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17. The home's approach to behavioural support including
restraint.
Prior's Courts follows the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework which aims
to enhance young people's quality of life and ensure they and ensure they lead
full, enriched, and productive lives with opportunities and choice. We use a range
of strategies to support young people to learn to self-regulate.
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 our 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.
Use of restraint
All of the young people at Prior's Court are individuals with unique personalities.
They do however share certain common characteristics due to their autism and
may therefore experience considerable difficulties with communication, social
interaction and imagination which sometimes give rise to frustration, confusion
and distress. This in turn can give rise to some inappropriate and occasionally
challenging behaviour.