Behaviour support implementation
NDIS Capacity Building support
Putting a behaviour support plan into practice day to day.
The short answer
Behaviour support implementation means putting a behaviour support plan into practice day to day. Support workers use the strategies in the plan consistently so the person feels safe and can build skills.
About Behaviour support implementation
A behaviour support plan is written by a practitioner, but it only helps if the people around the person follow it. Implementation is about doing that consistently, across different settings and different staff. Strategies might include ways of communicating, changes to the environment, teaching new skills and responding calmly when the person is distressed.
Support workers who implement a plan need to understand it, not just be given a copy. Good providers train their staff in the plan, check that they are following it and meet regularly with the practitioner to talk about what is working and what needs to change.
The focus of positive behaviour support is on meeting the person's needs and improving their quality of life. Where any restrictive practices are involved, specific rules and oversight apply. Ask providers how they manage this and how they keep everyone informed.
Who is this service for?
People who have a behaviour support plan and need support workers to put its strategies into practice consistently in daily life.
What a typical session looks like
Behaviour support implementation is the day-to-day work of putting a behaviour support plan into practice. A support worker follows the strategies in the plan, such as changing the environment, using specific ways of communicating, teaching new skills and responding to challenging situations in a consistent way.
The work is about consistency and observation. Workers record what happens, share information with the behaviour support practitioner and the person's family or team, and flag anything that suggests the plan needs changing. Progress is often gradual, and a good implementer stays calm, respectful and focused on the person's goals and dignity.
Who delivers this support
Implementation is carried out by support workers, therapy assistants and family members, guided by a behaviour support practitioner who wrote the plan. Workers need to understand the plan properly, be trained in the strategies and know when and how to raise concerns. Workers who have not been trained in a person's plan should not be left to manage difficult situations alone.
How to choose a provider
- Ask how staff are trained in the plan and how their understanding is checked.
- Find out how the provider communicates with the behaviour support practitioner.
- Ask how they record and report incidents and what happens afterwards.
- Check how consistent staffing is kept, since familiar people make a difference.
- Ask how the person and their family will be involved in reviewing the plan.
Questions to ask a provider
- Have all staff who will work with me been trained in my behaviour support plan?
- How do you record and share information about what is working and what is not?
- What happens if a worker is unsure how to respond in a difficult moment?
- How will you make sure my rights, choices and dignity are respected?
- How often will the plan be reviewed with the practitioner, and who takes part?
- What is your policy on restrictive practices, and how do you report on them?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using different approaches in different settings, which can confuse the person and slow progress.
- Treating the plan as a document to file rather than a guide to daily practice.
- Not involving the person and their family in reviewing how the plan is going.
- Leaving untrained workers to cover shifts where the plan is needed.
- Assuming a restrictive practice is acceptable without checking that it is authorised and reported.
Getting started
- Make sure there is a current behaviour support plan.
- Share the plan with the provider and ask how they will implement it.
- Agree how progress and concerns will be communicated.
- Schedule regular reviews with the practitioner and the person's supporters.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
This support depends on a behaviour support plan and works alongside other supports such as therapy, community access and daily living support. It is more effective when everyone who works with the person uses the same approach, so it helps to share the plan across all providers and to review it regularly with the practitioner.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Behaviour support implementation if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
Funding
Capacity Building supports help you build skills and independence. If Behaviour support implementation is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Capacity Building budget. These budgets are usually set for particular types of support, so check which one your plan uses. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.
What it costs
Supports such as Behaviour support implementation that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.
Behaviour support providers on the NDIS register
2,149 NDIS providers list behaviour support supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.
Providers listing behaviour support
- 00 Towards your Horizon - SA; includes Glenelg South, SA
- 1 In Town Services - SA; includes Mansfield Park, SA
- 1 Stop Paediatric Services - SA; includes Mount Gambier, SA
- 17 Solutions - WA; includes Geraldton, WA; Lesmurdie, WA; Northam, WA
- 1st Care Community - QLD; includes Acacia Ridge, QLD
- 2 Include Enterprise - NSW; includes Gymea, NSW
- 247 Divine Healthcare - QLD; includes Middle Ridge, QLD
- 2b Inclusive - SA; includes Elizabeth, SA; Kilkenny, SA; Mawson Lakes, SA
- 360 Health Management - VIC; includes Shepparton, VIC
- 360 Southwest - VIC; includes Warrnambool, VIC
- 360 Support Coordination 360 Community S - NSW, VIC; includes Albury, NSW; Benalla, VIC; Bendigo, VIC
- 3D Care - NSW; includes Abbotsbury, NSW
See all 2,149 behaviour support providers
Listings by state and territory
- New South Wales (742)
- Victoria (538)
- Queensland (424)
- South Australia (277)
- Western Australia (228)
- Tasmania (72)
- Australian Capital Territory (46)
- Northern Territory (43)
Suburbs with the most listings
- Brisbane, QLD (124)
- Melbourne, VIC (105)
- Sydney, NSW (84)
- Adelaide, SA (68)
- Perth, WA (61)
- Central Coast, NSW (59)
- Geelong, VIC (56)
- Parramatta, NSW (54)
- Blacktown, NSW (46)
- Werribee, VIC (45)
- Ipswich, QLD (44)
- Liverpool, NSW (44)
Listings covering the most areas
- Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
- Aligned Assist - 184 areas
- Butter Fish Services - 143 areas
- Easy Care Support Services - 105 areas
- Elite Care NSW - 103 areas
- United for Care - 103 areas
- Full Life Occupational Therapy - 91 areas
- Clover Leaf Sanctuary - 87 areas
Checking credentials
- Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
- Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
- Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.
Regulation and safeguards
NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
- National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What does implementing a behaviour support plan mean?
It means carrying out the strategies in the plan day to day, in the same way, across the people and places in the person's life. Consistency is what makes a plan effective.
Who writes the behaviour support plan?
A behaviour support practitioner develops the plan with the person and the people around them. Support workers and family then follow it. Implementation is separate from writing the plan.
What should I look for in a provider?
Look for staff who understand the plan, receive training in it, and communicate regularly with the practitioner. Ask how they handle changes and how they report on progress.
What if the plan is not working?
Tell the practitioner and the provider. Plans are meant to change as the person's needs and circumstances change.
Can family help put the plan into practice?
Yes. Family members often know the person best, and consistency between home and other settings usually helps.
Who oversees behaviour support?
Behaviour support practitioners and providers are subject to rules set by the NDIS Commission. Ask the provider how they meet these requirements.
What is the difference between writing a behaviour support plan and implementing it?
A practitioner writes the plan after assessing the person and their situation. Implementation is what happens every day when workers and family put the strategies into practice, record what happens and share feedback.
Who should know about a person's behaviour support plan?
Everyone who supports the person on a regular basis, including family, support workers and other providers, so that the approach stays consistent. The person themselves should be involved wherever possible.
What if the plan does not seem to be working?
Tell the practitioner. Plans are meant to change as the person's needs and circumstances change, and the information collected during implementation is what guides those changes.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Behaviour support implementation?
If Behaviour support implementation is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
How do I find a Behaviour support implementation provider near me?
Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.
Sources and further reading
- NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint
Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory
Helpful reading
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.