Understanding the Difference Between Specialist Behaviour Support and Improved Daily Living Programs: A guide for NDIS Coordinators of Support

As NDIS Coordinators of Support, helping participants navigate the various services available to them is a key part of your role. Two of the most common support options are Specialist Behaviour Support and Improved Daily Living programs. While both aim to improve the quality of life and independence of people with disabilities, they have distinct differences in how they work and the needs they address.

In this blog post, we’ll break down these two services, helping you understand how each can benefit your participants and guide them to the right support.

What is Specialist Behaviour Support?

Specialist Behaviour Support is focused on assisting individuals who have behaviours of concern, such as aggression, self-harm, or difficulty in communication, which can impact their safety and daily functioning. This support is designed to create tailored strategies to manage or reduce these behaviours and improve a participant’s overall quality of life.

One important aspect of Specialist Behaviour Support is that it’s the support service for individuals with restrictive practices—those practices that limit a person’s movement, choices, or rights, and are typically used when there are significant behaviour concerns. This service is for individuals with NDIS Behaviour Support or Improved Relationships funding. If these funds are allocated in a person’s NDIS plan, they will receive Specialist Behaviour Support as part of their plan.

This support is delivered by behaviour support practitioners in addressing challenging behaviours and creating positive behaviour support plans. The process typically involves assessing the individual’s behaviours, identifying triggers or underlying causes, and developing strategies to reduce or manage those behaviours in a way that enhances safety and well-being.

Key Components of Specialist Behaviour Support:

• Identifying and addressing the causes of challenging behaviours
• Developing strategies to reduce behaviours and increase positive alternatives
• Developing a Behaviour Support Plan
• Implementing and monitoring interventions
• Working with carers, families, and support staff to ensure Behaviour Support Plan is being followed
• Reducing and/or eliminating restrictive practices where possible

When to consider Specialist Behaviour Support:

• When a participant has restrictive practices in place or is at risk of requiring them
• When the participant has NDIS Behaviour Support or Improved Relationships funding allocated
• When the participant’s behaviours limit their ability to engage in daily life or social interactions

What are Improved Daily Living Programs?

The Improved Daily Living programs are designed to support participants in building everyday skills that help them live independently and engage more fully in their communities. This service is for individuals who may have moderate challenging behaviours but do not require the intensity of Specialist Behaviour Support. The program focuses on enhancing skills in areas such as personal care, communication, mobility, and social interactions.

At Everyday Independence, we offer four types of Improved Daily Living programs tailored to different participant needs. These programs are delivered by practitioners who are suitably qualified and registered by the NDIS. To access these programs, participants must also be receiving at least one other service from us, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, or early childhood support services.

A key aspect of the Improved Daily Living programs is its ability to help reduce challenging behaviour. By focusing on skill-building and creating healthier habits, this program helps participants develop more positive ways of interacting with their environment and managing their emotions. It’s a more moderate approach with a set eight tailored sessions designed to improve the participant’s independence in daily life while also reducing disruptive or challenging behaviours.

Expected Outcomes from Improved Daily Living: The aim of the Improved Daily Living program is to enhance the participant’s ability to:

• Complete daily tasks more independently, such as personal care or household chores
• Improve communication skills for better interactions in social and professional environments
• Increase confidence and social participation in community settings
• Build skills that lead to greater independence and well-being
• Help reduce challenging behaviours by promoting healthier habits and positive behaviours.

When to consider Improved Daily Living:

• When participants have moderate challenging behaviours that are not as severe or disruptive as those requiring Specialist Behaviour Support
• When participants are working towards improving their daily living skills and independence, and moderate challenging behaviours are impacting their progress
• When participants have a minimum of eighteen hours of Improved Daily Living funding 
• When participants have Improved Daily Living funds allocated in their NDIS plan and are receiving at least one other service from Everyday Independence.

Key Differences Between Specialist Behaviour Support and Improved Daily Living

While both services aim to improve participants’ independence and overall quality of life, the focus and delivery of each service differ:

1. Focus on Behaviour vs. Skill Building:
   • Specialist Behaviour Support is aimed at addressing challenging behaviours and reducing the need for restrictive practices, focusing on safety and positive behaviour change.
   • Improved Daily Living is focused on helping individuals gain the practical skills they need to live more independently, such as managing personal care, improving their health, and building confidence. It also helps reduce challenging behaviours by promoting healthier habits and positive alternatives.
2. Service Delivery:
   • Specialist Behaviour Support is delivered by a behaviour support practitioner and is designed for those with complex behaviour needs.
   • Improved Daily Living is delivered by practitioners who are deemed suitable by the NDIS to work with participants to develop essential life skills.
3. Eligibility and Funding:
   • Specialist Behaviour Support is the appropriate service when restrictive practices are in place, or when a participant has Behaviour Support or Improved Relationships funding in their NDIS plan.
   • Improved Daily Living is suitable for participants with moderate challenging behaviours and Improved Daily Living funding, but who do not require intensive behaviour management support.
4. Program Intensity:
   • Specialist Behaviour Support tends to be more intensive and focused on managing complex behaviours.
   • Improved Daily Living provides moderate support and is more geared towards building skills for independence in everyday life while reducing challenging behaviours over time.

Which Program is Right for Your Client?

When considering which program is best for a client, it’s important to assess their needs:

• If the participant has challenging behaviours that require behaviour management or restrictive practices, Specialist Behaviour Support is the recommended service.
• If the participant has moderate challenging behaviours and is looking to improve their independence in areas such as communication, personal care, and community participation, while also reducing disruptive behaviours, Improved Daily Living may be more suitable.

Remember, Improved Daily Living is available only if the participant is also receiving at least one other service from Everyday Independence, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, or early childhood support services. This can be done at the time of referral, and a team member will link your client in with relevant therapy services.

For case studies of the different Improved Daily Living programs, watch the recording below of our recently held webinar.

If you’re unsure which service is the best fit, reach out to our team on 1300 179 131 or complete an online form. Together, we can help individuals with disabilities navigate their NDIS journey and achieve their full potential.