Families and support coordinators often want to know how long it will take before a behaviour support plan is in place. The answer depends on whether restrictive practices are being used and how quickly the information we need comes together.
The NDIS timeframes
When a participant is subject to regulated restrictive practices, the NDIS rules set two timeframes from when the practitioner is engaged:
- An interim behaviour support plan within 1 month
- A comprehensive behaviour support plan within 6 months
The interim plan gives the support team safe, practical guidance while the full assessment is completed. The comprehensive plan is based on the complete functional behaviour assessment. Our guide to interim and comprehensive plans explains the difference.
Our timeframes
At Forsyth Therapies we aim to complete an interim plan within 1 month of engagement and a comprehensive plan within 3 months, well inside the maximum allowed.
What affects the timeline
- Consent and paperwork. The service agreement and consent need to be in place before we start.
- Access to the person. We need time with the person across different settings and times of day.
- Information from the team. Behaviour records, incident reports and input from support workers are essential.
- Other reports. OT, speech pathology or medical information can change the direction of the plan.
- Authorisation. Where restrictive practices need state authorisation, that process runs alongside the plan.
How to keep things moving
Send existing reports with the referral, ask support workers to keep accurate behaviour records from day one and make sure the key people are available for interviews. Small things like these often save weeks.
This article is general information only and is not advice about a particular person's circumstances. NDIS funding arrangements change from time to time, so check the participant's plan and current NDIA guidance.
