14
All behaviour has a purpose. Sometimes in order to tell use what is wrong or get
needs met, young people may behave in a way that challenges us and this can
have a negative impact on the young person, others, their environment, their
relationships, and their quality of life. If young people's needs are met and they
lead satisfying lives the occurrences of behaviours that challenge will be reduced.
Positive relationships between staff and Young People are essential as they
provide a platform for young people to feel safe and secure, to be happy and
make progress. We do not use punitive methods to manage behaviour.
PBS uses information from a wide variety of sources to understand what young
people are trying to tell us. Assessing the functions of behaviours that challenge
allows us to develop individualised, person-centred strategies and interventions
that proactively meet the young person's needs, making these behaviours
redundant. These interventions support the development of new skills and enable
Young People to cope more effectively in an environment or situation they find
difficult. Each young person has a PBS Plan detailing all this written and regularly
reviewed by our PBS Learning Specialists. Strategies are carefully considered by
all supporting a young person, including staff and parents.A key element in
supporting behaviour is the use of the TEACCH system of structured teaching in
the organisation of the day and the layout of classroom and living spaces. Regular
exercise and the use of areas of space within Prior's Court School campus are also
part of the strategies to help regulation.
We do not use sanctions, however if there are concerns that a young person's
behaviour might be deemed a sufficient risk that they should not attend an
activity or outing, this is technically classed as a sanction and is recorded as such.
An alternative and equally enjoyable on-site activity will be offered. On very rare
occasions, it may be necessary to exclude a young person for a short period of
time to ensure the health and safety of all concerned. Our exclusion policy is
available on request.
Team Teach is the positive behaviour training used at Prior's Court, which
provides a holistic approach to understanding and de-escalating behaviour. We
believe the Team Teach approach helps young people to learn to make choices
and to begin to take control of their behaviour. All young people at Prior's Court
have a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Plan within their This Is Me Plan which
will list the proactive and reactive strategies for behavioural support, as well as
listing the most effective Team Teach physical interventions to use in response to
identified behaviours.
There is an expectation that staff show self-restraint rather than applying physical
restraint; they should seek to actively prevent and predict rather than react and
respond. This is in line with national guidance. The ways in which we take control
have been designed to be effective, respectful and safe and as non-intrusive as we
can make them. Team Teach emphasises positive relationships between staff and
young people. It aims to protect and promote this. Team Teach stresses that 95%
of crisis situations can often be resolved through appropriately calm, controlled,
dignified and skilled de-escalation intervention. The physical intervention
approaches described will generally only be appropriate as a last resort.
We operate in accordance with the Children's Home Quality Standards
(paragraphs 9.44 to 9.46), which states that restraint may be necessary as a
consequence of a child's impairment or disability, for example to limit selfinjurious
behaviour. Any use of such restraint will follow a rigorous assessment