STANDARD 3 - Promoting positive behaviour and relationships

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3.1

The home has high expectations of all children and staff.

3.2

There is an environment and culture, to promote models and support positive behaviour that all staff understand and implement.

3.3

The home has a clear written policy on managing behaviour, which includes supporting positive behaviour, de-escalation of conflicts, discipline, control and restraint, that all staff understand and apply at all times.

3.4

All staff understand, share and implement the home’s ethos, philosophy and approach to caring for children.

3.5

Children develop and practice skills to build and maintain positive relationships, be assertive and resolve conflicts positively.

3.6

Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour, in a way that is appropriate to their age and abilities.

3.7

Each home meets children’s emotional and behavioural needs, as set out in their care plan. Children’s privacy and confidentiality are appropriately protected.

3.8

Sanctions and rewards for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair and are understood by all staff and children;

3.9

Staff understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the emotions and behaviours presented by children and understand how past experiences and present emotions are communicated through behaviour.

3.10

Staff are supported to manage their responses and feelings arising from working with children, particularly where children display challenging behaviour or have difficult emotional issues. Staff are supported to understand how children’s previous experiences can manifest in challenging behaviour;

3.11

Children do not identify bullying as a problem at the home. Staff and children understand bullying is unacceptable. Staff working in the home understand their role in helping to prevent and counter bullying by any adult or child living or working in the home;

3.12

Staff in the home are trained to recognise and deal with any indications or incidents of bullying, to act proactively and intervene positively, engaging with those who bully as well as those who are bullied.

3.13

Methods to de-escalate confrontations or potentially violent behaviour are used wherever appropriate to avoid the use of physical restraint. Restraint is only used in exceptional circumstances, to prevent injury to any person (including the child who is being restrained) or to prevent serious damage to the property of any person (including the child who is being restrained) In a secure children’s home a child may be restrained for the purposes of preventing the child from absconding.

3.14

Restraint is not used as a punishment, nor to force compliance with instructions where significant harm or serious damage to property are not otherwise likely. Use of restraint is set out in the home’s behaviour management policy and is in line with any relevant government guidance on restraint and approve approaches to the application of physical intervention and restraint.

3.15

Where children’s homes use restraint, staff are trained in the use of physical restraint techniques and only use the home’s agreed techniques. Training is regularly refreshed.

3.16

Where there has been physical restraint, children’s homes must be able to call on medical assistance as required and children are always given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner.

3.17

All children and staff are given an opportunity to discuss incidents of restraint they have been involved in, witnessed or been affected by, with a relevant adult.

3.18

Where any sanctions, disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home.

3.19

No children’s home restricts the liberty of any child as a matter of routine or provides any form of secure accommodation unless that home is an approved secure children’s home.

3.20

Each home only carries out searches of a child, their room or their possessions in accordance with the homes guidance.

3.21

Each home regularly reviews incidents of challenging behaviour, examines trends or issues emerging from this, to enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice.

3.22

The home’s approach to care minimises the need for police involvement to deal with challenging behaviour and avoids criminalising children unnecessarily. The home follows procedures and guidance on police involvement in the home, which have been agreed with local police.