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The important principles that guide practice
The important principles that guide practice
Supported decision-making is built on important principles that guide practice.
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For more information about supported decision-making in behaviour support refer to the Person with Disability and Supporter resources.
People with disability have the right to freedom of expression, self-determination and support for decision-making.
Facilitators acknowledge and uphold:
The person’s right to choose what they want without influence – decision supporters should remain ‘neutral’ during the decision-making process so as not to influence the person’s decision.
People are presumed to have the capacity to make decisions about things that affect their lives.
Facilitators acknowledge and uphold:
The person’s decision making capacity is not something directly connected to their ability or disability but rather related to their experience and the quality of their relationships; the person has decision supporters who tailor (make decision adjustments to) support practical decisions.
Adjustments means the way I make changes to how information is given to the person to help their decision-making. First I find out what they need to make decisions, then how they communicate, how they like information given to them and making it accessible to them.
People have the right to be supported to make informed decisions and be fully participating citizens.
Facilitators acknowledge and uphold:
The person’s partnership with supporters in taking mutual responsibility to communicate, interpret and act on the decision together.
People have the right to choose who will support decision-making and how this support will be provided.
Facilitators acknowledge and uphold:
The person’s preferred way of making a decision – how the decision is made, who is involved, how much each supporter is involved, how the decision should be followed through and why the decision is important. The person’s will and preferences direct everyone in the supported decision-making process. Good decision support will ensure the person’s expressed will and preference (in relation to a specific decision opportunity) are informed by including options and explaining the risks and benefits.
People have the right to individually tailored support that is adapted to their decision-making preferences and that respect and are sensitive to their culture, values and beliefs and situation.
Facilitators acknowledge and uphold:
The supporters will need time to establish a rapport to learn and understand the person’s past experiences, their communication and decision-making strengths and what they’ll need to practically support them (e.g., preferred communication methods, accessible information and required decision-making supports).
People have the right to dignity of risk; to make choices that have a degree of risk involved.
Facilitators acknowledge and uphold:
The person needs support to explore and understand the pros and cons of the decision or experience to shape their own safeguards and solutions. Informed risk management approaches balance enabling the person’s risk and safety with minimising their harm from abuse and help to manage any conflicts of interest. Supporters will need time, training, practice and opportunities for reflection to balance their duty of care with the person’s right to make decisions that are seen as ‘risky’.
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For further information about supported decision-making, refer to Further Learning and Additional Training.