The Challenging Behaviour Foundation launches new resources about children’s experience of restraint
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) has today launched a number of new resources on the Paving the Way website around the issue of children with learning disabilities being restrained: www.pavingtheway.works/whats-new/restrictive-interventions
The first of these resources is a powerful video, ‘Why do they hurt?’ – a 5 minute film about a young boy, Calum, who experienced prone (face-down) restraint at school.
Accompanying the video is a family story by Calum’s mother, Beth. The story describes Calum’s experiences in more detail, and also describes the campaigning work Beth was inspired to undertake in Scotland as a result.
Whilst guidance about the use of restrictive physical interventions with adults exists, there is currently no equivalent guidance in England and Wales for children. The Department of Health promised equivalent guidance earlier this year, but this guidance has been significantly delayed and the eventual publication date is still unknown. The CBF issued an interim statement in January, which aims to clarify the current position. This statement is available to download here: www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/learning-disability-assets/statementonrestrictivephysicalinterventionswithchildren.pdf
The final new resource on the Paving the Way website is a blog post from a family carer, Kate, describing the experiences of her daughter, Laura, and arguing for the importance of effective guidelines and training for those supporting children with learning disabilities.
Kate, Laura’s mother, said
Effective guidelines have to be written not just by policy makers, but those who have expertise in this area. National guidance will stop local authorities developing their own ad hoc policies in responding to “behaviours that challenge” which often result in injuries to the child and low staff morale.
We need careful monitoring and accountability when any form of restraint or seclusion is used.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
About The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) is an independent charity providing information, support and workshops around challenging behaviour associated with severe learning disabilities to families and professionals. The CBF leads the ‘Challenging Behaviour National Strategy Group’ which seeks to influence policy and practice nationally and has developed the Challenging Behaviour Charter.
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation was founded in 1997 by Vivien Cooper, parent of a son with severe learning disabilities who displays behaviour described as challenging. Today the Challenging Behaviour Foundation is in regular contact with over 5000 families and professionals across the UK. There are an estimated 30,000 individuals in England with severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging.