Emergency and Unplanned Restrictive Practices Procedure

An emergency restrictive practices procedure for direct support staff. It covers what to do when physical restraint is used in an emergency to prevent imminent serious harm and no authorised practice is in place. It also sets the follow-up required afterwards.

What is inside:

• Emergency use criteria, all of which must be met
• Techniques that are never permitted, including prone restraint and holds that restrict breathing
• The de-escalation sequence staff must attempt first
• Monitoring and release during restraint
• Post-restraint response within 30 minutes
• Same-day incident report contents and NDIS Commission notification within 5 business days
• Debrief within 24 to 72 hours and behaviour support plan action within 2 weeks
• Staff support, including access to an Employee Assistance Program

Good to know: emergency use outside a behaviour support plan is still an unauthorised restrictive practice and a reportable incident. This procedure governs the safe response, not an exemption.

• Reviewed against the current NDIS Rules, Practice Standards and Commission guidance
• Editable DOCX with a placeholder legend, so you enter your details once
• Instant download

These templates are general information, not legal advice. No template can guarantee registration or audit outcomes.