What is a Restrictive Practice?

What is Restrictive Practice or RP?

Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018, certain restrictive practices are subject to regulation. These include seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint, and environmental restraint.

Types of Restrictive Practice:

Seclusion

Seclusion is the solitary confinement of a person with a disability in a room or a physical space at any hour of the day or night where the voluntary exit is prevented, not facilitated, or implied that voluntary exit is not permitted.

Chemical restraint

Chemical restraint is the use of medication or chemical substances to influence a person's behaviour. It does not include the use of medication prescribed by a medical practitioner for the treatment of, or to enable treatment of, a diagnosed mental disorder, a physical illness, or a physical condition.

Mechanical restraint

Mechanical restraint uses a device to prevent, restrict, or subdue a person's movement for the primary purpose of influencing a person's behaviour but does not include the use of devices for therapeutic or non-behavioural purposes.

Physical restraint

Physical restraint is the use or action of physical force to prevent, restrict or subdue movement of a person's body, or part of their body, for influencing their behaviour. Physical restraint does not include reflexively using a hands-on technique to guide or redirect a person away from potential harm/injury, consistent with what could reasonably be considered as the exercise of care towards a person.

Environmental restraint

Environmental restraint restricts a person’s free access to all parts of their environment, including items or activities.

Implementing Restrictive Practices:

Restrictive practices will be used with consent, authorisation, a Positive Behaviour Support Plan, and relevant to legislation. Gain consent before using restrictive practice from the most relevant party being, the client or informal guardian. If there is no guardian, lodge an urgent application to the Office of Public Guardian.