Understanding Behaviour. Supporting Positive Change.
At Simplique, we believe behaviour is a form of communication.
When a person displays behaviours of concern, our first question isn’t simply:
“How do we stop this behaviour?”
We ask:
“Why is this happening, what is the person communicating or trying to achieve, and how can we better support their needs?”
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a person-centred, evidence-informed and rights-based approach that seeks to understand the reasons behind behaviour and develop practical strategies that improve quality of life, independence, communication, participation and wellbeing.
What is Positive Behaviour Support?
Positive Behaviour Support looks beyond the behaviour itself.
A behaviour may be influenced by many different factors, including:
- communication difficulties
- sensory needs
- pain or physical discomfort
- emotional regulation
- changes in routine
- environmental demands
- difficulty understanding expectations
- access to preferred people, items or activities
- avoidance of difficult or overwhelming situations
- social interaction
- previous learning experiences
- unmet needs
Understanding these factors helps us develop support that addresses why the behaviour is occurring, rather than simply reacting when it happens.
Who Can Benefit From Positive Behaviour Support?
Positive Behaviour Support may be appropriate for children, adolescents and adults who experience behaviours that affect their:
- safety
- wellbeing
- relationships
- family life
- education
- community participation
- independence
- ability to communicate their needs
- quality of life
Behaviours of concern may include:
- aggression
- self-injurious behaviour
- property damage
- absconding or running away
- severe emotional dysregulation
- behaviours that place the person or others at risk
- other behaviours significantly affecting everyday life
The behaviour itself does not tell us the whole story.
Our role is to understand what is happening underneath it.
Functional Behaviour Assessment
Understanding the “Why”
A Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) is an important part of Positive Behaviour Support.
The NDIS Commission defines functional behaviour assessment as a process for determining and understanding the function or purpose behind behaviour. This can involve gathering information about the events and circumstances that trigger and maintain the behaviour.
At Simplique, assessment may involve:
- meeting with the participant
- parent and carer interviews
- stakeholder consultation
- direct observations
- reviewing existing reports
- reviewing developmental and relevant history
- ABC data collection
- behaviour frequency, duration and intensity data
- identifying antecedents and triggers
- examining what happens after the behaviour
- identifying environmental factors
- communication considerations
- sensory considerations
- identifying patterns
- considering possible functions of behaviour
- identifying strengths and protective factors
This information helps us develop a broader understanding of what is happening, when it happens and why it may be occurring.
What is the Function of Behaviour?
Behaviour usually serves a purpose.
For example, a person may use behaviour to:
Communicate
“I need help.”
Escape or Avoid
“This is too difficult, uncomfortable or overwhelming.”
Access
“I want that activity, object, food or person.”
Seek Connection
“I want interaction or attention.”
Regulate
“I need or want particular sensory input.”
Respond to Discomfort
“I am tired, uncomfortable, hungry or in pain.”
The same behaviour can serve completely different functions for different people.
This is why we assess before developing strategies.
Positive Behaviour Support Plans
Following assessment, an individualised Behaviour Support Plan may be developed.
The plan provides practical guidance about how the person can be supported.
It may include:
Understanding the Person
Their strengths, preferences, communication, needs, goals and important relationships.
Understanding the Behaviour
Clear descriptions of behaviours of concern and the circumstances in which they occur.
Proactive Strategies
What we can change before behaviour occurs to reduce unnecessary triggers and better meet the person’s needs.
Environmental Strategies
Changes to routines, expectations, communication or the physical environment.
Communication Support
Helping the person develop effective ways of communicating their wants, needs, choices and emotions.
Skill Building
Teaching meaningful alternative skills that help the person achieve the same purpose in safer and more effective ways.
Regulation Strategies
Individualised strategies that may help the person regulate and cope with difficult situations.
Response Strategies
Clear guidance for families, carers and support workers about what to do when behaviour occurs.
Safety
Strategies to protect the participant and others where there is a risk of harm.
Monitoring & Review
Collecting information to determine whether strategies are actually working.
Interim Behaviour Support Plans
An Interim Behaviour Support Plan focuses on immediate safety and risk reduction while further assessment is undertaken.
It may include:
- preventative strategies
- immediate support strategies
- risk-management strategies
- guidance for responding to behaviours of concern
- relevant restrictive-practice protocols where applicable
Where regulated restrictive practices are involved, NDIS rules contain specific requirements and timeframes for Interim Behaviour Support Plans.
Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plans
A Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan goes further.
It is informed by a Behaviour Support Assessment, including Functional Behaviour Assessment, and develops a more complete understanding of the person’s behaviour and circumstances.
A Comprehensive Plan may include:
- functional understanding of behaviour
- quality-of-life goals
- proactive strategies
- environmental modifications
- communication supports
- replacement skills
- coping and regulation strategies
- response strategies
- implementation guidance
- monitoring arrangements
- restrictive-practice protocols where applicable
- strategies for reducing and eliminating restrictive practices
The NDIS Commission identifies improving the person’s quality of life as the central purpose of a Behaviour Support Plan.
Our Approach
Person-Centred
The person is at the centre of the process.
Their preferences, communication, strengths, rights, goals and quality of life matter.
Strengths-Based
We don’t only look at problems.
Understanding what the person enjoys, does well and responds positively to can help us develop more meaningful strategies.
Neurodiversity-Affirming
Different communication, movement, interests or ways of interacting are not automatically behaviours that need to be changed.
We focus on behaviours that create genuine barriers to safety, wellbeing, participation or quality of life.
Trauma-Informed
Behaviour can be influenced by a person’s experiences, relationships and sense of safety.
Where relevant, this is considered when understanding behaviour and developing support.
Evidence-Informed
Assessment, behavioural data, observation and available evidence guide our recommendations.
We don’t want to guess why a behaviour occurs.
We want to understand it.
Collaborative
The people who know the participant best hold valuable information.
With consent, we may collaborate with:
- parents and carers
- support workers
- Support Coordinators
- teachers and educators
- occupational therapists
- speech pathologists
- psychologists
- physiotherapists
- medical professionals
- other relevant members of the person’s support team
Building Skills, Not Just Reducing Behaviour
Positive Behaviour Support isn’t simply about making a behaviour disappear.
A major part of PBS involves helping the person develop skills that increase their ability to communicate, participate and have greater control over their life.
Depending on the person’s needs, this might involve supporting:
- functional communication
- requesting help
- requesting a break
- making choices
- tolerating changes
- coping with transitions
- emotional regulation
- waiting
- independence
- problem solving
- daily living skills
- participation in meaningful activities
The goal is meaningful, sustainable change – not compliance.
Supporting Families & Support Teams
A Behaviour Support Plan Only Works if People Can Use It
Developing the plan is only one part of Positive Behaviour Support.
We also help the people around the participant understand:
- why behaviours may be occurring
- what triggers to recognise
- how to implement proactive strategies
- how to communicate consistently
- how to teach replacement skills
- what to do when behaviour escalates
- how to collect useful behaviour data
- how to implement the Behaviour Support Plan consistently
Consistency across home, school, community and support environments can be an important part of successful implementation.
Monitoring & Review
Is the Plan Actually Working?
Behaviour Support should evolve as the person’s needs change.
We monitor outcomes to determine:
- whether behaviours of concern are changing
- whether new skills are developing
- whether strategies are practical
- whether quality of life is improving
- whether environmental changes are helping
- whether support people can implement the strategies
- whether goals need to change
- whether the Behaviour Support Plan needs updating
The plan is then reviewed and adjusted where appropriate.
Restrictive Practices
Reduction and Elimination
Simplique is committed to protecting the rights, dignity, safety and freedom of people with disability.
Positive Behaviour Support aims to reduce reliance on restrictive practices by understanding the person’s needs, addressing contributing factors and developing positive alternatives.
Where a regulated restrictive practice is involved, additional NDIS and state or territory requirements apply.
Behaviour Support Plans containing regulated restrictive practices must contain appropriate protocols and strategies for their reduction and elimination over time.
Our goal is always to work toward the least restrictive, safest and most person-centred support possible.
Our Positive Behaviour Support Process
1. Referral & Intake
We learn about the participant, current concerns, goals and support needs.
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2. Service Agreement & Consent
We establish the service arrangements and obtain appropriate consent.
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3. Assessment
We gather information through consultation, observation, behavioural data and relevant records.
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4. Functional Behaviour Assessment
We investigate the circumstances surrounding behaviours of concern and develop hypotheses about their function.
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5. Behaviour Support Plan
An Interim and/or Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan is developed where required.
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6. Implementation
We work with the participant and their support network to put strategies into practice.
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7. Training & Capacity Building
Families, carers and support workers receive guidance to understand and implement the plan.
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8. Monitor & Review
Progress is monitored and strategies are reviewed and adjusted over time.
NDIS Positive Behaviour Support
Simplique provides Positive Behaviour Support for NDIS participants requiring specialist behaviour support.
NDIS-funded behaviour support may include:
- Behaviour Support Assessment
- Functional Behaviour Assessment
- Interim Behaviour Support Plans
- Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plans
- implementation support
- family and carer training
- support-worker training
- monitoring and review
- behaviour data analysis
- restrictive-practice reduction planning
- participant-specific reporting
- stakeholder collaboration
NDIS-funded specialist behaviour support must be delivered through an appropriately registered specialist behaviour support provider and by a practitioner considered suitable by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Private Positive Behaviour Support
Private Self-Funded Clients Are Welcome
You do not need to be an NDIS participant to enquire about Positive Behaviour Support at Simplique. Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) services are available to non-NDIS clients privately, through Medicare, school systems, or other funding arrangements
We also welcome private self-funded clients and families seeking individualised behavioural assessment, consultation and support.
Contact us to discuss your circumstances and the most appropriate service pathway.
Referrals
We welcome referrals and enquiries from:
- participants
- parents and carers
- Support Coordinators
- Specialist Support Coordinators
- Plan Managers
- allied health professionals
- educators
- support providers
- other authorised representatives
- private self-funded families
Start With Understanding
Behind every behaviour is a person.
Before trying to change the behaviour, we want to understand what it means, what is contributing to it and what the person needs from the people and environment around them.