Physical Intervention Policy
Our setting is committed to creating a safe, calm, and supportive environment where the welfare of the children is paramount. We use preventative strategies to manage behaviour positively and effectively, however, there may be rare occasions where physical intervention is necessary to ensure the safety of the children in the setting.
This policy outlines the procedures to be followed in the rare case of physical intervention being used by a member of staff towards a child.
Definition:
• Physical intervention is any action taken to manage a difficult or dangerous situation.
• Physical restraint involves using reasonable force to limit a child’s movement against their will.
Physical intervention/restraint will only be used as a last resort. It is never to be used a substitute for good behaviour management. Other methods of managing the situation (such as defusing conflict, non-physical calming, etc) should always be tried first. However, in situations of clear danger or extreme urgency, physical intervention may be necessary. In alignment with Section 93 of the Education and Inspections Act (2006), the use of force should be reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances.
Guidelines for Using Physical Intervention:
• Staff should calmly communicate with the child before resorting to physical intervention, avoiding any impression of anger or frustration.
• The minimum necessary force will be used, appropriate to the incident's severity.
• Other staff presence is required to assist and witness interventions. Lone working is rare, and staff have communication methods for such instances (refer to our Lone Worker Policy). Staff should promptly call for assistance if working alone during an intervention.
• Consideration will be given to the child's age and understanding.
• Restraint will only be used when immediate safety is at risk for the child or others.
• Staff must ensure that physical contact or restraint stops when no longer necessary.
• Certain types of physical contact to “punish a child or cause pain, injury or humiliation” is explicitly forbidden (Educational Act 1996). Examples of this include but are not limited to: Holding child face down to the ground, Any contact/hold that may restrict breathing/airways, Forcing limbs against their joint.
Post-Incident Procedures:
• Managers must be notified immediately after an incident.
• Parents will be informed as soon as possible and given the opportunity to discuss the incident.
• Staff must complete a written record of the incident in the safeguarding file.
Incidents requiring physical intervention can be distressing. After an incident, all staff and children involved will receive emotional support and a chance to discuss their experience in a calm environment.
Risk management
Any child who has required physical intervention or who has challenging behaviour which might make this necessary will have a risk assessment and a behaviour plan specifying situations most likely to trigger difficulty behaviour and any strategies/de-fusing techniques most likely to help, agreed with parents/cares. This will be communicated to all staff who work with the child and be continually reviewed.
Health & Safety
• The child’s health and safety must always be considered first and monitored. Any restraint must be ceased immediately if significant signs of physical distress are seen. i.e., sudden changes in colour, difficulties in breathing, vomiting.
• Staff are not under a duty to run the risk of personal injury by intervening where it is not safe to do so. If the situation is assessed as being too dangerous, staff should remove other children, retire to a safe distance, and call for another member of staff to help.
Guidance and Training for Staff:
All staff will receive training on:
• Behaviour management techniques
• Managing conflict in challenging situations
• Specific physical restraint techniques
Complaints:
We aim to prevent complaints by keeping parents informed and following this policy. However, if parents/carers wish to make a complaint about any physical intervention/restraint used by a member of staff, they will complain to the manager in the first instance. The incident will then be investigated under the relevant disciplinary procedure (See our Complements and Complaints Policy).