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Page 1 of 3 CONTROL, DISCIPLINE AND RESTRAINT POLICY One of the basic needs of children is that of security, and security comes in childhood years from the knowledge that the adults around them are dependable, confident people who can control difficult situations and who are able to set boundaries. Foster carers must be clear as to what they are and be consistent about the limits set for children and young people in their care. If carers are confident and clear about their role, then the children and young people will feel more secure and therefore be less likely to go on testing out limits. Control is most effectively maintained not by the use of negative methods like the administration of punishment, but by the personality and confidence of the carer and the quality of relationships that exist between the carer and child. If the relationship is good, then the child will be less likely to risk incurring the displeasure or disapproval of the carer. Carers, fortunately, are not saints and children can arouse feelings of anger in them. It is appropriate at times to let children experience this anger and to let them know why the carer is feeling this way. Carers should however, as adults, be able to look at their emotional responses to children and work out why they react in this way. Fostering Relations forbid the use of physical chastisement. Carers have to devise other methods of coping with children’s challenging behaviour. Quite clearly, children and young people have to know what is acceptable and what is not, and this means reasoning with them with a view to enabling them to see the effect their bchallengingbehaviour has on other people. It is not always possible or indeed desirable to discuss the matter if the child is angry, resentful or uptight, but an early opportunity should be sought to do so when they are in a more receptive frame of mind. Children and young people can be physically and/ or verbally abusive towards foster carers. This is one of the occupational hazards of the job and it is important that it is handled professionally. It may be necessary on occasion, for carers to physically hold a child. This should only be done to protect them from injuring themselves or others. Methods used to restrain children should not involve hurting them or indeed hurting the carer holding them. Our ethos is built on a belief of positive reinforcement and physical intervention is not acceptable except where the child is in danger or a danger to others. In the main, de escalation should be the main aim. (Please see guidelines on restraint later in this policy). Carers have to remain calm and objective in the face of personal attack and try not to take it too personally. Young people in care often bear a lot of resentment towards parents or others who have let them down. If these adults are not accessible then they tend to ventilate their angry feelings on those closest to them, i.e. carers. It is not easy to turn the other cheek in the face of a personal attack, but to react in the same way as the child only serves to reinforce his/ her aggressive way of dealing with his problems. Carers have to try to modify ways of handling anger. s:\policies and procedures\general policies and procedures\control discipline and restraint policy.docx Page 2 of 3 In the event that there is an incident, it must be fully recorded in your log book contemporaneously and made aware to your supervising social worker or on call social worker as soon as possible, preferably the same day. If the incident is serious please refer to the Agency’s “critical Incident Reporting Policy”. Unacceptable behaviour has to be checked and the young person has to know that the carer finds it unacceptable. It is essential however, to condemn the behaviour without rejecting the person displaying it. This is important as the child has to feel valued as a person. While at the same time made aware that his behaviour is unacceptable to those around him/ her. Sanctions may have to be used on occasion. Sanctions are mostly restricted to withdrawal of privileges. It is necessary to ensure that their use is appropriate and commensurate. In general, it is more effective to reward good behaviour than punish the bad. Carers should be on the alert for the positive things the child does and ensure this is adequately rewarded e.g. by praise, extra outing etc Children and young people must never be deprived of food as a punishment. Pocket money can be docked to pay for deliberate damage to property – e.g. broken windows – but caution should be exercised in the use of this sanction for other reasons. Some difficult situations can be avoided if carers are alert enough to notice that a child or young person is heading for a confrontation. This is where diversion tactics can be employed. Find something else for the child or young person to do or give them the extra attention they may need. Carers can all expect to receive mandatory training in de-escalation and dealing with conflict. Anger Management training is also available. A final note: People are not infallible and carers sometimes do things which afterwards prove to be in error. In these situations, they should not be afraid to admit to children that they were wrong. Being honest with children can help them to be honest with adults. Apologising to children for mistakes made is an acknowledgement that children have feelings too which can be hurt. If adults really value children as people, then they will repair the damage done and help put the child back together again. GUIDELINES FOR CARERS AND STAFF ON DEALING WITH RESTRAINT AND DISCIPLINE GENERALLY RESTRAINT It is the policy of Fostering Relations to use any form of physical restraint as a last resort measure in situations where a child or young person’s actions are placing them or other people in danger. Measures of control must be proportionate to the age of the child, consistent with safe care practices and with respect to the young person’s basic human rights. Every effort should be made to use non-physical interventions and only revert to restraint when all other measures fail. Restraint is the term commonly used for holding or confining a young person to effectively deal with behaviours described above. The Regulations clarify that only minimum physical action will be taken when all other methods of deescalation fails. All Fostering Relations staff and carers receive training on de-escalation and dealing with conflict. Attendances at these courses are a mandatory requirement of carers continuing approval. Any holding or restraining must not be unduly heavy handed. Nor should it be seen to deliberately humiliate or belittle the young person as this is likely to exacerbate the problem. Your task is to restore control and keep everyone safe in a sensitive and child friendly way. s:\policies and procedures\general policies and procedures\control discipline and restraint policy.docx Page 3 of 3 If you have to restrain or hold a young person do so only for as long as is absolutely necessary. Where possible, hold the child in such a way as to promote safety and communication, stay calm and talk to the child in a calm manner all the time explaining that your restraint will be released when they calm down It is important for carers to note restraint events in the log book and notify the placing social worker and supervising social worker the same day. Should an incident be considered serious enough to call the Police then this should be considered a “critical incident” and the Critical Incident Reporting Policy needs to be involved. Your Fostering Relations social worker will help you in this report. This policy/guideline does not exclude the use of physical control of very young children with little sense of danger to themselves or others. It does however offer guidelines on how to restrain children or young people who may be for example self harming, violent or causing serious destruction. GUIDELINES ON ACCEPTABLE SANCTIONS In training, carers will be helped to develop a good sense of realistic expectations about acceptable behaviour and the consequences for looked after children if their behaviour is clearly unacceptable. Children will make a clearer connection between actions and consequences if the sanction is applied as soon to the event as possible. The use of any of the sanctions listed below should be fully discussed with your supervising social worker. Fostering Relations accepts the following range of sanctions: Temporary withdrawal of treats and privileges e.g. not allowed to see favourite T.V. programme, play-station, comic, cooking up a meal etc. Pay back from pocket money for damage caused. Ask the child/young person to apologise and to reflect on the consequences for them and everyone else. Reparation by doing extra chores. Early bed time (but only up to ½ hour early). Ask the young person to take time out from association with others in the household (no longer than 15 minutes). Grounding – ensuring this is proportionate to the issue. Changes or reduction of planned activities, e.g. delay a trip to the park, spend less time at the shops or sports activity. Signed…………………………………………………………………….Registered Manager Date: February 2017 Review Date: February 2018 s:\policies and procedures\general policies and procedures\control discipline and restraint policy.docx