Behaviour policy

Rationale

Young people are referred to The Hope Service for a range of reasons and these may include having difficulties behaving appropriately at times. Our expectation is that all young people and staff will behave in appropriate and socially acceptable ways. Every member of staff has a key role to play in promoting and sustaining positive behaviour and creating a safe environment. To meet the needs of the young people the day programme focuses upon these four key strands:

  • Re-engagement
  • Self esteem
  • Stability and structure
  • Wellbeing.

Expectations

The Hope Service expects all young people attending the day programme to follow some basic guidelines. Young people are asked to sign that they will follow them when they start. These guidelines are:

  • To be on time for all sessions
  • To follow the personal programmes that have been planned and agreed
  • To treat other young people and adults with respect
  • To take good care of the buildings and equipment
  • To encourage other young people to adhere to this policy.

These expectations are further re-iterated throughout the day, in keyworker sessions, personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) sessions and morning and end of day group, together with our Hope values which underpin our relationships and interactions within the day programme community. Staff role model acceptable behaviours and work explicitly to teach appropriate behaviours by giving targeted and specific feedback alongside an approach of positive reinforcement.

To enable this to happen the following behaviours are not acceptable:

  • Violence or bullying of any kind including cyber-bullying or through any form of social media. For further details please refer to the Hope service 'Internet Safety Policy' and The Hope Service Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. These policies are available on request, please contact us
  • Abuse in any form, especially physical and verbal abuse, including racist, sexist and homophobic remarks.
  • Involvement in any activity that is against the law
  • Deliberately endangering themselves or the well-being of others
  • Damaging the building or property
  • Bringing in, or being under the influence of alcohol, solvents, unprescribed medication, illegal drugs and drugs classified as legal highs
  • Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Carrying any sharp objects or offensive weapons including razors, knives and so on
  • Smoking tobacco, vaping or sharing tobacco, vaping products on site.

Racist, Sexist, Homophobic and other Discriminatory Behaviour

We do not tolerate any forms of discriminatory behaviour. Should a discrimination incident occur, we will act immediately to prevent any repetition of the incident and endeavour to educate perpetrators to prevent any re-occurrence. We will record and monitor all incidents in order to plan necessary interventions and educational opportunities.

Should anyone in the Hope service be a victim of discrimination, we will do all we can to support that person in overcoming any difficulties they may have.

Every young person, regardless of protected characteristics or otherwise, is expected, and encouraged, to reach their potential by all staff. Please see the Equality and Diversity Policy for further information.

Bullying

We would expect young people to feel safe in Hope, including an understanding of the issues relating to safety, such as bullying. We also want them to feel confident to seek support from school should they feel unsafe or concerned.

At Hope, we believe that bullying is not acceptable in any form or context. We promote a positive approach to inclusion by celebrating diversity, promoting resilience and well-being, and ensuring equality for all.

We have developed a consistent approach to recording and monitoring bullying incidents in their school, and evaluating whether these approaches are effective. All reported incidents will be taken seriously and investigated involving all parties, using a restorative approach of support and education. This is included in our Anti-bullying policy which is available on request.

Sexual Harm, Harassment and Violence

The Hope service will follow the guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education about sexual harm, harassment and violence, which stresses the importance of making it clear that sexual violence and sexual harassment are not acceptable, will never be tolerated and are not an inevitable part of growing up and highlights the risks of tolerating or dismissing any forms of sexual violence or sexual harassment. Please see the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy for further information.

Procedures

Managing unsafe behaviour

  • The behaviour of the young people in the day programme is managed on site through a variety of interventions including time out from their session under the supervision of the In-Service Support (ISS) member of staff, the use of a quiet space and other de-escalation techniques.
  • On occasions a young person may behave in a way that shows that they are not in an emotional state to benefit from the service that day or that their continued presence poses an unacceptable risk to themselves, other young people or staff in the day programme.
  • If this is the case, arrangements will be made for the young person to return home after discussion with their parent or carer.
  • In the discussion with the parent or carer it will be made clear what the difficult behaviour was and what is required of the young person upon their return to the day programme.
  • In some cases where unacceptable behaviour has taken place, it may be decided that it is in the best interests of the service and the young person for them not to attend for a short period. The reasons why this decision might be made may include; The safety of other young people, The safety of staff, the safety of the young person, time for the young person to reflect on their behaviour and what will be required of them when they return to the day programme or time for other young people who have been affected by any unacceptable behaviour to recover.
  • A decision for a young person to stay at home or not attend the day programme will normally be made by the manager on site in conjunction, where possible, with the young person's coordinator and key worker and this will be explained to the young person and their parent or carer. Where appropriate the young person may be given work to complete at home combined with outreach visits from members of staff.
  • The Hope Service will adhere to the Depatment for Education (DfE) Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England Guidance 2017.
  • Before the young person next attends, a visit will take place at their home to remind them of the procedures and expectations at Hope and to ensure that they are given help and support to comply with these. If it is required, an agreement will be reached regarding appropriate reparation and apologies. This may include payment for damage, restorative work within the building, or a meeting with an affected young person or member of staff.
  • Details of any incident should be recorded on SystmOne and a Child Protection Online Monitoring System (CPOMS) incident log should be completed which will alert the Team Manager and Coordinator, so that the incident can be appropriately followed up in a timely manner. The young person's Social Worker or other referrer may also be informed.
  • Any young person or their parent or carer may complain about their treatment and this will be handled in accordance with the Hope Service Complaints Policy.

Managing young people who bring sharp objects into the day programme for deliberate self-harm

  • If a young person brings in a sharp object to deliberately self-harm, staff will, in the first instance speak to the young person to encourage them to hand it in.
  • If they do not comply, they will be isolated from other young people in the day programme and supported by a member of staff who will continue to encourage the young person to hand over the sharp object.
  • If this is not successful, staff will consult with the Team Manager to decide next steps. If the young person does not pose an ongoing risk to themselves or others, they will remain separated from the other young people and staff will continue to support them.
  • If the behaviour escalates and they pose an ongoing risk to themselves, consideration will be given to contacting their home and asking for them to be collected. If they cannot be collected but a parent or carer is at home, staff may consider taking the young person home , but only if it is safe enough to do so.
  • If the behaviour escalates and they are using sharp objects to threaten staff or other young people, staff will contain the young person to reduce risks and remove everyone from the area. Where necessary, staff will call the police to manage the threat and inform the parents/carers.
  • If a young person brings sharps to the day programme they will be visited at home by their Hope coordinator and keyworker before they can return to the day programme, to discuss what has happened, to re-emphasise that they cannot bring sharps into the day programme and to explain the reasons for this and the risks that it poses to themselves, staff and other young people.
  • If the behaviour continues, despite following the above procedures, there may be further interventions considered. These could include reduced time in the day programme, 1 to 1 provision, out of hours provision, transfer to the outreach provision and targeted psycho education.

Procedures for managing young people who bring cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes and tobacco into the day programme

The Hope Service day programme operates on smoke free sites and all young people and their parents or carers are made aware of this before a young person starts in the day programme.

Hope will ensure that anti-smoking and anti-vaping Information is included in the Hope Information Pack for young people and parents or carers and in the staff Induction Pack.

Hope will atdvise young people and parents or carers that the police do visit each site and may challenge or confiscate smoking and vaping materials.

  • If a young person brings cigarettes, vapes or tobacco on site with the intention of smoking whilst in the day programme, staff will ask the young person to hand in the cigarettes, tobacco to a member of staff to be returned to their parent or carer at the end of the day.
  • If the young person smokes or vapes on site, staff will ask them to put out their cigarette and hand over any remaining cigarettes, tobacco or vapes to be returned to their parent or carer at the end of the day.
  • If the young person refuses to comply a staff member will contact their parents or carers to explain the situation and remind that the young person cannot bring cigarettes, tobacco or vapes on site.
  • If the young person persists in bringing in cigarettes, vapes or tobacco their Hope coordinator and keyworker will visit them and their parent or carer to remind them of our policy, to discuss the difficulties they are having complying with the no smoking rule and explore strategies for them to manage in the day programme without smoking, vaping or bringing cigarettes or tobacco onto the premises.
  • If the young person persists in bringing in cigarettes, vapes or tobacco, despite following the above procedures, there may be further interventions considered. These could include medical input for nicotine replacement therapy, reduced time in the day programme, out of hours provision and transfer to the outreach provision.
  • Additionally Hope will provide young people with details on smoking and vaping cessation services which will be available to all through leaflets and posters and sessions run when appropriate.
  • As part of the Hope assessment, young people's health needs (including nicotine addiction) will be identified and appropriate intervention will be included in their Care Plan.

The use of restrictive physical interventions

Staff will use the minimum force needed to restore safety and appropriate behaviour.

The principles relating to the intervention are as follows:

  • Restrictive physical intervention is an act of care and control, not punishment. It is never used to enforce compliance with staff instructions.
  • Staff will only use it when there are good grounds for believing that immediate action is necessary and in the young person's, and/or other young person's, best interests.
  • Staff will take steps in advance to avoid the need for restrictive physical intervention through dialogue and diversion and at the level of understanding of the young person.
  • Only the minimum force necessary will be used to prevent severe distress or injury.
  • Staff will be able to show that the intervention used was in keeping with the incident.
  • As soon as it is safe, the restrictive physical intervention will be relaxed to allow the young person to regain self-control.
  • A distinction will be maintained between the use of a one-off intervention which is appropriate to a particular circumstance, and the using of it repeatedly as a regular feature of Hope policy.
  • Escalation will be avoided at all costs, especially if it would make the overall situation more destructive and unmanageable.
  • The age, understanding, and competence of the individual young person will always be taken into account.
  • In developing individual risk assessments, consideration will be given to approaches appropriate to each young person's circumstance.
  • Procedures are in place for supporting and debriefing young people and staff after every incident of restrictive physical intervention, as it is essential to safeguard the emotional well-being of all involved at these times
    For further details on the use of restrictive physical interventions, please refer to the Restrictive and Physical Interventions Policy.

All restrictive physical interventions are recorded and reported and parents or carers are informed as soon as is practically possible after the event. Support is offered to all parties involved in a restrictive physical intervention, including staff and young people and additional de-briefing for parents or carers. All incidents are logged and monitored for learning, prevention and development and are reviewed regularly by the management team.

Behaviour agreement between young person and the Hope Service

As a young person attending Hope I understand and agree to the following:

  • Not to bring drugs, alcohol, cigarettes/vapes or sharps into the Hope Service.
  • To switch off my mobile phone during session times. If I find this hard to manage, I will hand my phone in for safe keeping until the end of the day.
  • To treat the staff and young people at Hope with dignity and respect.
  • To respect the opinions of others, even when they may be different to my own.
  • To respect the Hope building and the property within it.
  • To arrive at, and leave, the day programme at my scheduled times.
  • To stay on the Hope premises other than for offsite activities supported by Hope staff.
  • To attend sessions on time and participate in the activities scheduled for me that day.
  • To ask a staff member for time out if I need it.

If my behaviour is unsafe, it may mean that my attendance at Hope is reconsidered and my Hope plan is reviewed to determine how, when and where staff can safely work with me.

Hope is an integrated service which combines both Surrey County Council and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Policies and Procedures. As issues arise the response process to be followed will be that of the most appropriate organisation. The Manager for Hope is to be contacted in the first instance and will direct the query to ensure the appropriate application of Policies and Procedures of each organisation.

Policy reviewed: September 2024

Next review date: September 2025

Key person: J Roberts.