Guidance on reducing restrictive practices in childcare, education, health and social care.
Contents
Overview
Restrictive practices can happen in lots of places and settings. Our reducing restrictive practice framework applies across services providing education, health and social care to children and adults of all ages.
When restrictive practice happens to someone, this is often called restraint.
There are 8 different ways people can be restrained, by using:
- blanket rules
- your body
- equipment
- communication strategies
- chemicals
- cultural norms
- surveillance
- the environment
These become restrictive when used to make someone do something they don’t want to do or stop someone doing something they want to do.
Watch our video about reducing the use of restrictive practices for people who use childcare, education, health and social care services:
Purpose of the framework
We know that restrictive practices can be very upsetting for people and can cause harm.
We want to make sure that people who work in education, health and social care settings reduce the use of restrictive practices.
We want everyone who works with children and adults to work in a way that respects their human rights.
One important way to reduce restrictive practices is to make a plan to improve wellbeing. This helps to prevent situations where people behave in a way that could harm them or others.
Identifying restrictive practice
Explainer
We have developed an explainer which helps to identify restrictive practices in childcare, education, health and social care settings.
Poster
View our poster which:
- defines restrictive practices
- summarises the main types of restrictive practices
- gives advice about who to speak to if you are worried about the inappropriate use of restrictive practices
Animation
Watch our new animation, which we have developed to show examples of restrictive practices to help you to understand what they are and to reflect on their use in your own organisation:
Impact assessments
In September 2021, we assessed how the guidance on reducing restrictive practices in childcare, education, health and social care settings affects a number of areas, including children’s rights.
Advice and support
Children’s Commissioner for Wales
The children’s rights advice and assistance team is free and confidential. It’s there to advise and support children and young people, or those who care for them if they feel that a child has been treated unfairly.
Telephone: 01792 765 600
Freephone: 08088 011 000
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
The advice and assistance team provide help and support for people aged 60+ and experiencing problems with services such as health, social care, community services or housing.
Telephone: 03442 640 670 or 029 2044 5030
Email: ask@olderpeoplewales.com
Autism Wales
Information about contacting the local autism lead where you live for information, advice and guidance.
C.A.L.L. mental health helpline
The helpline offers emotional support and information on mental health and related matters to people of Wales.
Freephone: 0800 132 737
Text "help" to: 81066
Wales Dementia helpline
The helpline offers support to anyone caring for someone with Dementia as well as other family members or friends. The service will also help and support to those who have been diagnosed with Dementia.
Telephone: 08088 082 235
Mencap Cymru learning disability helpline
Available to everyone in Wales, whether you are a person with a learning disability, a family member or friend.
Telephone: 08088 000 300
Llais
This service is the national independent body set up by Welsh Government to give the people of Wales a stronger voice in health and social care services. It provides people with the opportunity to share their views and experiences of health and social care, and to make sure the feedback is used by decision-makers to shape your services. It also offers advocacy support for people who wish to make a complaint about the care they have received.
Find out about Llais services in your area
Telephone: 029 2023 5558
Email: enquiries@llaiscymru.org