Positive Behaviour Support - Department of Human Services - Vic ...

Incentive programs
Positive behaviour support: Getting it right from the start - Facilitators reference manual 79
These provide the person with some very strong incentives to stop the person needing to use
behaviours of concern.
Example: Bruce
Baseline data collected by staff revealed that on average Bruce engaged in the behaviour once
every twelve hours. This meant that Bruce should be rewarded if he can go for six hours without
engaging in the behaviour.
For convenience, Bruce’s day was divided into three intervals:
1. From when he woke up until lunch time
2. From lunchtime until tea time
3. From tea time until bed time.
A simple chart was developed with each of these intervals clearly marked on it
After each interval passes without Bruce engaging in the target behaviour staff sign their initials
on his chart. Staff members involve Bruce in this and praise him.
When Bruce is not successful, staff don’t spend time telling him off. Instead they leave the chart
blank and encourage him to try again in the next time interval.
Because the program hasn’t been going for very long Bruce needs to earn two consecutive
initials to get an incentive from his incentive menu. The rewards chosen for Bruce’s incentive
menu were all things that Bruce did not get before the program started.
The incentives used included:
• playing his favourite music video tape that staff bought him specifically for this program
• a three-minute call to his brother who he usually only sees or talks to every now and then
• hiring a fishing video tape
• getting to choose the channel on the TV for the evening
• having a cappuccino with a staff member
• getting breakfast in bed
• having sections of the newspaper read to him.
As the program progresses the length of time Bruce is expected to go without engaging in the
behaviour will be gradually increased.
When Bruce reaches his program objective the rewards from his incentive menu will be available
to him unconditionally on an informal basis.