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POSITIVE HANDLING
POLICY
Signed V Birchenall
Designation Vannessa Birchenall
Date September 2017
Policy Issue No. 6
Dated Sept 2017
The next date for
review of this policy is Sept 2018
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.
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.
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.”
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)
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
2.0
Our approach to best
practice
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.
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
a YP’s behaviour is seriously prejudicial to good order and discipline, or
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
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.
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
2.4
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.
2.5
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.
3.0
Practice regarding
specific incidents:
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
3.1
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.
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.
3.3
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.
3.4
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
3.5
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.
3.6
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.
3.7
force used will be commensurate with the risk prevented.
4.0
Positive Handling
Examples
of situations where positive handling may be appropriate include:
YP
attacks member of staff or another YP
YPs
are fighting
are engaging in, or on the verge of, committing deliberate damage or vandalism
to property
is causing, or at risk of causing injury or damage by accident, by rough play,
or by misuse of dangerous materials or objects
absconds from the premises (this only
applies if YP could be at risk if not kept on the premises)
5.0
Holds to be avoided
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
a YP by the hair or ear
a YP face down on the ground
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