What goes into a behaviour support plan
While every plan is individual, most behaviour support plans share a common structure. They describe the person and what's important to them, summarise the behaviours of concern, and explain what those behaviours appear to be communicating.
- Information about the person, their strengths, and their goals
- A description of the behaviours of concern and their impact
- An understanding of why the behaviours happen (the 'function')
- Proactive strategies to improve quality of life and prevent escalation
- Response strategies for keeping everyone safe if behaviours do occur
- Any restrictive practices, with a clear plan to reduce and remove them
Interim and comprehensive plans
When there is an immediate need (particularly where there is a risk to the person or others), an interim behaviour support plan can be developed relatively quickly to put safe, evidence-informed strategies in place.
A comprehensive behaviour support plan is developed after a fuller assessment. It reflects a deeper understanding of the person and is reviewed over time. Many participants move from an interim plan to a comprehensive plan as more is learned.
A plan only works if people use it
The most important quality of a behaviour support plan isn't how detailed it is. What matters is whether the people around the participant understand it and can use it consistently. That's why implementation support matters: coaching, plain-language explanations, and being available when questions come up.
At PBSG, we write plans to be read and used, not filed away. We aim to keep the language clear and the strategies realistic for real homes, rosters, and community settings.