Once a restriction is in place, it tends to stay. The fridge stays locked because it has always been locked. New staff are told the rule on their first day. Nobody remembers why it started.
That’s the quiet risk with restrictive practices. They’re meant to be short term, yet they drift into being permanent. Reducing restrictive practices is how a plan stops that from happening.
This guide is for families, carers and support teams who want to see a restriction used less. It covers why reduction matters, how a plan fades a restriction in careful steps and what you can do at home or in a service. If you’re new to the topic, our guide to restrictive practices in the NDIS explains the basics first.
Key points
- Every behaviour support plan with a regulated restrictive practice must include strategies to reduce it.
- Reduction works by meeting the need behind the behaviour, then fading the restriction in small, measured steps.
- Staff turnover, fear and missing data are the most common things that slow it down.
- Families can help by using the plan the same way every time and keeping simple records.
Why does the NDIS focus on reducing restrictive practices?
The NDIS focuses on reducing restrictive practices because they limit a person’s rights and can cause physical and emotional harm. Every behaviour support plan that includes a regulated restrictive practice must also include strategies to reduce and, where possible, remove it. Reduction is a legal expectation, written into the plan.
The NDIS Commission says positive behaviour support aims to lessen and remove the use of restrictive practices. Australia has also signed up to this aim at a national level. Disability ministers endorsed the National Framework for Reducing and Eliminating the Use of Restrictive Practices in March 2014.
The framework sets out 6 strategies for services. They are a person-centred focus, leadership, the use of data, workforce development, reduction tools, and debriefing and review. Each one shows up in the steps below.
There’s a human reason too. A person who is often restricted may feel less safe, not more. They can lose skills they once had. Some people learn that the only way to be heard is to escalate. Reducing restrictions gives them room to show what they can do.
How does a behaviour support plan reduce a restrictive practice?
A behaviour support plan reduces a restrictive practice by replacing it with safer strategies step by step. The plan explains why the behaviour happens and teaches a new skill that meets the same need. It also changes the setting and sets out clear steps for using the restriction less often.
Most plans follow a similar path.
1. Understand what the restriction is doing
Every restriction is standing in for something. A Functional Behaviour Assessment looks at when, where and why the behaviour happens. If a pantry is locked because a person eats until they’re unwell, the assessment asks why. Hunger, boredom, anxiety and a lack of routine all lead to different plans.
2. Teach a skill that meets the same need
If a behaviour is meeting a need, the person needs another way to meet it. That might be a way to ask for food, a way to signal they need a break or a way to cope with waiting. The new skill has to work for the person at least as quickly as the behaviour did.
3. Change the setting
A lot of risk comes from the day around the person. Predictable routines, enough to do and staff who respond the same way can lower stress quickly. The Capable Environment Framework helps us look at the whole setting.
4. Fade the restriction in planned steps
The plan sets out small, measurable steps. Each step only moves forward when the data shows it’s safe. Going too fast can set things back, so we agree each step with the person, the family and the support team.
5. Review and adjust
The plan is reviewed at least every 12 months, and often much sooner. Each review asks one question first: can this practice be used less? Our Implementation and Review service keeps that question on the table.
What does fading a restriction look like in practice?
Fading a restriction means using it for shorter times, in fewer places or with less force, until it’s no longer needed. Each step is small enough to feel safe for everyone. Progress is measured, written down and reviewed before the next step begins.
Here’s how a plan might fade a locked pantry over a few months. The detail will be different for every person.
| Stage | What changes | What the team watches |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Pantry locked all day. Set snack and meal times introduced, shown on a visual timetable | Number of attempts to get into the pantry |
| Step 1 | Pantry unlocked for 15 minutes after each meal | Whether the person takes what they need and leaves |
| Step 2 | Pantry unlocked for the whole afternoon, with a snack box the person controls | Calm afternoons and fewer incidents |
| Step 3 | Pantry unlocked during waking hours, locked only overnight | How nights go, and any change in sleep |
| Goal | Pantry open, with the routine and snack box still in place | Whether the behaviour stays low for 8 weeks or more |
The same idea works for other types. A “when needed” medicine might be paired with a calming routine so it’s needed less often. A locked gate might open for set periods when a worker is nearby. Our guide to the types of restrictive practices covers each type in detail.
What gets in the way of reducing restrictive practices?
The most common barriers are staff turnover, inconsistent use of the plan, fear after a past incident and a lack of data. None of these are anyone’s fault. They are signs the support team needs more help, coaching or time, and a good plan names them early.
Common barriers, and what helps:
- New or casual staff. They may not know the plan. Short, practical training at the start of each shift can make a big difference.
- Fear. If someone was hurt before, people may want to keep the restriction “just in case”. Talking through the risk openly, with the data in front of everyone, helps.
- No data. Without notes, nobody can show the restriction is used less. Simple tally sheets or ABC notes give the team something to measure.
- A plan that’s too hard to follow. If a plan is 40 pages long, people won’t read it. A one-page summary for workers helps the plan get used.
What can families and support teams do?
Families and support teams can reduce restrictive practices by following the plan the same way every time. Keep simple records and ask for a review when something changes. You know the person best. Your notes and questions often show the next safe step before anyone else sees it.
Practical steps to start this week:
- Know the plan. Ask for a copy and a short summary. Check you know when the restriction can and can’t be used.
- Record every use. Write the date, time, what happened before and how long the practice was used.
- Notice the good days. Write down what was different when things went well. Those notes often point to the next step.
- Use the proactive strategies. Most plans lean on early, positive strategies. They work best when everyone uses them.
- Ask for a review. If the restriction hasn’t been used for weeks, or if things get harder, ask the practitioner to review it.
Coaching for the people around the person is part of our work. Our Family & Carer Training shows families and support workers how to use the strategies with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for reducing a restrictive practice?
Everyone in the person’s support team shares it. The behaviour support practitioner writes the reduction strategies into the plan. The implementing provider uses them every day and reports on the practice to the NDIS Commission each month. Families and guardians can ask for progress at any time.
What data shows a restriction can be reduced?
Simple records are enough to start. A tally of how often the practice is used, notes on what happened before each incident and a log of calm days all help. When the numbers stay low for several weeks, the team has the evidence to try the next step.
How long does it take to reduce a restrictive practice?
It varies a lot. Some restrictions fade within a few weeks once the reason behind the behaviour is clear. Others take months or longer, especially where the risk is high. The plan sets steps and review points, so everyone can see whether progress is being made.
What if a behaviour comes back after a restriction is reduced?
It’s common for a behaviour to show up again during a change. That doesn’t always mean the plan has failed. We look at the data, check what changed and may pause or step back before trying again. A setback is useful information for the next step.
Do restrictions need to be reduced if they are authorised?
Yes. Authorisation doesn’t mean a practice can stay forever. In NSW, authorisation is time limited. Every plan with a regulated restrictive practice must include strategies to reduce it, and each review checks whether it can be used less.
Work with us to reduce restrictive practices
My Behaviour Support is a registered NDIS provider based in Narellan. We work with families, Supported Independent Living (SIL) homes, day programs and schools across South West and Western Sydney. Our Director, Domenic Barca, is a Proficient Behaviour Support Practitioner with a background in psychology and social work. Our practitioners write plans that set a clear goal to reduce each restrictive practice, then coach the support team to get there.
If you want to see a restriction used less for someone you support, we can help. Read about our Reducing Restrictive Practices service, make a referral or call us on 0415 930 548.
