CL3. Therapy Plan Policy

Collaborative goals, structured pathways
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Policy Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure therapy planning across Trust Children and ReadyStepGrow is consistent, family-centred, evidence-based, and aligned with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for funding requirements.

Policy Statement

All therapy plans must be developed progressively across the first three intake sessions, using the approved template and aligned with the ICF. Each plan includes both a clinical (ICF-coded) and a family-friendly (plain language) version. Therapy notes must link directly to therapy plan goals to ensure consistency, accountability, and meaningful progress tracking.

Policy Details

Therapy Plan Development

The intake process provides the foundation for all therapy planning. Across the initial sessions, clinicians gather family priorities, assessment information, and shared goals. This front-loading ensures that therapy plans are thorough, evidence-based, and family-centred.

Therapy plans are then used to:

• Link session notes directly to agreed goals.
• Guide clear and collaborative communication with families.
• Streamline professional documentation (e.g., reports, reviews, NDIS evidence).

All therapy goals must be explicitly mapped to the child’s NDIS plan goals. This ensures that short-term, ICF-linked functional goals act as stepping stones toward broader NDIS outcomes, strengthening clinical justification and demonstrating purposeful, capacity-building therapy.

Detailed guidance for implementation is provided in the [CL2.1 – Therapy Plan Process] and [CL2.2 – Therapy Plan Workflow (Clinician Guide)]. These supporting documents must be used in conjunction with this policy.

For detailed requirements on the safe and approved use of AI in documentation and communication, refer to the [Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy] listed under Related Policies.

Linking Plans and Session Notes

• Clinicians must document progress, barriers, and strategies in relation to plan goals, ensuring notes remain connected and purposeful.
• Explicit links between therapy goals and NDIS plan goals must be maintained throughout therapy, so that reviews and reports clearly demonstrate progress toward broader NDIS outcomes.
• The ICF framework provides consistency, with impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and contextual factors tracked over time.
• Reporting is streamlined — professional communication and summaries are drawn directly from therapy notes, reducing duplication and supporting accurate, funder-ready reporting.

Accountability

• Clinicians are accountable for developing therapy plans in line with ICF, professional standards, △△D policies, and funder requirements.
• All staff involved in therapy delivery are accountable for linking session notes to therapy plan goals and ensuring the plan remains a living, goal-directed document.
• Supervisors are accountable for monitoring that therapy notes, reviews, and reports are consistent with the therapy plan.
• Accountability is shared across the team — through supervision, reflection, and collaboration we ensure that therapy planning supports continuity of care, family priorities, and funder reporting requirements.

How to Raise a Concern

If staff identify issues with therapy planning (e.g., templates not used, plans missing family-friendly versions, session notes not linked to goals, or goal mapping not evident), they must:

1. Raise the concern with the clinician responsible for the plan, where appropriate.
2. If unresolved, escalate to their supervisor or the Clinical Director.
3. Document the concern in service records if relevant, using objective and minimal information.
4. Use supervision or team meetings to reflect on and resolve planning issues.
5. Where concerns impact child safety, escalate immediately under the Child Safety Policy.

Related Policies and How They Connect

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy – sets boundaries and approved uses of AI in drafting and consolidating therapy documentation.
• Child Safety Policy – ensures therapy planning incorporates safety and wellbeing.
• Clinical Documentation Policy – clarifies how therapy plans link to session notes and reporting.
• Communication Standards Policy – ensures planning discussions are collaborative and family-centred.
• Confidentiality & Consent Policy – ensures plans reflect informed consent and child assent.
• Guiding Practice Principles – anchors therapy planning in ICF, family-centred, and strengths-based practice.
• Roles & Responsibilities Policy – defines responsibilities for plan creation (clinicians) and delegated implementation (therapy assistants).
• Supervision & Performance Policy – supervision includes review of therapy plans and alignment with practice principles.
• Governance & Quality Policy – outlines how therapy planning processes are monitored, reviewed, and continuously improved.

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Document Control: v1.1 · Created: Aug 2025 · Updated: Sep 2025 (removed workflow detail; reframed intake process as foundation; added references to 7.1 & 7.2; added AI cross-reference) · Review: Annual (Jan 2026) · Owner: △△D Pty Ltd

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