PBS New Practitioner Group: Assessment Phase Part 1- Presented by Rachel Hardcastle

Complete the learning module to earn your certificate of completion - Click Here

This presentation introduces new Behaviour Support Practitioners to the assessment phase of behaviour support, with a practical focus on conducting thorough file reviews and effective interviews with key stakeholders. It outlines how to systematically review existing reports, plans, incident data, and historical information to identify patterns, risks, gaps, and initial hypotheses, while remaining objective and cautious about early conclusions. The session also builds skills in interviewing participants, families, and support staff, emphasising rapport, purposeful questioning, and gathering information that informs functional understanding rather than opinion. Practical guidance and examples support practitioners to integrate multiple information sources into a coherent, ethical, and defensible assessment process.