Restrictive Practices Documentation: Meeting NDIS and State Requirements

What Are Restrictive Practices?

Restrictive practices are any practice that limits a person's freedom, rights, or dignity. This includes physical restraint, chemical restraint, seclusion, time-out, and restrictions on communication, movement, or access to activities.

Under NDIS Practice Standards and state-based disability legislation, restrictive practices must be used only as a last resort and with rigorous documentation.

Documentation Requirements for Restrictive Practices

Every instance of restrictive practice must be documented with:

• Justification: Why was this practice necessary at this moment? What triggered the need?
• Duration: How long did the restriction last?
• Participant response: How did the participant react? Were they distressed?
• Alternatives attempted: What less restrictive approaches were tried first?
• Supervision and safety: Who was present? Was the participant safe?
• Debrief and recovery: Did you debrief with the participant afterward? Did they recover?
• Plan review: Was the support plan reviewed to prevent future need for restriction?

Positive Behavior Support Documentation

Instead of focusing on what the participant did wrong, document the function of the behavior and how you'll support them:

• Antecedent (what happened before): What triggered the behavior?
• Behavior (what happened): What did the participant do?
• Consequence (what happened after): How did you and others respond?
• Function analysis: What is the behavior communicating? (e.g., "avoiding a task," "seeking attention," "expressing distress")
• Prevention strategies: How can you prevent this situation next time?
• Skill building: What alternative skills can you teach?

Tracking Outcomes and Reducing Restrictive Practices

Document progress toward reducing reliance on restrictive practices:

• Frequency of restrictive practice use (should decrease over time)
• Duration of episodes (should decrease)
• Success of alternative approaches
• Participant's quality of life and wellbeing (should improve)

This article was written by AccuNote's Safeguarding & Practice Standards Team, which helps providers use restrictive practices minimally and ethically while documenting in compliance with NDIS and state legislation.