IDEA Specialist Support Services

The IDEA Specialist Services team provides short-term interventions for staff, caregivers and families who support people with complex and challenging behaviour.

Our aim is to enhance the skills and confidence of those working and living with people who present challenges. Our mission is to share knowledge and promote learning. We work co-operatively and our work involves:

identifying issues of concern
conducting functional, behavioural and communication assessments
developing support plans that contain practical strategies
coaching and training staff, caregivers and families to ensure they are confident to implement strategies
monitoring and reviewing progress and adjusting plans and strategies if necessary.

Principles guiding our practice

We acknowledge:

that behaviour is part of a complex attempt for self-determination, security and love. People act for reasons that may not be apparent to others but are important to the individual who is seeking to have their needs met. We are committed to the use of non-aversive techniques and working in a pro-active way to teach staff, caregivers and families to understand the message underlying the behaviour.
that people will learn to change their behaviour in response to changes in the environment and changes in the behaviour of people around them.
that behavioural challenges need to be addressed from a preventative and training approach as opposed to a crisis-response approach.

Our work has been guided by the principles of positive behaviour support. Some useful references are :

Keith R. McVilly. 2002 Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Inc ISBN 0-9581396-0-1. Positive Behaviour Support for People with Intellectual Disability: Evidence-based practice, promoting quality of life.
Donnellan, A.M., Mirenda, P.L., Mesaros, R.A, and Fassbender, L.L. (1984). Analysing the communicative functions of aberrant behaviour. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, p, 201-212.
Scotti, J.R., and Meyer, L.H. (1999). Behavioral Intervention Principles, Models and Practices. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.