaviour support written in my NDIS plan first?
Behaviour support is generally funded through Capacity Building – Improved Relationships when it is included in the participant’s plan and meets applicable NDIS requirements. If you do not currently have funding for behaviour support, discuss your circumstances with your NDIS contact or support coordinator. Supporting evidence may help explain the participant’s behaviour support needs and the impact on their daily life.