Two educational videos explaining the role of the Quality Assurance Panel (QA Panel) to authorise restrictive practices in Western Australia are now available online.
A restrictive practice is any type of practice or intervention that limits the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability.
The Department of Communities’ Behaviour Support Consultancy Team (BSCT) has produced this resource to support key stakeholders including people with disability, their families and carers, behaviour support practitioners and implementing providers, to understand the panel process as described in the Authorisation of Restrictive Practice in Funded Disability Services Policy and Procedure Guidelines.
"The message we want to highlight is that people with disability have the same rights as all people to equality, freedom, respect, choice and control and the QA Panel has a role in protecting these rights through how restrictive practices are reviewed and authorised," Manager Behaviour Support Lisa Edenburg said.
"We want to emphasise that people with disability must have access to effective person-centred behaviour support, with restrictive practices only occurring as a last resort, where they are proportionate and necessary to protect the rights or safety of that person and/or others."
The BSCT members created the video after receiving regular feedback from people with disability, their families and carers, NDIS funded providers and behaviour support practitioners, about a lack of understanding about the QA Panel process.
There are two videos:
- the first is a short version about an individual called "Charlie" whose behaviour support plan will be sent to a QA Panel to review the proposed restrictive practice.
- The second video shows a snapshot of the process the QA Panel goes through to review "Charlie’s" restrictive practice against the five principles of use and their decision to approve or not approve the use of the restrictive practices in "Charlie’s" life and workplace.
Both videos can be viewed on the Quality Assurance Panels page.
“We will use this resource, and our other information sheets and information sessions, to continue to support the disability sector to work towards the reduction and elimination of restrictive practices for people with disability,” Lisa said.
