functional behaviour assessment: guide for liverpool parents

Introduction

If you’re a parent in Liverpool trying to understand why your child shows certain behaviours, a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) can offer clarity and direction. An FBA looks beyond what your child does and explores why they do it — helping you and your child’s team build strategies that really work. At daar, our behaviour support practitioners work with families, schools and allied health professionals to deliver FBAs that lead to meaningful change, confidence and improved participation.

Key Highlights

• A functional behaviour assessment (FBA) is a systematic approach to understanding challenging behaviours by examining their causes and functions.

• It empowers Liverpool parents to collaborate with school staff and behavioural specialists to address their child’s unique needs effectively.

• FBAs utilise direct observation, data collection, and analysis to identify behavioural triggers, consequences, and reinforcements shaping a child’s behaviour.

• Educational psychologists, behaviour specialists, and parents play integral roles in creating practical intervention strategies and Behaviour Intervention Plans (BIPs).

• Liverpool parents are guided through the step-by-step assessment process, including strategies for supporting their children during and after the FBA.

• The blog answers common queries surrounding FBAs, their role in NDIS child assessment, and their application beyond the schooling environment.

What Is a Functional Behaviour Assessment?

A Functional Behaviour Assessment is a structured approach to identifying the triggers, patterns and purposes of behaviour. It involves observing a child in their natural environment, gathering data about what happens before and after behaviours, and determining the function of behaviours such as avoidance, attention-seeking or sensory regulation. This important step helps create a tailored support plan rather than reacting to behaviour without understanding its cause.

By analysing behavioural triggers and identifying the function of the behaviour, an FBA informs the development of personalised support planning. This leads to the creation of a Behaviour Intervention Plan (BIP) tailored to the individual’s needs, promoting long-term success in both educational and home settings.

Why FBAs Are Important in Behaviour Support

Without an FBA, behaviour support is often based on guesswork. When you know the function of a behaviour, you can teach the child new skills, adjust environments, and create consistent responses across home, school and community. For children on an NDIS plan, an FBA provides the evidence foundation for a Behaviour Intervention Plan (BIP) and supports access to funded behaviour supports. When FBAs are done well, children and families benefit from safer, more predictable and meaningful supports.

Common Behaviours Addressed Through FBA

Some of the most common behaviours addressed through a functional behaviour assessment include:

• Non-compliance

• Physical or verbal aggression

• Avoidance of schoolwork

• Disruptive behaviours

Using positive behaviour support strategies, school staff and behaviour specialists design plans that reduce disruptions while reinforcing desired behaviours. These strategies are vital for maintaining consistency across environments.

For more insights on how behaviour therapy is tailored to each child’s needs, see  How Behaviour Support Is Personalised for Every Child Under the NDIS.

Who Conducts an FBA in Liverpool?

In Liverpool, school staff, behaviour specialists with licenses, and educational psychologists work together to do FBAs. These people team up to make sure each child gets what they need during the process.

Behaviour specialists lead the data collection and watch what is happening. School staff help use the plans and ideas in day-to-day life at school. By sharing what they know and do, all these people make sure FBA results turn into real help for the child. This is important because it helps create positive behaviour and makes things better for everyone.

Roles of Educational Psychologists and Behaviour Specialists

Both educational psychologists and behaviour specialists play an important part in FBAs. Let’s look at what they do:

While educational psychologists look at the bigger picture of a student’s growth, behaviour specialists focus on what starts and keeps a behaviour going. They work together to build plans that students can follow. This helps kids do better in school.

How Parents Can Be Involved in the Process

Parents are essential participants in a functional behaviour assessment. Their knowledge of their child’s behaviours at home can reveal important behavioural triggers that might not appear in the classroom.

They support:

• Data collection at home

• Implementing reinforcement strategies consistently

• Working alongside NDIS-approved providers during the NDIS child assessment process

See how behaviour support grows with your child: How Behaviour Support Strategies Evolve as Your Child Grows

How the FBA Process Works at daar Liverpool

At daar, our FBA process includes:

• Collecting detailed information from parents, carers and teachers about challenging behaviours

• Conducting observations and using tools like the “ABC” model (Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence) to detect patterns

• Analysing the data to identify behaviour functions and hypothesising replacement skills

• Collaborating with you, your child’s school and allied health providers to build a BIP that aligns with your child’s NDIS goals

• Monitoring progress and adjusting strategies when behaviours evolve

We deliver this support across Liverpool and surrounding suburbs, and work in clinic, home or community settings depending on what best suits your child.

Supporting Your Child During and After an FBA

Liverpool parents can help by maintaining calm routines, offering reassurance, and reinforcing positive behaviours. After the FBA, consistency in applying the BIP is key. Aligning strategies across school and home settings ensures that your child receives consistent positive behaviour support.

Learn about practitioner roles in assessments: What Does a Behaviour Support Practitioner Do?

Ready to Get Started? Book Your Functional Behaviour Assessment With Us Today

If you’re concerned about your child’s behaviour at home or school, don’t wait to take action. A functional behaviour assessment provides the clarity and direction you need. Whether you’re pursuing an NDIS child assessment or simply want help from a trusted PBS Liverpool provider, our team is ready to support you. Call us now and take the first step toward long-term behavioural success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between an FBA and a behaviour plan?

An FBA identifies why a behaviour happens and gathers data; a behaviour plan uses that data to design how to respond, teach skills and change environments.

When is an FBA required under NDIS?

Functional behaviour assessments (FBAs) are very important for people in NDIS when challenging behaviours lower their quality of life. These assessments use data collection and reinforcement methods. By doing so, they help create the right support plans for each person. This makes sure the help fits well with NDIS benefits for those who are approved.

What happens after the behaviour assessment?

Once the assessment is done, a Behaviour Intervention Plan (BIP) is made. This plan uses ways that help positive behaviours show up more, and it also changes the things that keep trouble actions going. School staff, families, and behaviour specialists work together to use these plans the right way in different places.

Can an FBA help with behaviours outside of school?

Yes, FBAs help with more than just what happens at school. The people who do these tests can work with caregivers. They help support and build good habits not only at school, but also at home and in other places. This makes sure there is a plan to deal with challenging behaviours everywhere, and helps bring what works at school into real, daily life.