The coordination required
Regulated restrictive practices require careful coordination between a behaviour support practitioner, the implementing provider and the relevant state or territory authorisation process. The NDIS Commission explains that an implementing provider must check the behaviour support plan and authorisation before using a practice, and report unauthorised use as a reportable incident.
Keep the current evidence
A useful record makes the current behaviour support plan, the schedule of regulated practices and evidence of authorisation available to the right staff. It should show when a plan or authorisation changed and who checked it. The legal pathway varies by jurisdiction, so software should record the evidence rather than assume that one approval route fits every participant.
Monthly reporting
Implementing providers submit monthly reports on regulated restrictive practices in a lodged plan, including when a practice was not used. The Commission says reporting should be completed within five business days after month end. Staff need to know which plan and schedule were active for each reporting period and be able to reconcile their internal records with the Commission portal.
Test difficult cases
Test a system with an expired plan, a changed practice and an unauthorised use. Can a worker identify the current instruction, alert the right person and preserve what happened? Automated reminders can help, but staff still need to assess the situation and make the required report.