Hillcrest Children s Services Jubilee Schl Psitive Handling Plicy Lcal Prcedure Owner: Tim Rgers Issue date: September 2016 Review date: September 2017 Linked with lcal prcedures: Anti Bullying Behaviur
Psitive Handling Lcal Prcedure This lcal prcedure prvides a framewrk fr the use f psitive handling within Hillcrest Jubilee Schl and takes int accunt infrmatin prvided in Circular 10/98 (Sectin 550A f the Educatin Act 1996) as well as The Children s Act 1989 Guidance and Regulatins vlume 4 paragraph 1.82-1.91 and 8.10 (HMSO 1991) and in the Guidance n Permissible Frms f Cntrl in Children s Residential Care (Department f Health, April 1993.) The schl has trained tutrs in the STTRIIDE methd; aims and guidelines central t this apprach are incrprated within the plicy. Central t this plicy is the understanding that any Physical Interventin used by staff must be in accrd with the idea f Reasnable Frce and used nly as a last resrt nce all ther strategies have been exhausted. There is n legal definitin f reasnable frce. The use f frce can nly be regarded as reasnable if the circumstances f the particular incident warrant it and the degree f frce emplyed is prprtinate t the level f challenging behaviur presented r the cnsequences it is intended t prevent. It is essential that any discussin f physical interventin is set in the wider cntext f educatin and behaviur management; it shuld nt be seen as an islated technique. 95% f the time there will be n need fr physical interventin and ther methds can be used. The Legal Cntext The dcument which cncerns us mst is Sectin 550A f the Educatin Act 1996. This led t circular 10/98 which sets ut guidelines fr the use f reasnable frce. The Natinal guidelines are cntained in The Children s Act 1989 Guidance and Regulatins vlume 4 paragraph 1.82-1.91 and 8.10 (HMSO 1991) and in the Guidance n Permissible Frms f Cntrl in Children s Residential Care (Department f Health, April 1993.) A calm cnsidered apprach t the situatin is needed. When circumstances justify, staff can: Physically interpse between yung peple. Use hlding, pushing and guiding. Lead a pupil by the arm. Shepherd a yung persn away by placing a hand in the centre f the back. (In extreme circumstances) use mre restrictive hlds. Any necessary actin with cncept f reasnable frce. Types f incident where the use f reasnable frce may be necessary fall int 4 brad categries: Actin due t risk f injury t the yung persn. Actin due t risk f injury t ther yung peple r staff. Actin due t significant damage t prperty. Actin where behaviur is prejudicial t gd rder and discipline in a schl cntext. Examples f 1, 2 and 3: A pupil attacks a member f staff r anther pupil. A pupil is engaged in r n the verge f starting t damage prperty. A pupil is running up and dwn a crridr in a way that culd cause injury. Examples f 4: A pupil persistently refuses t leave the rm.
A pupil is behaving in a way that is seriusly disrupting the lessn. Accepted physical interventins used: Listed belw are the accepted STTIDDE strategies which have been taught t staff. A range f persnal safety respnses t deal with: Wrist and hair grabs Neck hlds Bear hugs and Bites Punches and kicks A range f guides, escrts and restraints ranging frm least intrusive t mst intrusive These prvide a graded and gradual respnse aimed at intervening with the apprpriate amunt f reasnable frce. Restraints where 2 peple are used will be deemed as a mre restrictive hld. As the amunt f restrictin/ number f peple increases s des the risk; staff need t make a risk assessment based n the situatin as t the level at which they are ging t intervene. 1 Persn Standing/ Walking Side Embrace Adapted embrace Side hug Phase 1 supprt 2 Persn Standing/ Walking Duble embrace Cupped hands Scp 1 Persn t Chairs Adapted embrace Side hug 2 Persn t Chairs r flr Seated cupped hands Side hug with leg supprt Grund recvery hlds are the mst restrictive and carry the highest risk. Staff are nt taught flr hlds, hwever can be taught if the need is evidenced n a case by case basis. Exceptins may be if the child is already n the flr when a physical interventin has begun, r circumstances are f such high risk that a grund strategy is perceived and dcumented as being the apprpriate strategy t emply. Training n physical interventin given t staff will include sectins n the backgrund, thery and ratinale behind the STTRIIDE apprach as well as an understanding f persnal space and bdy language befre any Physical Techniques are taught. Any physical interventins used will need t take accunt f age, cultural backgrund, gender, stature and medical histry f the yung persn invlved. Placing Physical Interventin in Cntext Physical interventin is never seen in islatin at Hillcrest Jubilee Schl. It is but ne strategy available t staff and shuld always be seen as a last resrt when all ther strategies have failed. Physical interventins can be placed in 2 brad categries:
Emergency Interventins Emergency interventins will invlve staff emplying, where necessary, ne, r a cmbinatin f, the strategies mentined in the previus sectin in respnse t an incident. This will ccur when all ther strategies have been exhausted r the incident requires a rapid physical respnse (fr example a yung persn running nt a rad.) Planned Interventins Planned interventins will invlve staff emplying, where necessary, ne r a cmbinatin f the strategies mentined in the previus sectin as an agreed respnse t an identified behaviur. This will be dcumented in a Psitive Handling Plan and will be reviewed within annual reviews. Permissin f parents/ guardians and placing authrities will be sught befre initiating this as an accepted respnse. The psitive handling plan will list the accepted strategies t be used as well as strategies that may be used befre hand. A risk assessment will als be cmpleted identifying the risks invlved in the prcedure as well as the risks invlved if a planned physical interventin is nt used. Physical interventin shuld be seen in an envirnmental cntext. If an apprpriate curriculum is in place and there is and emphasis n a ttal cmmunicatin envirnment then the necessity fr physical interventins will be reduced. The diagram verleaf prvides a mdel f Behaviur Management aimed at reducing the need fr Physical Interventin. The emphasis is placed n strng fundatins, fllwed by planning and then prvides sme tls that can be used in the event f difficulties. Tls r strategies used can be divided int thse that are preventative and thse that are reactive. Preventative strategies need t be: Clear and understd by all thse wh cme int cntact with the individual. Based n thughts/discussin abut pssible reasns fr challenging behaviur. Where pssible the functinal ppsite f the behaviur (functinally incmpatible) we are trying t stp. E.g. As simple as if a pupil is cnstantly hitting smene then we need t aim fr them t be in their seat (if they are in their seat they can t be hitting smene.) Reactive strategies need t be: Clear and understd by al thse wh cme int cntact with the individual. Manageable. Fcussed n the behaviur, nt the child. Flexible. Aimed at de-escalatin. Risk Assessment In the case f emergency interventins, staff will make a risk assessment at the time, cmparing the risks assciated with interventin against the risks f nt intervening. In the case f planned interventins, staff invlved with the yung persn will meet with the member f staff respnsible fr physical interventin - currently the Head teacher. A Risk assessment frm will be filled ut prir t a psitive handling plan.
Reprting and Mnitring f Incidents Reprting and mnitring is f paramunt imprtance fr a number f reasns: Prtectin f staff and pupils Keeps a recrd f number f incidents s times/areas that mst incidents ccur can be tracked Recrding and reprting at Hillcrest Jubilee Schl can be split int categries: Pre incident Pst incident Descriptin f incident Methd f psitive interventin Outcme f psitive interventin Life space interviews cmpleted List checked by the Head teacher Training and Authrisatin f Staff All staff wh have satisfactrily cmpleted STTRIIDE training are authrised t use Physical Interventin. A list f staff wh have cmpleted this training is held by the Hillcrest s Learning Administratr. Once staff have received their full training, tp up training will take place annually.