Positive Behaviour Support - Department of Human Services - Vic ...
Positive Behaviour Support - Department of Human Services - Vic ...
Positive Behaviour Support - Department of Human Services - Vic ...
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56 <strong>Positive</strong> behaviour support: Getting it right from the start - Facilitators reference manual<br />
PowerPoint 78*<br />
Functional behaviour assessment<br />
‘It is not a matter <strong>of</strong> what causes self injury or what causes aggression or what causes<br />
stereotyped or repetitive movements but for each <strong>of</strong> these difficult forms <strong>of</strong> behaviour,<br />
what does it do for the individual, what purpose does it serve for them in life?’<br />
Brown and Brown 1994<br />
A functional behaviour assessment aims to identify which particular needs <strong>of</strong> the person are met<br />
through their behaviour. This means trying to work out what message or purpose the behaviour is<br />
serving for the person. Determining why the behaviour is occurring is an important starting point<br />
in selecting positive behaviour support strategies to be included in a behaviour support plan.<br />
Without conducting a functional behaviour assessment it is very easy to jump to inaccurate<br />
conclusions <strong>of</strong> why a person is behaving in a certain way. In turn this can result in the selection<br />
<strong>of</strong> inappropriate strategies that will not address the person’s needs or have positive effects on<br />
the behaviour.<br />
Inappropriate strategies can <strong>of</strong>ten make the behaviour worse, lead to an increase in the<br />
frequency, intensity and duration <strong>of</strong> the behaviour and give rise to new and even more<br />
problematic behaviours. There is also a risk that it can bring about serious harm to the person<br />
and others involved.<br />
For further information refer to the Office <strong>of</strong> the Senior Practitioner website<br />
www.dhs.vic.gov.au/ds/osp for <strong>Positive</strong> Solutions in Practice; Getting It Right from the<br />
Start, the value <strong>of</strong> a good functional behaviour assessment.