Physical Intervention

Physical intervention is a last resort. For a small minority of children/young people or at certain times in a child or young person's life, physical intervention may be needed. However, physical restraint should be avoided and should only be used if there are good reasons for believing that immediate action is necessary to prevent a child or young person from causing significant injury to themselves or to others. Other techniques should be used before physical constraint is considered.

It is important to be aware that the use of physical intervention can pose risks to the safety of the child, to the safety of the foster carer applying it, and potentially to others who are present.

It is also important to determine whether there are any medical conditions that might place the child at risk. This should be known and recorded in the placement plan.

See also: Positive Relationships and Behaviour Support Procedure.

Holding involves the child being held firmly by one person. The child retains a degree of mobility and can leave if they want to.

This is when you touch the child lightly to lead, guide or stop the child.

This form of control is where you use your presence to try and stop the child leaving by standing in the doorway to negotiate a change in the child's plans or actions.

Any types of physical interventions which are in place to keep a child safe due to their behaviours and which restrict a child's liberty should be recorded by the child’s social worker on the child's placement plan and Educational Health Care Plan. For example, wheelchair restraints to stop a child running off when they have no or little road safety sense.

For a young person who is over the age of 16 who has care and support needs, any restrictions or agreed interventions will need to be recorded and a Mental Capacity Act assessment/Best Interest decision will need to be completed.

All incidents of physical intervention will be reviewed, recorded and monitored. When you have had to use Physical intervention the Fostering Service must be informed immediately, or let out-of-hours social workers know. The child's social worker should also be informed.

An incident report should be sent to the Fostering Service detailing the circumstances around the incident. This is an important tool in understanding what has happened and why. The report should include what has happened, who was present, any triggers beforehand, if any injuries occurred, and what happened after the intervention. The views of the child must be sought, dependent on their age and understanding, and used in the process of reflecting, understanding and informing future practice.

The Fostering Service and child's social worker should support you and the child after an incident has occurred.

Decisions will then be made about how any further situations need to be managed and risk assessed.

If the police are involved, the Regulatory Authority must also be notified by the Fostering Service. See Significant Events and Notifications – When I need to tell other people about things Procedure.