Residential / Short Break Care Services

DOCUMENT CONTROL
Title / Managing Behaviour of Children & Young People in Residential Services
Authors / Barbara Bolam
Distribution / Residential / Short Break Care Services only
Date of issue / March 2016
Period covered / March 2016 – March 2017
Scheduled review date / February 2017

Behaviour Management Policy

March 2016

Context - This document outlines practice followed in Residential / Short Break Care Services to ensure transparent and supportive working that promotes positive behaviour and reduces the likelihood of harm to children & young people, any member of the children’s workforce or the public visiting the home as a consequence of behaviour. All staff have read this guidance and follow it at all times to protect children & young people, members of the children’s workforce and the public; to support each other and to provide a safe environment for all.

This policy and guidance is specific to and should be used in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) 10 point checklist for offences in Children’s Homes, the National Minimum Standards (2011) & Children’s Homes Regulations including the Quality Standards April 2015, Working Together to Safeguard Children (March 2015).

Legislation - The working practice within Residential / Short Break Care Services is underpinned by the Care Standards Act (2000) National Minimum Standards (2011); Children’s Homes Regulations (2001) as amended in 2011, Children’s Homes Regulations including the Quality Standards April 2015,Working together to safeguard children (March 2015), Care planning regulations (2010).

In managing the workforce or anyone out of or in connection with work practices the Health & Safety at Work Act applies.

Code of Conduct - Residential / Short Break Care Services accepts its responsibilities towards maintaining the health, safety and welfare of all its employees and young people who access its service and places high value on creating a positive working environment and take the view that any form of violence, aggression and abuse towards any employee or child / young person is unacceptable.

Training is provided to staff on managing conflict NAPPI and all staff are qualified to NVQ Level III Children and Young People or equivalent.

Staff, children / young people may exercise their right to involve the Police as an individual if they have been physically assaulted (including sexual assault), or their personal property has been stolen or their personal property has been the target of criminal damage.

This document is divided into two sections:

Section 1. Approved methods of promoting positive behaviour

- Working Professionally in the care and control of children & young people in Residential Services

- Reward incentives

- Specialist support for children & young people

- Risk management

- Management Monitoring

Section 2. Approved methods and responses to unwanted behaviour

- Physical Intervention

- NAPPI

- Using and recording Physical Intervention

- After the Event

- Behaviour responses and outcomes

- Involving the police

Section 1. Approved methods of promoting positive behaviour

Item
- Working Professionally in the care and control of children/young people in Residential Services
- Reward Incentives
- Specialist support for children & young people
- Risk management
- Management Monitoring

Working professionally in the care and control of children / young people in Residential Services

Positive Strategies to Managing Aggressive or Unwanted Behaviour

1) Be aware of the child/young person’s positive behaviour management plan and the guidance it may give on managing challenging behaviour – know what works best for individual children & young people and yourself and be aware of any recent/immediate influences, events, pressures or stresses on the child/young person.

2) Be aware of the presence of other children/young people and their interactions with the young person presenting challenging behaviour – isolate the young person from their peers to protect other young people or to remove the audience and be aware of where other staff are and advise, consult, plan and co-ordinate responses.

3) Be aware that staff presence and being over-supervised can escalate a problem – can the child/young person be given space to calm down.

4) Treat the child/young people with respect, sensitivity and dignity, do not talk down to or patronise them. The behaviour expectations of the children/young people should be made clear using their preferred method of communication about, their responsibilities and rights and what is and is not acceptable behaviour.

5) Communication needs to be based at the child/young person’s level of understanding, using their preferred method of communication. A raised voice may be useful in a few specific instances but generally this will tend to escalate the situation and it does not show that you are in command of yourself or the situation. Try lowering your voice so the child young person has to work to listen, they may also need time to process what is being asked of them.

6) Keep calm and do not be side tracked, do not personalise the conflict.

7) Constantly look for opportunities to defuse/distract, the situation.

8) Be prepared to hand over to other staff members, (change of face) it is not a personal conflict, nor a battle to be won or lost, staff are resources that should be used most appropriately to achieve the desired outcome.

Reward Incentives - Incentives are used as a tool to support children/young people to modify unwanted behaviours and those behaviours that prevent children & young people from developing socially acceptable behaviour. Children & young people are supported wherever reasonably possible to agree aims with their key workers and, the rewards that will be achieved in respect of modifying unwanted behaviour if appropriate.

*See also ‘behaviour responses and outcomes’

Specialist support for young people - Where children & young people feel that they would benefit from the support of specialist internal/external agencies a Care Team meeting would be held to discuss and identify appropriate services that could provide this support.

Risk management – Personalised risk assessments are agreed in consultation with staff from the home, Parent/Carer’s and identified social workers to outline what the specific risks are and what the agreed response should be in order to promote the safety of both children & young people and employees in Residential Services. Where risk increases consideration should be given to raising concerns with the Senior Management Team of the Foundation.

Management monitoring – Monthly monitoring takes place of all Incident Logs, Positive Physical Interventions, and Injuries sustained following Positive Physical Intervention, Violent Incidents towards staff/child, Accident Treatment Log and Body charts. The data collected could identify any possible patterns/trends.

Section 2. Approved Methods and Responses to Unwanted Behaviour

Item
Physical Intervention
NAPPI
Using and recording Physical Intervention
After the Event
Behaviour responses and outcomes
Calling the Police

Physical Intervention

It is sometimes necessary to intervene physically if a child/young person is in danger of hurting themselves or others, or of seriously damaging property. Positive Physical Intervention will only be used when all other efforts to avert or diffuse a situation have failed. The proper use of physical restraint requires skill and judgement as well as knowledge of non-harmful methods of intervention which can be applied in ways which protect the child/young person from harm but do not in themselves result in harm.

NAPPI - Only staff trained in NAPPI should use physical intervention and must follow the procedures outlined here for applying and recording the use of intervention. Furthermore staff will only engage in positive physical intervention when there is no risk of harm to themselves or others. Restraint may only be used where all other intervention techniques have failed to avert acute physical behaviour, which may inflict physical injury or significant damage to possessions or the building. Restraint should only ever be used with the best interests of the child/young person in mind, in exceptional circumstances and when it is the only practicable means of securing the welfare of that child, another child or employee within Residential / Short Break Care Services. All staff including those who work on a sessional basis are trained in the use of NAPPI techniques.

Using & Recording Physical Intervention

All staff must be familiar with each child/young person’s Positive Behaviour Management Plan and Personalised Risk Assessments that are in place. These reference documents highlight the child/young person’s, negative behaviours, triggers and responses to be used e.g. quiet time.

Staff dealing with situations which pose a threat to safety should:-

  • Try other distraction techniques as per Positive Behaviour Management Plan
  • If possible, ensure other staff support / presence
  • Carry out a dynamic risk assessment of the situation and the safety of using Positive Physical Intervention
  • Encourage other children / young people to move away
  • Stay calm
  • Release the hold as soon as possible
  • Talk to the child/young person
  • Never use intervention for coercion or to force children/young people to comply with staff instructions

Recording Positive Physical Intervention

  • Factual electronic recording should be made as soon as possible after the event.
  • Within 24 hours, the Life Space Interview should be completed.
  • Allow the child/young person the opportunity to give their version of events using their preferred method of communication.
  • Records must be signed by staff, Deputy Manager or Manager
  • Complete Incident Log if necessary and cross reference to all other documents e.g. violence to staff.
  • Update Service Care Plan if appropriate
  • Inform social worker and all other relevant people.

After the Event

While Positive Physical Intervention must be recorded and reported, it must also serve as a trigger for staff to consider why a child/young person is requiring restraint, particularly if the need for Positive Physical Intervention increases as it may be indicative of an underlying problem which the child / young person is facing. Following any use of Positive Physical Intervention, the team should:-

  • Review occurrences to identify any patterns or trends,
  • Ensure that both staff and children/young people have the opportunity to discuss the events.
  • A de brief session will take place with staff members
  • Staff and children/young people have the right to access Residential Services Complaints Procedures
  • The Manager / NAPPI Instructors will decide whether there are organisational needs to be addressed e.g. training.

Behaviour responses and outcomes (sanctions / loss of privileges)

Within Residential / Short Break Care Services we try to use a range of responses to negative and unwanted behaviours and promote positive behaviours.

This would be done by having a discussion with the child/young person as soon after the incident as possible. Any decision around withdrawal of privileges will be agreed and supported by the young persons care team, for a specific time and must be reflective of the seriousness of the incident.

Monetary sanctions may also be considered, if appropriate, where restorative practice has not been possible or the child/young person refuses to acknowledge any responsibility for their actions and behaviours. Any sanction must always be discussed with a member of the management team and the child/young person using their preferred method of communication.

All children & young people are aware of the range of responses to negative and unwanted behaviour

Calling the police - Part of the home’s duty of care is to prevent children / young people from being criminalised. However this does not override the right of any person, staff or young person to involve the police if they feel that they have suffered harm and that a crime has been committed against them.

The involvement of the police, during or after an incident must only occur after serious consideration of the incident and whenever possible after discussion with a member of the management team.

Factors to be taken into consideration when a decision to call the police is being made:

a) the child/young person’s history and the direct antecedents

b) the severity of the anger, aggression and violence that the child/young person is presenting

c) the degree of injury and/or damage caused by the child/young person

d) the seriousness of the threats being made by the child/young person

e) whether the child/young person is under the influence of behaviour modifying substances

f) the ability of the staff to manage the situation safely without the child/young person or staff being injured

g) Whether other children & young people or the general public are under threat and need protecting.

Ref: Crown Prosecution Services 10 Point Checklist

  1. Disciplinary policy of the children’s home
  1. Why have the police been involved and is it agreed in the policy? There should be an explanation from the home regarding their decision to involve the police which should refer to the procedures and guidance on police involvement
  1. Any informal action / disciplinary action already taken?
  1. Any apology / reparation?
  1. Victim’s views?
  1. Social workers views? The views of the key worker, social worker and the effect of the criminal justice intervention on the youth, particularly where the youth suffers from an illness or disorder.
  1. Care plan for looked after child? If the looked after child wishes it to be considered, information about the local authorities assessment of his / her needs and how the placement provided by the home is intended to address them. The local authority should be able to provide this information as it is an integral part of the care plan for the looked after child.
  1. Recent behaviour / incidents re the looked after child? Information from the home about the recent behaviour of the youth, including similar incidents and any incidents in the youths life that could have affected their behaviour, any history between the youth and the victim, history of the incident and any action under the disciplinary policy of the home.
  1. Information about the incident from the looked after child (interview or other)?
  1. Aggravating and mitigating factors

Selected relevant documents

Newcastle LSCB Policies and Procedures

National Minimum Standards for Children’s Homes (NMS, 2011)

Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 (Amended, 2011)

Working Together to Safeguard Children ( 2015)

Children’s Homes Regulations including the Quality Standards (2015)

The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report (2011)

Crown Prosecution Service 10 point checklist for offences in Children’s Homes

Care planning regulations (2010)

Health and Safety at Work Act 197

1

1