The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has released updated policy guidance on monitoring and reviewing comprehensive behaviour support plans. The guidance sets out what specialist behaviour support providers and behaviour support practitioners are expected to do to keep plans current, practical and responsive to the person’s needs. All part of providing high quality specialist behaviour support services. At Prag Consulting, we see this policy guidance as both a reinforcement of our current practice, as well as an invitation to continue to improve the way we support participants.
Monitoring and reviewing a behaviour support plan is not just a compliance task. It is part of making sure the plan continues to work in real life, supports the person’s quality of life and promotes progress towards reducing and eliminating regulated restrictive practices. The following guidance is provided:
- Monitoring involves the ongoing collection and analysis of relevant information to check whether the plan is being implemented as intended. This may include incident data, observations, regular contact with the person, and feedback from the people who support them. It is a shared responsibility and works best when there is clear communication, documentation and collaboration across everyone involved.
- A review is a more formal, evidence-informed look at whether the plan is still relevant, accurate, accessible and effective. It also provides an opportunity to strengthen the plan, refine supports and update strategies where needed. In some cases, a review may lead to changes such as revised strategies, new skill development supports or fade-out plans.
The Commission expects comprehensive behaviour support plans to be reviewed at least every 12 months while they remain in force. Reviews should happen earlier if there is a significant change in circumstances, such as changes in behaviour, health, environment, living arrangements or supports. This helps ensure the plan remains person-centred and responsive to what is happening now, not what was happening months earlier.
The Commission is also clear that Consultation is a key part of the process. The guidance makes clear that reviews should be undertaken in consultation with the person with disability and their support network, as well as other relevant providers and professionals. That consultation should be accessible, meaningful, culturally responsive and trauma-informed where relevant, with a strong focus on supported decision-making.
The guidance also reinforces the importance of using evidence to inform decisions. Practitioners are expected to consider incident reports, trends over time, updated assessments and any new risks or barriers. Where relevant, the review should also consider whether changes to the environment could better support the person and reduce reliance on restrictive practices.
For providers, the message is clear: monitoring and review need to be built into service delivery from the start. They are not one-off tasks. They are part of ongoing quality specialist behaviour support, reflective practice and continuous improvement.