The Person-Centred Relational Support Framework
How PBS Collective practitioners understand behaviour, build support and measure what matters.
Behaviour support is not only about reducing distress behaviours. It is about understanding the person, strengthening relationships, improving quality of life, upholding human rights, and creating environments where people experience safety, dignity, choice, connection and meaningful participation. The Person-Centred Relational Support Framework is the practice framework every PBS Collective Behaviour Support Practitioner uses to develop, implement and review Behaviour Support Plans. It brings together the CARE Framework and our motto: we care. we listen. we do.
CARE in practice
Connect with Care
We begin with connection. We get to know the person's story, strengths, preferences, communication, relationships, culture, routines, sensory and health needs, and what a good life looks like to them. We approach every person with dignity, warmth, curiosity and compassion, because trust and relational safety are central to effective support.
We ask: Who is this person beyond their behaviour? What helps them feel safe, respected and understood?
Attend and Listen
Behaviour has meaning. It may communicate distress, unmet needs, pain, confusion, sensory overwhelm, loss of control or barriers to communication. We listen to the person, their family and supporters, and draw on observation, data and Functional Behaviour Assessment to understand what is happening.
We ask: What might this person be experiencing? What is the behaviour communicating?
Respond Relationally
We develop strategies that are respectful, proactive, trauma-informed, rights-based and least restrictive. Understanding behaviour does not mean tolerating unsafe behaviour. Our approach helps support teams hold compassion and clear boundaries at the same time, so the person and those around them stay safe.
We ask: How can we reduce distress before it escalates? How do we return to connection after a difficult moment?
Enable Quality of Life
The purpose of behaviour support is a better life. We build choice, autonomy, participation, belonging, communication, emotional wellbeing and independence. We support the person to be involved in decisions about their own life and support, and we plan to reduce and, where possible, eliminate restrictive practices over time
We ask: What does quality of life look like for this person? What helps them have more good days?
How our motto and CARE fit together
| Our motto | CARE Framework | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| we care | Connect with Care | We understand the person, uphold dignity, build trust and recognise what matters to them. |
| we listen | Attend and Listen | We recognise behaviour as communication and seek to understand what the person is experiencing. |
| we do | Respond Relationally and Enable Quality of Life | We develop practical, compassionate, least restrictive strategies that improve safety, wellbeing and quality of life. |
Where the Framework guides our work
- Functional Behaviour Assessment
- Interim and Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plans
- Risk assessment and safeguarding
- Restrictive practice reduction planning
- Implementation support and support team training
- Data collection, monitoring and review
- Multidisciplinary consultation with families, guardians, providers and allied health
- Positive Behaviour Support training for organisations
- Incident review and reflective practice
Measuring what matters
We measure success by changes in the person's life, not only by reductions in behaviour. Alongside behaviour data, we review quality of life, participation, wellbeing, the person's own goals, and progress in reducing restrictive practices. We review this regularly with the person and their support team, and adjust support as their needs change.
Our commitment
Through this Framework, our practitioners work alongside the person to understand who they are, recognise behaviour as communication, respond with compassion and clear boundaries, reduce restrictive practices, and enable safer, more connected and more meaningful lives.
Our Behaviour Support Plans are evidence-informed and meet NDIS requirements, and they are also relational, respectful and practical for the person and their support team.
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