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

80 Positive behaviour support: Getting it right from the start - Facilitators reference manual
PowerPoint 108
PowerPoint 109
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The steps involved in setting up an incentive program
1. Select the target behaviour.
2. Select the time interval without displaying the target behaviour (half the average time between
incidents).
3. Select the incentives. These should be:
• ordinary
• age appropriate
• added to the person’s life
• available non-conditionally after the program.
You should ensure that the maximum number of rewards available is less than the person
would seek given free access to it. The best way to do this is to construct an incentive menu.
4. Develop a system for monitoring the person’s performance (for example, signature chart).
5. Provide positive feedback paired with access to an incentive when the person goes for a whole
interval without displaying the target behaviour.
6. When a target behaviour occurs, simply leave the space on the chart blank. Do not criticise the
person, but simply encourage them to try to go for the next interval without displaying the target
behaviour.
7. As the person’s behaviour improves, extend the amount of time they need to go before earning
a reward.
8. When they have reached the program objective, make sure the person can still access the
incentives on an informal basis. This will, in effect, enrich the person’s life and help to prevent
behaviours from recurring.
Situational control
Situational control strategies are for behaviours that are OK as long as they occur at the
right time and in the right place. They consist of teaching the person in what situations it is
appropriate to engage in the behaviour, and in what situations it is not.
Situational control can be used for behaviours like:
• Complaining
• Masturbation
• Spitting
• Nose picking
• Dressing up in clothing of the opposite sex.
The following situational control was set up to deal with Andrea’s excessive complaining.
Andrea
Andrea was told that she could have the undivided attention of staff every evening for ten
minutes where she could complain about the things that went wrong for her that day.