Restrictive Practices Under NDIS: What Support Workers Need to Know
Working as a disability support worker is a rewarding but complex role. When supporting individuals with challenging behaviours, you may encounter situations where their safety, or the safety of others, is at risk. In the past, the standard response to these risks often involved restricting the person’s freedom or movement.
Today, under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the use of “restrictive practices” is strictly regulated.
Understanding what constitutes a restrictive practice, and your legal and ethical obligations regarding their use, is essential for every support worker. At Behaviour Bridge, Julianne Shepley, a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Perth, works closely with support teams to reduce and eliminate the need for these practices. In this guide, we will explain what you need to know.
What Is a Restrictive Practice?
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission defines a restrictive practice as any practice or intervention that has the effect of restricting the rights or freedom of movement of a person with a disability.
These practices are generally used to protect the person or others from harm, but they carry significant risks. They can cause physical injury, psychological trauma, and a breakdown of trust between the person and their support team.
The NDIS Commission regulates five specific types of restrictive practices:
1. Physical Restraint
The use or action of physical force to prevent, restrict, or subdue movement of a person’s body, or part of their body.
Example: Holding a person’s arms down to stop them from hitting someone.
2. Chemical Restraint
The use of medication or chemical substances for the primary purpose of influencing a person’s behaviour or movement. (This does not include medication prescribed for the treatment of a diagnosed mental disorder, a physical illness, or a physical condition).
Example: Giving a person a sedative specifically to calm them down when they are agitated, rather than for a diagnosed medical condition.
3. Environmental Restraint
Any action that restricts a person’s free access to all parts of their environment, including items or activities.
Example: Locking the kitchen cupboards so the person cannot access food, or locking the front door so they cannot leave the house.
4. Mechanical Restraint
The use of a device to prevent, restrict, or subdue a person’s movement.
Example: Using a lap belt on a wheelchair to stop the person from getting up, or using a specialized buckle on a seatbelt that the person cannot undo.
5. Seclusion
The sole confinement of a person with a disability in a room or a physical space at any hour of the day or night where voluntary exit is prevented, or not facilitated.
Example: Placing a person in a room and holding the door shut so they cannot leave.
Your Obligations as a Support Worker
If you are working with an NDIS participant, you must understand the rules surrounding restrictive practices.
1. They Are a Last Resort
Restrictive practices should never be the first response to challenging behaviour. They must only be used as a last resort to prevent serious harm, and only after all other proactive and de-escalation strategies have been exhausted.
2. They Must Be Authorised and Documented
You cannot simply decide to use a restrictive practice. If a regulated restrictive practice is to be used, it must be:
– Clearly outlined in a comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) developed by an NDIS-registered Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner.
– Authorised by the relevant state or territory body (in WA, this is the Department of Communities).
– Consistently reported to the NDIS Commission by your employer.
3. You Must Follow the Behaviour Support Plan
If a participant has a BSP that includes a restrictive practice, you must read and understand that plan. The plan will tell you exactly when and how the practice can be used, and what you must do before using it.
4. The Goal is Elimination
The ultimate goal of the NDIS is to reduce and eliminate the use of restrictive practices. The Behaviour Support Plan will include skill-building and proactive strategies designed to address the underlying cause of the behaviour, making the restrictive practice unnecessary over time.
The Role of Positive Behaviour Support
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is the key to reducing restrictive practices.
Instead of focusing on controlling the person, PBS focuses on understanding why the behaviour is happening. By conducting a Functional Behaviour Assessment, a practitioner can identify the triggers and functions of the behaviour.
Once the “why” is understood, the support team can change the environment, teach new communication skills, and improve the person’s quality of life. When a person’s needs are met in positive ways, the challenging behaviour—and the need for restrictive practices—naturally decreases.
What to Do If You Are Unsure
If you are asked to do something that you think might be a restrictive practice, and it is not in the person’s Behaviour Support Plan, stop and ask questions.
Speak to your supervisor or manager immediately. Using an unauthorised restrictive practice is a serious breach of the NDIS Code of Conduct and can result in severe consequences for both you and your employer.
How Behaviour Bridge Can Help
Navigating the rules around restrictive practices can be stressful for support teams. Education and clear guidance are essential.
At Behaviour Bridge, Julianne Shepley works closely with support workers and providers across Perth. We develop clear, compliant Behaviour Support Plans and provide the hands-on training your team needs to implement PBS strategies effectively and safely reduce reliance on restrictive practices.
Are you a provider looking for expert guidance on restrictive practices and PBS? Contact Behaviour Bridge today to discuss how Julianne Shepley can support your team in Perth.
