Specialist Behaviour Support

At Bloom, the science of behaviour analysis (ABA) underpins all of the services that we offer, which is what the NDIS wants to see and will continue to fund due to it's evidence base. Positive behaviour support is a branch in the ABA tree in which our behaviour support practitioners utilise to offer this service. The focus of all of our services is to understand the 'WHY' for behaviours of concern, first and foremost. We do this through a formal functional assessment process, which involves interviewing key stakeholders, observation, data collection, and in complex situations, a functional analysis.  Once we understand the function (or 'why') of a behaviour, we can recommend functional replacement behaviours to meet the person's need proactively and teach key caregivers how to build crucial socially significant skills/behaviours, while concurrently reducing behaviours that interfere with their quality of life.

To develop a comprehensive positive behaviour support plan (PBSP), we need a minimum of 15-20hrs (which includes the assessment process) - we may require more time if there is additional complexities (such as restrictive practices). Although we pride ourselves on developing PBSPs that are easy-read, and utilise everyday language, they are often still long and heavy to read. For those that request it, we will provide an additional 'summary PBSP' printed in booklet form for all stakeholders to carry with them. 

It is then essential that the practitioner takes the time to train relevant stakeholders in the PBSP. This will look differently depending on the participant and the team.        

For participants that engage in behaviours of concern, we recommend to follow up PBSPs with ongoing support, training and implementation support. This will look different for every participant; sometimes doing a fortnightly behaviour therapy session directly, other times working exclusively with caregivers under a capacity building model - the recommended support will be individualised and discussed with your practitioner as they get to know the team and needs of the participant.  

We now supervise and work with junior behaviour support practitioners who are highly qualified, fully registered with the NDIS, but who have opted to go along a more supportive journey to build their behaviour support carers. Although they are considered 'Core' practitioners and technically able to be billed out at the full NDIS line-item rate, we opt to bill them out at less than our senior BSP's (according to performance reviewed levels) whilst they are still developing their skills and confidence working under high levels of supervision. We also employ Level 2 Therapy Assistants who will provide direct PBSP implementation 1:1 with the participant wherever possible. We recommend this as it allows for longer and more frequent therapy sessions to what our BSP's can offer (i.e., value for money). Especially when working in a neurodivergent population, we prioritise connection and strong therapeutic relationships in order to support feelings of safety and security for our participants.  

If NDIS funding does not allow for ongoing behaviour support, the practitioner can work with the participant, carer/s and/or support coordinator to develop recommendations that can be provided to the NDIS at plan review. Please note that it is recommended that PBSP's are reviewed at least every 12 months, however we believe that with ongoing support it should be far more regular and on a needs basis. Nothing in life is stagnant, and that is two-fold for human behaviour. We need to evolve, learn and grow in order to ensure that the support that we are offering is always the best option for our participant.