Positive Behaviour Framework Disability Sector Update November 2013

Welcome to the Positive Behaviour Framework Disability Sector Update for November 2013. This update is designed to inform the sector of developments under way in the continued roll- out of the Positive Behaviour Framework.

The Positive Behaviour Framework is a sector wide strategy to respond to the needs of people with a disability who sometimes exhibit challenging behaviour and the needs of their families/carers and paid support workers. The framework is driven by the Disability Services Commission’s (the Commission’s) Count Me In: Disability Future Directions plan and is working to foster the participation and contribution of people with disability who sometimes experience challenging behaviours by developing a values and evidence based strategy to support the development of personalised supports and services. Attached to this newsletter is a booklet showing the development of the Positive Behaviour Framework and its future development (Stage 2).

The cross-sector guiding committee implementing the framework has 40 members representing people with disability, families, disability sector organisations, peak bodies and Commission directorates. The Positive Behaviour Framework Guiding Committee has been working collaboratively for three years and has initiated a number of projects to implement the framework that are having a positive effect on the way people with disability, their families and carers who share experiences of challenging behaviour are being supported. Further details of these projects, reports and evaluations are available on the Commission’s website http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/disability-service-providers-/for-disability-service- providers/behaviour-support-strategy/

The focus for the next twelve months is to broaden the networks with the disability sector and other government departments. Quarterly forums are planned for 2013 and 2014, inviting contribution from the disability sector, people with a disability and their families and carers and other government departments to showcase developments in the area of Positive Behaviour Support.

Current activities taking place under the framework are detailed below.

University of Western Australia Evaluation of the Positive Behaviour Framework Research is currently planned to evaluate the implementation of the Positive Behaviour Framework. This research will be conducted in partnership with the School of Business, University of Western Australia (UWA). This research will be leading edge in its exploration of how Positive Behaviour Support can assist in the development of service design and result in

improved quality of life outcomes for all service users. It is anticipated that results will be published with an associated national and international exposure for the work of the Commission and the guiding committee.

The information below has been provided by Assistant Professor Mark Edwards from the UWA business school.

Review of the Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices

The Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices was launched in August 2012 and has been widely adopted and well received in the disability sector. The code provides the basis for the disability sector to develop operational policy and guidelines for eliminating the use of restrictive practices. It applies to all services provided and funded by the Commission for children and adults with a disability.

Since the launch the Disability Services Commission funded the Developmental Disability Council, Vela Microboards WA (now Youniverse) and People with Disabilities WA to provide state wide training, ‘Is there a better way?’, in support of the code. Part of the training included the opportunity to review the Voluntary Code of Practice and to have a say locally about the elements that seemed to work and those that didn’t. Training has now been completed and the report on the outcomes of this project will outline what everyone around the State was saying about the strengths and weaknesses of the Voluntary Code.

The Commission is keen to hear from as many sources as possible as a part of this review, and to this end it is intended that a forum will be held for the families and carers of people with disability in late November. This forum will be one of three events (the other two being for Guiding Committee members and across government agencies) that will be held as part of this review. It is anticipated that work in this review will continue into 2014.

The Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices is available at the following link http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/disability-service-providers-/for-disability- service-providers/behaviour-support-strategy/

Cross Sector Collaboration Work continues under the framework to build closer cross sector collaboration across disability sector organisations. There are now three forums coordinated by the Positive Behaviour Strategy Branch of Statewide Specialist Services that allow regular opportunities for disability organisations to build skills in Positive Behaviour Support, share resources and to work collaboratively to improve the lives of people with disability through the elimination of restrictive practices.

These regular forums include:

 Quarterly disability sector forums: This forum hosted by the Behaviour Support Consultation Team and the Guiding Committee showcases new developments under the auspices of the Positive Behaviour Framework.  Positive Behaviour Framework Guiding Committee: This 40-member committee meets quarterly, just prior to the above forums. The guiding committee works to implement proposal in the Towards Responsive Services for All report.  Positive Behaviour in Action (PBIA) interest group: This peer support group is an opportunity for workers to continue to develop their skills in implementing and applying Positive Behaviour Support principles in their work place.  Behaviour Support Consultant Steering Group: This is a community of practice attended by Behaviour Support Consultants from the disability sector organisations who are working to implement the Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices in their work place. Identitywa

The following update has been provided by Identitywa and informs readers of the work currently taking place in its organisation under the Positive Behaviour Framework. My Place

The following update has been provided by Michelle Atkinson, Behaviour Support Consultant at My Place and informs readers of the work My Place is completing under the Positive Behaviour Framework. Interest in developments under the Positive Behaviour Framework continues to grow across the disability sector in metropolitan and regional areas. Midwest Community Living Association has recently appointed a Behaviour Support Consultant to work with its organisation to implement the Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices. Senses is in the process of appointing a Behaviour Support Consultant to work with its organisation to implement the Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices.

South West and Great Southern Regional Expansion Pilot Project

The Behaviour Support Consultation team is continuing to work with the four disability sector organisations in the regional expansion project (Strive Warren Blackwood, Enable South West, Community Living Association, and Lower Great Southern Family Support Association) to explore the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support in regional areas. The Behaviour Support Consultants, funded through the project, have now completed a range of training, including: Positive Behaviour Support and using the Behaviour Support Plan Quality Evaluation II (BSP-QEII) to assess the quality of Behaviour Support Plans; ‘More Than Talking’ communication training; and, in some cases, ‘Is there a better way?’ workshops. Two of the Behaviour Support Consultants have also completed the Train the Trainer workshops, which enable them to offer ‘Is there a better way?’ workshops within their organisations and communities.

All four regional disability sector organisations are in the process of completing the restrictive practice audits for a selected target group of service users. The audits are enabling organisations to gather information about restrictive practices and challenging behaviours experienced by individuals. In addition, the audits are assisting organisations to gather information about a range of systems and processes that are in place within their organisations that are missing from their supports or that may need further refinement to ensure a high standard of support for people accessing their services. Strive Warren Blackwood has scheduled its first panelling meeting for January 2014 to review its Behaviour Support Plans. The project partners continue to meet in regional areas to exchange information and their experiences throughout this journey of discovery. Community Living Association

Below is an update provided by the Community Living Association informing readers of developments taking place in the Community Living Association as part of the South West and Great Southern Regional Expansion Pilot Project. Training Framework

Good knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support principles is important in delivering high quality services for people with disability, their families and carers who share experiences of challenging behaviour. There are various opportunities for training emerging under the Positive Behaviour Framework, which are shown in the diagram and discussed below. Effective Service Design guide Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices

Family and staff members training opportunities

‘Is there a better way?’ workshops

The Commission’s Behaviour Support Consultation Team has worked with the Developmental Disability Council in conjunction with People with Disabilities and Vela Microboards (now Youniverse) to develop training in the code of practice. This training, ‘Is there a better way?’, has been conducted in 11 regional, remote and metropolitan areas. Two ‘Train the Trainer’ workshops were held in Mt Claremont on 24 September and in Alfred Cove on 1 October to train local people to return to their regions or to metropolitan disability services to conduct training using the resources provided.

Participants in the training, including family members and staff members from various services, have provided very positive feedback and continued requests have been made for further events.

These requests will be met through a user pays approach. People interested in attending this training may contact Jaquie Mills by email: [email protected] . Direct care workers training opportunities Practical Application of Positive Behaviour Support Strategies Training The Commission’s Learning and Development team has rolled out a 2-day pilot program in Positive Behaviour Support. The training, Practical Application of Positive Behaviour Support Strategies, is designed to provide staff with practical ways to support people using Positive Behaviour Support. The evaluation from the initial training presented in the metropolitan, Bunbury and Albany areas between May and July 2013, indicated the training was valued and useful for disability sector organisations. After the review of the pilot program the training has been adapted to suit direct care staff and coordinators/ front line managers. Direct care staff training will focus on:  following daily lifestyle routines  contributing to a Behaviour Support Plan  providing support to the person to use positive and adaptive strategies  completing documentation and ABC recordings. For coordinators/front line managers, training focuses on:  understanding the influence and purpose of behaviour  assessing behaviours of concern (creating a hypothesis of the behaviour)  development of a multi-element support plan to meet individual needs  developing an individual response plan  monitoring the effectiveness of the plan  completing documentation. Please note training for coordinators/front line managers will require some pre-reading, along with ABC recording and a Functional Behaviour Assessment to be completed prior to the training. This training will be available state-wide on a cost recovery basis. If your organisation is interested in accessing this training please contact Fran Gresley on 9301 3837 or email [email protected]

Behaviour Support Consultants and training opportunities

Behaviour Support Consultants have been introduced in 14 metropolitan and four regional organisations. Behaviour Support Consultants are a group of frontline supervisors who have a high level of behaviour support skills. Behaviour Support Consultants will have opportunities to continue to develop their skills in Positive Behaviour Support, including ‘More than Talking’ training and refresher training in Behaviour Support Plans and the Behaviour Support Plan Quality Evaluation II tool.

Behaviour Support Plans and the Behaviour Support Plan Quality Evaluation II tool training

The Behaviour Support Consultation Team is supporting Behaviour Support Consultants with refresher training in developing Behaviour Support Plans and use of the Behaviour Support Plan Quality Evaluation II tool (BSP-QEII). Behaviour Support Consultants interested in taking advantage of these training opportunities are encouraged to contact Kathryn Falloon in the first instance on 9301 3810 or [email protected] ; alternatively Fran Gresley can be contacted on 9301 3837 or email [email protected]

‘More than Talking’ training

‘More than Talking’ training is designed to assist consultants further develop their understanding of the role of communication in how we interpret behaviour, understand the unmet needs in people’s lives, how these influence behaviour and how we can support a better quality of life for people with disability who may experience challenging behaviour.

The training was attended by Behaviour Support Consultants in Albany in September 2013 with very positive feedback: 99% of participants agreed or strongly agreed they could apply the knowledge and skills gained through the training in their workplace to better support people who may experience challenging behaviour.

This training is likely to run in November 2013. Behaviour Support Consultants who wish to attend this training are encouraged to express interest to Fran Gresley on 9301 3837 or email [email protected]

Ethical decision making training

The Behaviour Support Consultation Team will be working with University of Western Australia and Behaviour Support Consultants to develop a training framework in ethical decision making. 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.

Coming up in 2013 19 November 2013 Late November 2013

A family forum will be held to review the Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices.

Coming up in 2014 27 February 2014

Sector and across-government forum

29 May 2014

28 August 2014

27 November 2014