How to Spot “Generic” Behaviour Support
- Julian Vilsten
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
There is a specific feeling every Support Coordinator knows.
You receive a comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan. It is 40 pages long. It looks professional. You look at the bill: a huge chunk of the “Improved Relationships” budget is gone.
Then you read the strategies.
For a participant with a severe intellectual disability who is non-speaking, the plan suggests: “Ask them to take three deep breaths” or “Remind them to make ‘good choices’.”
You have just witnessed “Generic Behaviour Support.”
This happens when a provider treats a complex presentation using a template designed for a completely different level of ability. It isn’t just ineffective; it is a dangerous waste of funding that leaves families unsupported and participants at risk.
The Problem: The Template vs. The Person
Generic behaviour support fundamentally fails to tailor strategies to the person and their environment. It produces recommendations that look good on paper but are simply not feasible for the people supporting the person to actually complete.
For a participant with Autism Level 2-3, an Acquired Brain Injury, or complex communication needs, generic assumptions about compliance and reasoning are often wrong. If a practitioner writes a plan based on what a person should be able to do, rather than what they can do, they aren’t providing support. They are setting a trap.
The Quality Filter: 4 Red Flags
How do you spot this before the plan is signed off? Apply this Operational Filter. If you see these signs, it is time to ask hard questions.
1. The “Remote Control” Practitioner
The practitioner writes the plan based solely on reports and phone calls, without observing the participant in their home or community.
Behaviour happens in context. You cannot know that the “calm corner” strategy is impossible if you haven’t seen that the house is open-plan and noisy. A practitioner who doesn’t see the environment or the routine cannot know if the strategies are physically possible for the family to implement. A practitioner who visits the home, observes the morning routine, and checks if the strategies are practical is far more likely to deliver effective support.
2. The “Copy-Paste” Strategies
The plan lists generic strategies like “use a star chart,” “give a verbal warning,” or “encourage deep breathing.”
These are common strategies for neurotypical individuals or those with mild needs. For complex disabilities, they often fail to address the function of the behaviour (e.g., sensory overload). Effective support uses customised strategies, such as providing opportunities to leave or modify the environment to reduce sensory stimulation.
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3. The “Ghost Writer” Syndrome
The provider is invisible until the bill arrives. Emails go unanswered for weeks, updates are vague, and then a massive document lands in your inbox that feels disconnected from the participant’s reality.
A 50-page report is worthless if the family doesn’t understand it or wasn’t consulted during its creation. Quality support involves regular check-ins, testing strategies before writing them down, and ensuring the support team feels confident, not just informed. If the communication is poor, the clinical substance usually is too.
4. The “Hollow” Supervision Structure
The practitioner is junior, which is not inherently a problem, but their “Senior Supervisor” has only been in the industry for two or three years themselves.
The rapid growth of the NDIS has created a skills vacuum. In many organisations, staff are promoted to supervision roles simply because they are the longest-serving employee, not because they have deep clinical mastery. Complex cases require the wisdom that only comes from years of diverse experience. Ask about the leadership structure. Look for teams led by seasoned clinicians (like Clinical Neuropsychologists, Psychologists or highly experienced PBS practitioners) who can actually guide the more junior staff through high-risk scenarios.
What Effective Support Looks Like
When you find a practitioner who understands complexity, the support looks different.
It is Environmental: They change the world around the person, not just the person.
It is Skill-Based: They focus on communication, emotional regulation, and skill development tailored to the person’s cognitive level and specific support needs.
It is Realistic: They don’t write 50 strategies; they write 3 that the family can actually do on a busy Tuesday morning.
How to Spot a High-Quality Provider
When screening providers for complex cases, look for signs of clinical depth. A high-quality organisation isn’t just about available appointments; it’s about their intake and supervision process.
Look for teams led by true senior clinicians, who can spot cognitive nuances that generic providers might miss. Ask them about their supervision structure: How often does the practitioner meet with a senior clinician? and Who provides that clinical oversight? A good provider ensures every practitioner, regardless of experience level, has regular access to deep clinical wisdom to guide their decision-making.
Funding is precious. Don’t let it vanish into a document that sits in a drawer.
Tired of generic plans that don’t work in the real world? Our mobile team specialises in complex needs and practical, evidence-based behaviour support. Reach out to Outcomes Lab today.
About the Author
Julian Vilsten
Founder, Outcomes Lab | Clinical Neuropsychologist | Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner. MClinNeuro, BBNSc (Hons)
With over a decade of clinical experience, Julian combines neuropsychology with practical behaviour support. He is dedicated to neuroaffirming practice and building support systems that champion autonomy and genuine well-being.
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