-
$(this).corner();
-
$(this).corner("tl tr");
-
$(this).corner();
-
$(this).corner();
text size
Designing non-aversive reactive plans
Before a behaviour can be changed it is important that a service can manage the consequences of that behaviour. In behavioural literature, statements abound about when a behaviour strategy is adopted a behaviour often gets worse before it gets better (this is often referred to as an Extinction Burst).
Willis and LaVigna (1985) recommended that Reactive Plans should be used to literally specify what care staff should do when a person becomes challenging.
During the course, three major issues will be addressed:
- Strategies for defusing incidents
- The role of physical management
- Designing non-aversive reactive plans
Reactive Planning involves the short term management of challenging behaviours. It is appropriate for staff teams who care for individuals who present particularly severe challenging behaviours. We use the word 'plan' rather than the more vague term 'guidelines' because 'plan' implies a clear strategy for managing behaviour. It enables carers to provide a consistent response to behaviours which can be potentially threatening or dangerous. It also helps to specify the boundaries of carer responsibility to the client
Not every challenging behaviour requires a written Reactive Plan. Behaviours which are high risk and high in frequency certainly qualify for this approach. A major reason for this is that after an incident, carers should be able to justify the actions they needed to take. If staff have genuinely attempted to follow a plan, then it is easier for them to justify their response to the behaviour.
During the workshop, staff will be encouraged to focus on issues surrounding the individual concerned and the trainer will assist them in generating ideas which will contribute to a Reactive Plan.
Broadly, the two-day workshop will be structured to cover:
- When should a Reactive Plan be used
- Setting non-aversive objectives
- Encompassing the 'Low-Arousal' approach
- Avoiding high risk situations
- Designing safe environments
- Writing a plan
- Overcoming the problems of implementation
Once a plan has been in operation for a reasonable amount of time we offer to return to the service and spend time with staff evaluating the Reactive Plan.
- Specify the background to the plan
- Describe the person's history in a few words and specify briefly why the plan is needed - Specify the target behaviours
- A Reactive Plan should state clearly which behaviours are being concentrated on. - Specify the triggers and cues that precede the behaviour
- People can often specify that they knew a behaviour was about to happen even if they did not know the cause of it. These need to be noted down. If they cannot be agreed then specify all of them. - Be clear how staff are supposed to react to the behaviour
- List the steps that staff are expected to follow. It is especially important to include a script that literally contains statements that carers are supposed to say to the person. - Specify how the incident should be recorded
- Specify how staff involved in the incident should be supported afterwards
- Ensure there is a de-briefing procedure in place for all staff involved in an incident. - Involve all staff
- It is important to note that all carers should be involved in discussions about Reactive Plans. Peoples' grievances should be 'aired' and comments about the plan should be encouraged. It is our experience that a critical factor in the successful implementation of Reactive Plans has been the ownership of the plan by staff teams.
