Interim Behaviour Support Plans: What They Are and When You Need One
When behaviours of concern place a participant or those around them at immediate risk, waiting for a full assessment before putting support in place is not always appropriate. In these circumstances, interim behaviour support plans can offer practical advice and support to reduce risk while a more comprehensive assessment is underway.
Within the NDIS, an interim behaviour support plan is a clinical document developed by a Behaviour Support Practitioner as part of a participant’s positive behaviour support. It sets out immediate, evidence-informed strategies until a comprehensive plan can be developed. This article covers when interim behaviour support plans are used, the NDIS timeframes that apply, how they differ from comprehensive plans and who is qualified to prepare them.
Understanding NDIS Interim Behaviour Support Plans
While a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) is being completed, an interim behaviour support plan provides immediate, practical strategies to help keep participants and those around them safe.
They are commonly required when:
There is an immediate safety concern
Behaviours of concern present a significant risk
A regulated restrictive practice is in place or is being considered prior to the full assessment being completed
This approach focuses on managing immediate risks and giving everyone involved clear, consistent guidance while a comprehensive assessment is completed. The plan typically outlines:
The participant’s behaviours of concern
The situations that may increase the likelihood of those behaviours occurring
The strategies carers, families and support workers should follow to reduce risk
If restrictive practicesare already being used or are considered necessary to prevent serious harm, the interim plan must clearly identify when and how they are to be used while longer-term supports are being developed.
Where regulated restrictive practices have been used without a behaviour support plan, they are considered unauthorised restrictive practices and must be reported to the NDIS Commission.
In these situations, an interim behaviour support plan should be developed and lodged promptly to guide safe practice while the comprehensive assessment is being completed.
Interim Behaviour Support Plan NDIS Timeframes
When an interim behaviour support plan includes a regulated restrictive practice, the specialist behaviour support provider must prepare it within one month of being engaged. A comprehensive behaviour support plan must then be completed within six months of that engagement.
For these timeframes, engagement generally begins on the date listed in the service agreement. It may also begin on a later date if the agreement clearly states when work on the plan will commence. It’s not calculated from the date the initial referral was received.
If another practitioner from the same specialist behaviour support provider takes over the case, the timeline does not start again. The original engagement date still applies because the provider, rather than the individual practitioner, holds the responsibility for meeting the deadline.
Comprehensive plans that contain regulated restrictive practices must also be reviewed whenever the participant’s circumstances change and at least once every 12 months while the plan remains in force.
These statutory deadlines apply specifically to plans containing regulated restrictive practices. Even where a plan does not include one, the NDIS Commission recommends using the same one-month and six-month timeframes as a guide to safe, timely and high-quality practice.
Although both documents form part of the Positive Behaviour Support process, they serve different purposes. An interim behaviour support plan provides immediate guidance to reduce risk while further assessments are completed. A comprehensive positive behaviour support plan is developed after a Functional Behaviour Assessment and offers a long-term, evidence-based approach to improving the participant’s quality of life.
Feature
Interim Behaviour Support Plan
Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan
Purpose
Immediate safety and risk reduction
Long-term, evidence-based behaviour change and improved quality of life
When it’s used
When there is an immediate need or a regulated restrictive practice is in place while assessment is underway
After a functional behaviour assessment has been completed
Based on
Existing information and a targeted review of current behaviours and risks
A comprehensive functional behaviour assessment
Feature
Interim Behaviour Support Plan
Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan
Typical contents
Behaviours of concern, immediate response strategies and clear protocols for any restrictive practices being used
Detailed behaviour formulation, proactive and skill-building strategies, a plan to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices, implementation guidance and training
Timeframe
Developed within one month of engagement
Developed within six months of engagement
What happens to it
A temporary document that is replaced once the comprehensive plan is finalised
An ongoing plan that is reviewed at least every 12 months and updated as needed
Who Develops an NDIS Interim Behaviour Support Plan?
An interim behaviour support plan can only be developed by an NDIS practitioner who has been assessed by the NDIS Commissioner as suitable to deliver specialist behaviour support. These practitioners work through a registered provider that is authorised to deliver behaviour support services under the NDIS.
Where regulated restrictive practices are included, the plan must also outline:
When they may be used
The safeguards that apply
How their use will be monitored, reviewed and reduced over time
Plans containing regulated restrictive practices must be lodged with the NDIS Commission. However, the Commission does not authorise their use. Authorisation remains the responsibility of the relevant state or territory authority in accordance with local legislation.
What Families and Participants Can Expect
If an interim behaviour support plan is recommended, the Behaviour Support Practitioner will work closely with the participant and the people who support them day-to-day. They will take the time to understand what is happening now, identify any immediate risks and develop practical strategies that can be implemented immediately.
Once the plan has been developed, it is shared with the participant’s family members and support workers. Where appropriate or with the participant’s permission, it may also be shared with their teachers or school staff. Everyone involved should understand their role so the participant receives consistent support wherever they are.
While the Behaviour Support Practitioner develops, oversees and reviews the plan, the day-to-day strategies are carried out by the participant’s support network. Practitioners provide coaching, guidance and training so that everyone responds consistently and confidently, helping to reduce behaviours of concern and improve outcomes.
An interim behaviour support plan is the first step towards developing a comprehensive, person-centred plan that builds skills and supports meaningful participation at home, at school, at work and in the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an interim behaviour support plan from the NDIS last?
An interim behaviour support plan is a temporary document that remains in place while the Functional Behaviour Assessment is completed and a comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan is developed. Where regulated restrictive practices are involved, the comprehensive plan must be completed within six months of the specialist behaviour support provider’s engagement. Once in place, behaviour support plans are reviewed at least every 12 months, or sooner if the participant’s needs or circumstances change.
Does an NDIS interim behaviour support plan replace a comprehensive plan?
No. An interim behaviour support plan is designed to provide immediate guidance while the assessment is still underway. It supports the participant during this period but is replaced once the comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan is completed. The comprehensive plan then becomes the primary document that guides long-term positive behaviour support.
Is there an interim behaviour support plan template?
Yes. The NDIS Commission provides an official interim behaviour support plan template. There is also a comprehensive behaviour support plan template, along with supporting guidance and checklists for practitioners. These resources help ensure plans meet the Commission’s requirements. However, each behaviour support plan is unique to the participant, so practitioners use the templates as a guide, rather than filling out a standard document for each participant.
How is an interim behaviour support plan funded?
Behaviour support services, including an interim behaviour support plan, are typically funded through the Capacity Building budget in an NDIS plan under Improved Relationships. If you are unsure if you are eligible for this funding, please look at your existing NDIS plan or speak to your support coordinator, Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIS planner. They can tell you what funding is available and whether you can access specialist behaviour support as part of your plan.
Talk to Outcomes Connect About Behaviour Support
Ready to make a referral or just have questions about the process? Contact us or call 1300 622 287 to speak with our friendly team, and we can help you find the right support or guide you through the next steps.
