Positive Behaviour Framework
Disability Sector Update
May 2012
Welcome to the first Positive Behaviour Framework Disability Sector Update
for 2012. This update is designed to inform the sector of developments under
way in the continued roll-out of the Positive Behaviour Framework.
The framework is driven by the Disability Services Commission’s Count Me
In: Disability Future Directions plan and is working to foster the participation
and contribution of people with disability who sometimes display challenging
behaviours. The framework does this by providing an agreed and
documented values and evidence base. Through this, it is possible to support
the development of personalised supports and services.
The framework was launched in 2009 and since that time, there have been
several initiatives developed under this framework. These include:

the development (and evaluation) of two Positive Behaviour Teams in
the Commission

the Disability Professional Services tender to develop a third Positive
Behaviour Team in the sector (the Autism Association of WA
successfully bid for this contract)

the commissioning of the report Towards Responsive Services For All
by National Disability Services. This 2009 report contained nine key
proposals designed to build additional capacity in the sector

the constitution of a cross-sector guiding committee that is working to
implement these proposals. The guiding committee is chaired by a
family member and includes peak bodies and disability sector
organisations, listed below.
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Guiding committee
Name
Jaquie Mills
Jamie Smith
Scott Davidson
Tracy Delamare
Sonia Hall
Helen Payne
Michele Thomas
Stephan Van Vlijmen
Ed Mayvis
Charlotte Van Der Burgt
Adam Sullivan
Nihal Iscel
Taryn Harvey
Jacqueline Reid
David Rogers
Pam Haunold
Rel Morris
Kristy Moe
Jay Simpson
Gail Palmer
Susan Hart
Rob Holmes
Shawn Taylor
Representing
Chair and parent
Positive Behaviour In Action Interest Group
Rocky Bay
Rocky Bay
TIS
My Place
Autism Association of WA
Nulsen
Identity WA
Lifestyle Solutions
Lady Lawley
Ethnic Disability Advocacy Council
Developmental Disability Council
Ministerial Advisory Council on Disability
National Disability Services
Valued Independent People
Valued Independent People
Activ Foundation
Activ Foundation
Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA
Red Cross
Council of Regional Disability Services
Perth Home Care Services
Disability Services Commission:
Jill MacKenzie
Vanessa Bird
James Gowland
Nicola Weinman
Linda Higgie
Mike Cubbage
Jacki Hollick
Fran Gresley
Jessica Adderley
Monique Williamson
Service Contracting and Development
Statewide Specialist Services
Local Area Coordination
Community and Sector Development
Policy and Strategy
Behaviour Support Consultation team
Positive Behaviour Strategy
Accommodation Services
Country Early Years Consultancy team
Community and Sector Development
Some committee members have multiple roles with other organisations and
associations and all work as ambassadors to spread the word about what’s
happening under the framework. They can be approached to discuss
developments under the Positive Behaviour Framework.
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The guiding committee is working to implement the proposals that came out of
sector consultations inform the report Towards Effective Services For All (see the
Commission’s website under Positive Behaviour Strategy
http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/forindividuals/pbs.html ). These proposals (and a
brief progress report on their implementation) are listed below.
1. Family support services
It is proposed the sector’s future direction should involve development of
responsive and tailored family support options for people with disability who may
have episodes of intensive behaviour and cannot obtain services in existing
organisations. Families under particular stress should be able to access a service
that does not refuse or shorten the service period.
Implementation plan
The Developmental Disability Council received funding in September 2011 to
develop a family-to-family mentoring and support program and has appointed
a project officer. The primary objective of this approach is to build the
resilience of families supporting family members who are exhibiting
behaviour that might be seen as challenging. This is done through the
support, family mentoring, leadership and advocacy of another family that
has had similar experiences. With appropriate training and guidance, the
family feels it is in a position to offer this type of support to other families.
2. Improve mental health outcomes
It is proposed future directions for relevant agencies and the disability sector
should involve developing appropriate strategies to improve mental health
outcomes for people with disability in the following three areas:



Access to timely and responsive treatment for people with disability and
mental illness.
Access to support in acute crisis situations promoting intensive intervention
models, where the person is able to remain in the least restrictive
environment.
Promoting research, expertise and information in relation to the impact and
treatment of mental illness in people with disability.
Implementation plan
Connections have been built with the Mental Health Commission. Guiding
committee members have also worked with a mental health area service to
improve access and service responsiveness to the needs of people with
disability. Work will continue to progress in this area in 2012.
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3. Development of best practice service principles
It is proposed future directions for the Commission, in partnership with disability
sector organisations, involve developing best practice service principles in
Positive Behaviour Support. This would include a list of service attributes in
relation to supporting people whose behaviour is seen as challenging. These
underpinning principles and attributes can be used to evaluate individual service
capacity and targeted service development strategies.
Implementation plan
A consultative project has been completed, exploring elements of effective
service design. The report was presented at a forum on 17 and 18
November 2011 and was well-received by the sector. The report captured
what the sector considers to be the elements of good service design. Those
consulted agreed getting services right, in the first place, is an important first
step in reducing the incidence of challenging behaviours and the consequent
widespread use of restrictive practices in the sector. This paper has guided
the development of a policy framework to support voluntary disability sectorwide engagement in the elimination of restrictive practices.
4. Flexible and timely funding strategy
It is proposed the Disability Services Commission, in consultation with the sector,
continues to review and develop funding streams, acknowledging support levels
can fluctuate significantly for some individuals over time. A person-centred
approach, where resources can taper off over time as a person’s situation is
stabilised, should be considered.
Not in scope or under consideration at present.
5. Targeted sector development
It is proposed future directions for the Disability Services Commission and the
sector involve working together to develop strategies. These may include
prioritising targeted resource allocation to develop and maintain infrastructure
required to provide responsive services to people with challenging behaviour. This
infrastructure would include:







ongoing investments in the workforce
developing service culture
staff stability and consistency
staff supervision
professional advice
individualised service design
training and professional development.
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Implementation plan
The Commission sought proposals from disability sector organisations
participating as members of the guiding committee to undertake a 12-month
project to explore models of disability sector workforce development. The
objectives are to construct and evaluate a workforce development and staff
training framework in Positive Behaviour Support for senior/supervisory
frontline staff, based on current best practice. Project partnerships were
sought across service types (Accommodation, Respite and Alternatives to
Employment) to foster collaboration in workforce development strategies
and accountability tools to inform and influence sector development.
Nulsen, VIP and Red Cross (Lady Lawley Cottages) were successful in
securing funding in July 2011 and have been reporting progress in recent
sector forums. A final report will be prepared for release in October 2012.
6. Interdisciplinary teams
It is proposed support to disability sector organisations through interdisciplinary
behaviour support teams is expanded by:


extending available hours of the current behaviour support help-desk
further placing the positive behaviour team model into disability sector
organisations to ensure optimal outcomes are achieved, based on ongoing
evaluation and evidence-based practice.
Implementation plan
As an integral component of the framework, two Positive Behaviour Teams
have been established (in Joondalup and Myaree). They provide early
intervention and support to families of people with disability aged 6–25 who
sometimes display challenging behaviours. These teams have recently been
evaluated by Deakin University with positive outcomes demonstrated for
people with disability and their families. Disability Professional Services
funding has been released to the sector for further growth of Positive
Behaviour Teams. The Autism Association of WA is the successful tenderer.
7. Disability sector policy and guidelines
It is proposed future directions for the Commission, in partnership with disability
sector organisations, involve developing and promoting guidelines to facilitate
better standards and consistent practice. It would be applied in restrictive
practices, medications policies, organisations’ behaviour policies and positive
behaviour support practices.
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Implementation plan
The use of restrictive practices may reflect a failure in the service system to
understand the nature and function of an individual’s behaviour. These
practices have emerged over time and have remained difficult for services to
eradicate. The guiding committee is currently working on a policy framework
to support voluntary disability sector-wide engagement in the elimination of
restrictive practices. A series of writing workshops were held in 2011 and a
forum was run on 17 and 18 November 2011 inviting sector feedback.
Further events are scheduled this year to launch the framework and, with
input from the sector, to jointly develop implementation strategies required to
alter current practices.
8. Regional and remote services
It is proposed partnerships with regional and remote disability sector organisations
and the Behaviour Support Consultation Team be considered to explore targeted
cost-effective solutions to improve capacity in rural and remote areas on a caseby-case, region-by-region basis. Pilot projects are encouraged.
Implementation plan
Work exploring staff e-learning opportunities and workforce development
strategies to support regional and remote services has started. This area will
receive more detailed attention to develop relationships with the tertiary
education sector and consolidate behaviour services within the Commission.
9. Across government collaborative responses
It is proposed key stakeholders investigate, apply and evaluate strategies to
improve outcomes for people with disability in complex situations requiring acrossgovernment responses (such as the People with Exceptionally Complex Needs
[PECN] project).
Implementation plan
Connections have been made with the PECN project and the Disability
Forensic Working Group (which has Department of Justice representation).
Work is progressing on models of support for people who require more
structured and intensive support to reduce recidivism risks.
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What’s on in 2012
All dates and venues are subject to confirmation. Confirmation notices will be sent
to chief executive officers of disability sector organisations before the scheduled
events.
Recently completed events
21 February 2012
Launch of the evaluation reports
on the Positive Behaviour Team
approach
Impact, effectiveness and future
application of Positive Behaviour
Teams in the provision of disability
support services in Western
Australia.
Associate Professor
Keith R McVilly (right), Principal
Research Fellow, School of
Psychology, Deakin University,
Melbourne, Australia.
Substantive Equality Report
on the Positive Behaviour Teams.
Ms Cathy Groves (left),
Manager of the Substantive Equality
Unit, Equal Opportunity Commission.
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29 February 2012
Workshop for chief executive
officers and senior managers with
Professor Eric Emerson (right),
Professor of Disability and Health
Research, Lancaster University,
Lancaster, UK, and Visiting
Professor, Australian Family and
Disability Studies Research
Collaboration, University of Sydney.
Topic:
Challenging Behaviours and Restrictive
Practices: Evidence-based
contemporary approaches.
What is happening and what needs to
happen in Western Australia?
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Coming up
July 2012
Sector forum
This forum looks at designing services to meet the needs of people whose
behaviour can sometimes be challenging and includes:

interim findings of the Sector and Workforce Development Project

release of the policy framework to support voluntary disability sectorwide engagement in the elimination of restrictive practices

family-to-family support: presentation of a new model of supporting
families sometimes experiencing challenging behaviours

new Positive Behaviour Framework pilot projects for 2012.
October 2012
Sector Forum



Final Report of the Sector and Workforce Development Project.
What does the evidence say about the possibilities for
organisational capacity to support people whose behaviour is
sometimes challenging? What is the possible way ahead in terms
of:

staff development

workforce structure

Positive Behaviour Support strategies

future training in Positive Behaviour Support?
Implementing the elimination of restrictive practices policy
framework.

Prescription and approvals processes

Data Collection requirements

Links to the Quality Management Framework.
Future tertiary level training in Positive Behaviour Support.
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Positive Behaviour Framework feedback
We would be grateful if you were able to give us some feedback.
After almost two years of working together, the guiding committee would love to
know what you have heard about the Positive Behaviour Framework, the projects
taking place and whether you have seen any influence of this work in your
organisation?
Please take a moment and return this email to us at the address listed below and
let us know your thoughts.
1. Had you heard about the Positive Behaviour Framework?
Yes
No
Yes
No
3. Did you know anything about the pilot projects described
in this update?
Yes
No
4. Has the work of the guiding committee or the projects
influenced the way you or your organisation work?
Yes
No
Yes
No
If yes, what is your understanding of the purpose of the framework?
2. Had you heard about the guiding committee?
If yes, what is your understanding of the role of the committee?
If yes, how?
5. Was this update useful or interesting?
What was useful?
What wasn’t?
Please return to: [email protected] by the end of June 2012.
Thank you.
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