POLICY

Signed

bold">

mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">V Birchenall  

Designation

bold"> Vannessa Birchenall  

Date

bold"> September 2017  

Policy Issue No. 6

Dated Sept 2017

The next date for

review of this policy is Sept 2018

Arial"> 1.0            

Respect4us

recognises that there is a need, reflected in common law, to intervene when

there is an obvious risk to safety to its pupils, staff and property.

Arial"> 1.1            

We

are committed to ensuring that all staff and adults with responsibility for

children’s safety and welfare will deal professionally with all incidents

involving aggressive or reckless behaviour, and only use positive handling as a last resort in line with best

practice.  If used at all, it will be in

the context of a respectful, supportive relationship with the YP.  We will always aim to ensure minimal risk of

injury to YP and staff.

Arial"> 1.2            

This

policy must be read and implemented in conjunction with the company’s behaviour

policy and approach to behaviour management.

1.3            

Section

93 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 “enables school staff to use force

as is reasonable in the circumstances to prevent a pupil from doing or

continuing to do any of the following:

(a)

committing any offence (or, for a YP under the age of criminal responsibility,

what would be an offence for an older YP):

(b)

causing personal injury to, or damage to the property of, any person (including

the YP

himself),

or

(c)

prejudicing the maintenance of good order and discipline or among any YP

receiving alternative education at Respect4us, whether during an outdoor session

or otherwise.”

We

are not contractually obliged to carry out restraint procedures and are not

contractually obliged to undertake training in any restraint procedures.  This policy applies to all staff who are

authorised to use positive handling (see Section 7)

Arial"> 1.4            

All

staff authorised to positively handle children and young people must be aware

that they must not:

·         

use

corporal punishment

·         

Use

pain to gain compliance

·         

Deprive

the person of food or drink

·         

Humiliate/degrade

the child or young person

Arial"> 2.0          

Our approach to best

practice

Arial"> 2.0          

The

best practice regarding positive handling outlined below should be considered

alongside other relevant policies, specifically those policies involving

behaviour, bullying, child protection and health and safety.

Arial"> 2.1          

In

line with Education and Inspections Act 2006 in the following situations, staff

must judge whether or not positive handling would be reasonable or appropriate:

·         

Risk

to the safety of staff, YP or visitors, or

·         

Where

there is a risk of serious damage to property, or

·         

Where

a YP’s behaviour is seriously prejudicial to good order and discipline, or

·         

Where

a YP is committing a criminal offence

This judgement will

take into account the circumstances of the incident.  All staff should be aware that the use of

positive handling in response to a clear or developing danger of injury will

always be used to manage behaviour positively to prevent a deterioration of the

situation

Arial"> 2.2            

Staff

will view positive handling of YP as a last

resort for the purposes of maintaining a safe environment.  If YPs are behaving disruptively or

anti-socially, every strategy will be used to manage behaviour positively to

prevent a deterioration of the situation.

Arial"> 2.3            

If

effective, incidents of physical handling of a YP should decrease in severity

and frequency. Regular monitoring of incidents will be carried out to check the

effectiveness of any such handling within the team/by Directors. Where the

frequency or severity of incidents is not reducing, the positive handling

plan for the pupil will be reviewed

Arial"> 2.4            

Staff

will understand the importance of listening to and respecting children to

create an environment that is calm and supportive, especially when dealing with

YP who may have emotional and behavioural needs, which may increase their

aggression.

Arial"> 2.5            

All

staff will understand the importance of responding to the feelings of the

child, which lie beneath the behaviour as well as to the behaviour itself.

Arial"> 3.0            

Practice regarding

specific incidents:

Arial"> 3.0            

All

policies and practice regarding the supervision of YP during the school day

will be appropriate to the identified needs and behaviours of the pupils, this

combined with the Respect4us approach to behaviour should minimise the

likelihood of requiring positive handling to an absolute minimum

3.2         The physical action taken will take

into consideration the age and competence of           

              the child and will be the least

detrimental alternative

Arial"> 3.1            

Staff

intervening with children will seek assistance from other members of staff as

early as possible, since single-handed intervention increases the risk of

injury to both parties and does not provide a witness.

Arial"> 3.2            

A

member of staff recognising that a situation is escalating to a point demanding

positive handling yet feeling unable to carry this out must, as part of their

duty of care, clearly tell the YP(s) to stop the behaviour and seek help by any

means available.

Arial"> 3.3            

Staff

who become aware that another member of staff is intervening physically with a

YP will have a responsibility to provide a presence and to offer support and

assistance should this be required.

Arial"> 3.4            

Where

possible, staff who have not been involved in the initial confrontation leading

up to an incident may be in a better position to intervene or restrain the YP

if this proves necessary

Arial"> 3.5            

A

YP’s behaviour may be adversely affected by the presence of an audience.  Wherever possible, the audience will be

removed, or if this is not possible, the YP and member(s) of staff will

withdraw to a quiet but not completely private, place (eg two members of staff

should be present or a door left open so that others are aware of the

situation.

Arial"> 3.6            

Staff

will be aware of the need to tell the pupil being restrained, in a calm and

gentle manner, that the reason for the intervention is to keep the YP and

others safe.  Staff will explain that as

soon as the pupil calms down, she/he will be released.

Arial"> 3.7            

The

force used will be commensurate with the risk prevented.

Arial"> 4.0            

Positive Handling

Arial"> 4.0            

Examples

of situations where positive handling may be appropriate include:

·         

YP

attacks member of staff or another YP

·         

YPs

are fighting

·         

YPs

are engaging in, or on the verge of, committing deliberate damage or vandalism

to property

·         

YP

is causing, or at risk of causing injury or damage by accident, by rough play,

or by misuse of dangerous materials or objects

·         

YP

absconds from the premises (this only

applies if YP could be at risk if not kept on the premises)

Arial"> 5.0            

Holds to be avoided

Arial"> 5.0            

The

following holds should not be used:

·         

Holding

a YP around the neck, or by the collar, or in any other way that might restrict

a YP’s ability to breathe

·         

Slapping,

punching or kicking a YP

·         

Twisting

or forcing limbs against a joint

·         

Tripping

a YP

·         

Holding

a YP by the hair or ear

·         

Holding

a YP face down on the ground