What an interim behaviour support plan is
An interim behaviour support plan is a shorter, faster plan put in place when there's an immediate need, particularly where there's a risk to the participant or the people around them. Rather than waiting for a full assessment to be completed, it sets out safe, evidence-informed strategies that can be used straight away.
An interim plan draws on what's already known about the person: information from family, support workers, existing reports, and early conversations with the practitioner. It is practical by design: enough to keep people safe and steady the situation while the deeper work of a comprehensive assessment gets under way.
- Developed relatively quickly when there's an immediate or urgent need
- Based on information already available, not a completed full assessment
- Focuses on safety and clear, usable response strategies
- Documents any restrictive practices already in use, with a plan to review them
- Acts as a bridge to the comprehensive plan
What a comprehensive behaviour support plan is
A comprehensive behaviour support plan is developed after a fuller assessment, usually including a functional behaviour assessment that looks closely at what happens before and after a behaviour, what the behaviour seems to be communicating, and the conditions that make it more or less likely.
Because it rests on a deeper understanding of the person, a comprehensive plan can go beyond keeping things safe in the moment. It sets out proactive strategies to improve quality of life, build skills and communication, and adjust the environment, alongside clear response strategies for when behaviours do occur. It is reviewed and adjusted over time as circumstances change.
- Built on a functional behaviour assessment and broader information gathering
- Includes proactive, preventative, and response strategies
- Aims to improve quality of life, not only to manage incidents
- Sets out a clear plan to reduce and remove any restrictive practices
- Reviewed and updated over time as things change
How they compare at a glance
The simplest way to think about it: an interim plan is about acting safely now with what's known, and a comprehensive plan is about understanding deeply and planning for the longer term. They're not competing options. They're two points on the same path.
An interim plan tends to be developed quickly and is narrower in scope, leaning on existing information and focusing on immediate safety. A comprehensive plan takes longer to develop because it follows a fuller assessment, and it is broader, covering prevention, skill-building, environment, and review as well as response.
- Timing: interim is put in place quickly; comprehensive follows a fuller assessment
- Basis: interim uses existing information; comprehensive is built on a functional assessment
- Scope: interim is focused on immediate safety; comprehensive is broader and longer-term
- Both are written by a behaviour support practitioner and meant to be used every day
| Feature | Interim plan | Comprehensive plan |
|---|---|---|
| When it's used | When there's an immediate or urgent need and it isn't safe to wait | Once a fuller assessment can be completed |
| What it's based on | Information already available: family, support workers, existing reports, early conversations | A functional behaviour assessment and broader information gathering |
| Typical detail | Focused and practical: safety and clear response strategies | Broader, covering proactive, preventative, and response strategies plus skill-building |
| Timeframe framing | Developed relatively quickly to steady the situation | Takes longer because it follows a fuller assessment |
| Review | A bridge to the comprehensive plan; reviewed as understanding grows | Reviewed and updated over time as circumstances change |
How participants move from interim to comprehensive
In practice, the two plans often work in sequence. When something needs to change right away, a practitioner can develop an interim plan so the participant and their team aren't left without guidance. In the background, the practitioner gathers information, observes, and talks with the people who know the person well.
As that understanding builds, the interim plan is replaced by a comprehensive plan that reflects what's been learned. The exact timeframe depends on the person, their situation, and how quickly information can be gathered. There's no single fixed schedule. The goal is simply to make sure the person is supported safely from day one while the fuller picture comes together.