The information below provides advice on the most frequently asked questions and common misconceptions on how to use the Review function within the context of the NSW RPA Policy and NSW RPA System.
What is a Review of a regulated restrictive practice?
A Review is used to monitor the implementation and progress of an authorised regulated restrictive practice. They are designed to be a safe-guarding measure to ensure that you, as a service provider, are appropriately implementing the practice. Reviews allow you to follow-up on your RPA panel’s recommendations as well as to provide feedback and outcomes from enacting any recommendations made by your RPA panel. Reviews can be scheduled at any time during the authorisation period.
When should I schedule a Review?
As the implementing service provider it is appropriate for you to schedule a Review:
- if the regulated restrictive is approved with conditions so your RPA panel can determine whether the conditions around authorisation have been met
- if you wish to withdraw authorisation for the regulated restrictive practice
- if the regulated restrictive practice is no longer required
- if you no longer provide services for the participant
- if you notice a significant increase in the frequency a regulated restrictive practice is being used
- if the regulated restrictive practice is having a significantly detrimental impact on the participant and/or others in their environment
- at least every three months if the regulated restrictive practice being used is either Seclusion or Physical Restraint
- at least every three-to-six months if the practice being used is Chemical Restraint and the participant has:
- frequent incidents requiring PRN, or
- multiple medications for complex health and/or behaviour management purposes, or
- high doses of routine or PRN medications.
I have authorisation for a regulated restrictive practice that is about to expire, can I schedule a Review to extend the time frame of its authorisation?
No.
A Review does not allow you to ‘reauthorise’ or ‘extend’ the authorisation timeframe of a regulated restrictive practice.
The expiry date for authorisation will be whichever of the following occurs first:
- the period of authorisation from when your RPA panel first authorised the regulated restrictive practice passes
- consent to implement the regulated restrictive practice either expires or is withdrawn by the person providing consent
- the behaviour support plan expires
- your RPA panel reconvenes and reviews the regulated restrictive practice but decides to withdraw approval
If I cannot use a Review to reauthorise a regulated restrictive practice, what do I do when authorisation for a practice is about to expire?
Once a practice is nearing expiry, or has expired, a Review is not appropriate. You will need to create a new submission and authorise the regulated restrictive practice as per the usual process which means you will need:
- a valid behaviour support plan and supporting documentation,
- to seek approval from your RPA panel for the proposed regulated restrictive practice, and
- to obtain consent to implement the regulated restrictive practice as per Table 2 on page 11 of the NSW RPA Policy (PDF, 645.6 KB).
Any use of the regulated restrictive practice after it has expired, and before you have obtained authorisation will need to be reported to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission as an unauthorised use of a restrictive practice.
How can I get more information on how to complete a Review in the NSW RPA System?
Additional information on reviews as well as how to create a review in the RPA System can be found by viewing:
