The READY Framework: Does This Plan Sound Like the Person?

She calls the loud bus "the grumbly one", and the plan written for her uses the phrase "auditory sensitivities during community access" instead.

Both describe the same thing. Only one of them sounds like her. When a new worker reads "auditory sensitivities", they file it away as a general fact. When they read "she hates the grumbly bus, so check the timetable for the newer one", they know her a little. They know what to do on Tuesday morning.

That small gap between how a plan sounds and how a person talks shows up everywhere once you start looking. It's why I built READY.

What is the READY framework?

I presented READY at the National SIL Summit on the Gold Coast this year. It's five questions SIL leaders and support coordinators can ask of any behaviour support plan. You don't need PBS training to use it. You need to know the person, and you do.

R: Does the plan reflect the person?

A plan that reflects the person reads like someone who knows them wrote it. It mentions that he loves trains and talks to the dog before anyone else in the morning. It uses her words. It describes a good day in terms she'd recognise.

A template-style plan describes a category of person, and workers end up supporting the category.

Ask your practitioner: "If I covered the name on this plan, would the people who know her recognise who it's about?"

E: Is it easy to understand?

He won't read a 30-page plan. He will read a one-page easy read version with photos of his house, his favourite chair and the words "When I feel wobbly, I like...". Once he has his own copy, the plan becomes something he takes part in.

Staff need the same ease. Key information should be reachable in under a minute.

Ask your practitioner: "Is there an easy read version for him, and a one-page summary for staff?"

A: Was it authored with the team?

The night worker knows she sleeps better with the hallway light on. The weekend worker knows her sister's visits are the highlight of the week and the hardest part of Sunday evening. A plan written without those workers in the room will miss things that shape her days.

She belongs in the authorship too. Ask her what helps. Many people can tell us directly, and everyone tells us something through how they respond.

Ask your practitioner: "Which of our workers did you talk to, and how did she contribute?"

D: Was it delivered and documented?

A plan sent as an email attachment tends to stay in the inbox. When the practitioner walks the team through it, practises it with them and records the session for new staff, it reaches her. Every worker who comes through the door responds the same way, and she gets consistency, one of the kindest things a house can offer.

Ask your practitioner: "When will you train the team in person, and how will new staff learn it?"

Y: Will workers say "yes" at 3am?

Ask the newest casual: "It's 3am, this is happening. What do you do?" A quick, confident answer means the plan has made it all the way to the moment that matters for him. Hesitation means the plan needs work.

Ask your practitioner: "Can we test the plan with our newest worker together?"

How to use READY this week

Pick one participant and pull up their plan. Run the five questions with your house lead or a support worker who knows them well. Note where the plan sounds like the person and where it drifts. Take those notes to the next review. Practitioners who care about good outcomes will welcome them.

Common questions

Can SIL providers ask for changes to a behaviour support plan?

Yes. SIL teams implement the plan every day, so their feedback is essential. Raise concerns with the practitioner, ideally with specific examples from shifts.

What is an easy read behaviour support plan?

A short version written in plain language with images, so the person can understand their own plan and take part in it.

Who is the READY framework for?

SIL leaders, house managers and support coordinators who want a quick, practical way to check a plan's quality.

Book READY training for your team

If you lead a SIL, support coordination or allied health team, we deliver free in-person PBS training, including READY. Email Aaron at aaron@bespokebehaviour.com.au to book a session.

Stories in this post are composites, shared with details changed to protect privacy.