Team Teach

[theresaholeinmysock]

Are you trained in restraint? Do you have to use your training? How do you feel about it? How are you debriefed?

I work in KS1 (sometimes FS2) supporting complex children with ASD diagnoses, or on the pathway.

Sometimes we have to use mild restraint to protect a child or their peers. We are trained, and we are as gentle as possible.

Last year the school policy changed from restraint as a last resort, to using positive intervention techniques much earlier so that they don't escalate to actual restraint. This is so much better. Since the policy changed we use far less restraint and the children have fewer melt-downs. A lot more brisk walking, though!

But when we do find ourselves restraining a child... afterwards I am just so distressed. I'm chilled at work, I go on professionally, but when I get home I go to pieces. It is even worse now, as we have to don full PPE if a situation escalates.

When a child is screaming for mummy and expressing their homesickness by throwing chairs, or is expressing their frustration at a maths lesson by spitting and hitting, you can't help but feel compassion at their inability to express their distress in a socially acceptable way. But at the same time you've got to keep everyone safe. Sometimes even de-escalation doesn't work, sometimes you miss the warning signs and you're too late for it anyway.

It's the one aspect of my job that I hate.

I have changed my name as I don't want any colleagues to recognise me. If you think I'm dubious, ask MNHQ to check.

I'm a Team Teach trainer. Physical handling is 95% de-escalation, 3% guidance and only 2% 'restraint'.
We always say that actually, sometimes, it is more effective to use physical handling earlier as opposed to allowing the child to get so escalated that the handling is dangerous and the child is over-sensitised. We also say that you have to keep the hold for much longer than you think you do. All too often, school staff tell me that they ended the hold and the child re-cycled to crisis. This is because they haven't gone all of the way through the cycle to depression (not depression as in sadness, depression as in a restoration of calm). Schools can be reticent to use physical handling but if it's proportionate, reasonable and necessary, you can be in breach of your duty of care if you don't intervene.
TT training shouldn't be done a 'hit squad' of staff. For it to work best, schools should commit to all staff being trained so that all staff know and can use the de-escalation strategies and can implement 'guiding' as soon as it becomes necessary so that 'restraint' isn't required.

Also, you should have a full debrief afterwards and it is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed and sad about it - some supervision can help with that. In Covid times you should also be given opportunities to change your clothes or have a shower/full body wash if you feel it's necessary.

I think one is the problems with the debrief is that if I were truly honest about how it makes me feel, I would go to pieces and be no use to anyone.

The PPE is for our own protection, but I feel it looks intimidating. I don't care if a child gets spit or whatever on me. We have no showers, but I keep a spare top at work. Getting mucky is part and parcel of working with small children.

I think you need to be really honest about how it makes you feel. If you don't, one time you will explode and it will really knock your confidence in all areas of your work (which it sounds like you're fab at and full of compassion btw!)
The debrief should be a really honest space.
Do remember though that no one likes being involved in a physical incident and although it kind of goes against all that we're taught as educators, sometimes it is in the child's best interests and is what they need 💜

Having to restrain a child must be extremely emotional and stressful, its no wonder you feel upset afterwards. I view the team teach training as a protection for myself, it means that if its absolutely necessary I can say I have done it in the safest way possible and know how to record the information after the event properly (unfortunately sometimes, in that type of role, its about being able to cover your own arse) Saying that, in 4 years I haven't actually had to use it so could fall apart if it came down to it !

Physical handling is 95% de-escalation, 3% guidance and only 2% 'restraint'.

With a few of our children guidance is a good deal more than 3%, because they arrive at school in an already heightened state - often tipping over into crisis state. Sometimes, though, they are not in crisis state, but choosing to behave violently to try and control their situation.

I'm chilled at work, I go on professionally, but when I get home I go to pieces.

Please talk to someone at work. They may well think you're coping.
What do you need?
Someone to listen to you, then you're fine to carry on?
A change of responsibilities, so the load is shared with more people?
Someone to ring or text you in the evening after an episode where you've had to use restraint?
Someone to pre-brief before school on Monday if you're predicting that the morning transition in will be hard for some of your pupils???

For today, is there someone you can ring?
Most schools/ academy chains/ LAs buy into an Employee Support programme. You may have a little card somewhere with a phone number on. Do use it, especially if you can't get hold of anyone.

This is a case of “needing to put on your own oxygen mask first”. If you are caring for other people, you need to care for yourself.

@JanetandJohn500

I'm a Team Teach trainer. Physical handling is 95% de-escalation, 3% guidance and only 2% 'restraint'. We always say that actually, sometimes, it is more effective to use physical handling earlier as opposed to allowing the child to get so escalated that the handling is dangerous and the child is over-sensitised. We also say that you have to keep the hold for much longer than you think you do. All too often, school staff tell me that they ended the hold and the child re-cycled to crisis. This is because they haven't gone all of the way through the cycle to depression (not depression as in sadness, depression as in a restoration of calm). Schools can be reticent to use physical handling but if it's proportionate, reasonable and necessary, you can be in breach of your duty of care if you don't intervene. TT training shouldn't be done a 'hit squad' of staff. For it to work best, schools should commit to all staff being trained so that all staff know and can use the de-escalation strategies and can implement 'guiding' as soon as it becomes necessary so that 'restraint' isn't required.

Thank you for that incredibly sensible and balanced post @JanetandJohn500. You sound like a great TT Trainer.