Additional Measures

REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS

Positive Relationships Standard
Regulation 11

1. Approved and Non Approved Additional Measures

The Additional Measures that are approved for this Home are listed below, for a list of Non Approved Additional Measures, see Appendix 1: Non Approved Additional Measures.

The following restrictions, if placed upon a child, are deemed to be Additional Measures and must be recorded as such:

  1. If not part of an agreed strategy in the child/young person’s placement plan the confiscation or withdrawal of a telephone or mobile 'phone in order to protect a child or another person from harm, injury or to protect property from being damaged;
  2. Preventing a child from being carried in a vehicle; a 'Car Ban'; even if a car ban is in place staff can take children on essential journey's e.g. to visit parents, with the authority of the Manager and should be in consultation with the placing authority;
  3. Any restriction on the normal use of or undertaking of Activities or Leisure pursuits, including withdrawal or suspension of the use of a TV;
  4. Loss of privileges or any requirement on a child to undertake additional/extra household chores or tasks;
  5. The payment of pocket money as reparation for damage to property or theft. NB: Children may only be required to pay a maximum of 2/3 pocket money up to a maximum of six weeks for damage or theft.

2. Informing Children

Children should be informed about the range of Additional Measures that may be imposed upon them and the possible circumstances which may result in Additional Measures.

This information must be provided in a Children's Guide or outlined in the Placement Plan.

3. When Additional Measures May be Imposed

Only Approved Additional Measures may be imposed, as a negative consequence for unacceptable behaviour.

Additional Measures may only be imposed as a last resort with the intention of encouraging acceptable behaviour or acting as a disincentive for unacceptable behaviour. Homes should not use a blanket approach to the imposition of Additional Measures, what works for one child may not for another, Additional Measures should be individualised according to the individual needs of each child.

Additional Measures must never be imposed simply as a consequence of unacceptable behaviour.

Caution should be exercised to ensure that Additional Measures do not act as positive re-enforcement of unacceptable behaviour.

Before any Additional Measures imposed staff must be satisfied of the following:

  1. That the child was capable of behaving acceptably and understands what was required of him/her;
  2. Other encouraging and rewarding strategies have not worked or would not work in the circumstances;
  3. The Additional Measure imposed is relevant, fair and must last no longer than is absolutely necessary;
  4. There is a view that the Additional Measure may encourage acceptable behaviour or act as a disincentive.

4. Monitoring and Recording Use of Additional Measures

The Home Manager must monitor and review the use of Additional Measures and be satisfied that they are used appropriately.

Additional Measures should be an effective tool and any review must take into account effectiveness of the Additional Measures imposed, the Registered Manager must ensure that if Additional Measures prove ineffective then other alternative methods are applied.

Additional Measures must be noted in the Daily Log, Additional Measures Record and individual child's Daily Record.

Appendix 1: Non Approved Additional Measures

The following Additional Measures are not approved/prohibited:

  1. Any form of corporal punishment;
  2. Any punishment relating to the consumption or deprivation of food or drink;
  3. Any restriction, other than one imposed by a court, on a young person's contact with or visits to/from their parents, relatives or friends. Young people must be allowed access to a telephone help-line providing counselling for children and restriction may also not be made on communication with:
    • Any solicitor or other adviser or Advocate acting for the child;
    • Any officer of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service appointed for them;
    • Any social worker for the time being assigned to the young person by their Placing Authority;
    • Any person appointed in respect of a Complaints or Child Protection Investigation;
    • Any person appointed as an Independent Visitor for a young person;
    • Any person undertaking an inspection on behalf of the Regulatory Authority or authorised by them to visit/meet the young person;
    • Any person authorised by the local authority in whose area the children's home is situated.
  4. Withholding basic items of clothing or requiring that the young person wear distinctive or inappropriate clothes (except when required for educational purposes or special activities);
  5. The use or withholding of medication, medical or dental treatment;
  6. The intentional deprivation of sleep;
  7. The imposition of financial penalty (except by way of reparation);
  8. Any intimate physical examination of the young person;
  9. The withholding of any aids or equipment needed by a Disabled Child;
  10. Any measure which involves another young person in the imposition of any measure against another young person or the punishment of a group of young people for the behaviour of an individual.