Minimising Restrictive Practices Clinical Guideline
Version 1.1 approved 17 March 2025
The Minimising Restrictive Practices Clinical Guideline (PDF 404KB) supports SA Health services to act on the mandatory requirements outlined within the Minimising Restrictive Practices Policy (PDF 555KB). It aims to facilitate minimising, or eliminating where possible, the use of restrictive practices to ensure patients are provided with the highest quality of care in accordance with their human rights and decision-making capacity.
Out of scope
This clinical guideline does not apply to:
- Any patient placed under a legal authority under the Mental Health Act 2009 (SA) for treatment, this includes inpatient treatment order, community treatment order or care and control. Refer to Minimising Restrictive Practices Policy (PDF 240KB)
- People who are not patients or consumers receiving treatment of the health service. Refer to Fact Sheet - Preventing and Responding to Challenging Behaviour by a person who is not a current consumer/patient (PDF 66KB)
- Registered residential aged care facilities, and residential aged care beds within multi-purpose sites Refer to Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Restrictive Practices for Providers website
- Registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) service providers, following restrictive practices processes for NDIS participants. Refer to NDIS Commission Understanding Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices – for providers
- Where conflict exists with another statutory requirement under the Road Traffic Act (SA), Australian Road Rules (PDF 11.5MB) (Sect 265 & 266) and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998
- A patient who is under arrest or a prisoner of SA Police or Department for Correctional Services where statutory requirements exist, and obligation to public safety and maintaining custody override medical need. For more information refer to Prisoners - Care and Treatment in SA health Services Policy (PDF 383KB)
Further information
See Restrictive practices in health care for further information including tools to help you.