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Office of the Senior Practitioner

The Disability Act 2006 created the position of the Senior Practitioner. The Senior Practitioner is generally responsible for ensuring that the rights of people who are subject to restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment are protected, and that appropriate standards in relation to restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment are complied with.

The Senior Practitioner has extensive powers to set standards and guidelines, and monitor direct disability service providers in relation to the use of restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment.

Information on this page:

Report and Recommendations on Restrictive Interventions and Behaviour Support Plans

1 July–30 September 2007

The Senior Practitioner has issued an inaugural quarterly report for the period 1 July to 30 September, 2007. The report is a preliminary analysis on information collected from the Restrictive Interventions Data System (RIDS) and behaviour support plans. The report and its recommendations are intended to provide disability service providers with practice areas that can be improved.

1 July–31 December 2007

This second summary report on behaviour support plans and restrictive interventions presents analysis of restrictive interventions and behaviour support plans for 1 July to 31 December 2007.

Promoting Dignity and Senior Practitioner Partnership Grants programs

Consistent with the Senior Practitioner’s mission "To work with services to safeguard the rights of people with a disability and to influence practices that support people to achieve dignity without restraints", the Senior Practitioner is pleased to announce the Promoting Dignity Grants and Senior Practitioner Partnership Grants.

Senior Practitioner Reference Panel

Expressions of interest are also being sought for the establishment the Senior Practitioner Reference Panel that will judge the Promoting Dignity Grants and Senior Practitioner Partnership Grants applications.

Download the Restrictive Interventions Data System (RIDS) Paper-based Return and Guide

Functions of the Senior Practitioner

  • Lead best practice in behaviour management strategies and develop standards and guidelines for behaviour management and restrictive interventions
  • Monitor restrictive interventions and the requirements of the Disability Act 2006
  • Provide specialist expertise and secondary consultations to disability support providers in relation to behaviour management and restrictive interventions
  • Develop guidelines and procedures for restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment and monitor adherence to these
  • Oversee the Independent Person program
  • Develop links with tertiary bodies and others to sponsor research to inform contemporary practice development.

Restrictive Interventions and Compulsory Treatment

Restrictive interventions are practices used by disability service providers designed to prevent a person with an intellectual disability harming themselves and others, or destroying property that may result in harm. Restrictive intervention is defined in the Bill to mean 'any intervention that is used to restrict the rights or freedom of movement of a person with a disability including chemical restraint, mechanical restraint and seclusion'.

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Strategy Framework January 2007–June 2008

The purpose of the Strategy Framework is to develop an initial Senior Practitioner Strategy in readiness for implementation by 1 July 2007 of the Disability Act 2006 (the Act). The aim of the Strategy is to brief disability services industry partners on the Senior Practitioner Strategy and to engage on the direction of the office through regular feedback. The Strategy is available to download.

Positive Solutions in Practice

Positive Solutions in Practice is a series of plain English reviews of the latest innovative research in best practice to support people with a disability. The Office of the Senior Practitioner will publish four of these reviews each year.

Mindfulness

The first review covers a therapy called Mindfulness that has been found to be a useful way to defuse anger and can be used by parents, staff and people with a mild intellectual disability.

From Seclusion to Solutions

The second Positive Solutions in Practice is called From Seclusion to Solutions and focuses on a number of positive solutions that could be used as alternatives to the use of seclusion.

Getting it Right from the Start: The Value of Good Assessment

The third Positive Solutions in Practice is an introduction to the basic priniciples of good assessment.

Chemical Restraint: What Every Disability Support Worker Needs to Know

The fourth Positive Solutions in Practice tries to answer the five most frequently asked questions about chemical restraint that will assist disability support workers and carers understand more about chemical restraint.

Disability Act 2006 Implementation Guides

In support of the Disability Act 2006, the Office of the Senior Practitioner in conjunction with the Disability Services Division has released the following guides.

Practice Guides

Practice Guides provide detailed direction on the legislative practice for all Disability Services Providers relating to restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment.

The Practice Guide for behaviour support for people using respite services provides direction to disability service providers delivering respite services to people with a disability who are subject to restrictive interventions.

Practice Advice

The intention of a Practice Advice is to provide good practice advice on certain features of the Disability Act 2006. It is not intended to be mandatory.

Newsletter

The Newsletter is a regular communication series that endeavours to keep everyone informed about the activities of the Office.

Who to contact

Office of the Senior Practitioner
Department of Human Services
Level 7, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Telephone 03 9096 8427
Email seniorpractitioner@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

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