Behaviour Management Policy for All Foster Carers

Underlying this are certain principles which seek to guide carers in managing behaviour effectively. They are:

• Seeking to reward good behaviour;
• Adopting a non-confrontational approach;
• Establishing a good relationship/rapport with children based on mutual respect;
• Establishing house rules which are consistent, explicit and applicable to all children within the household;
• Acknowledging and appreciating the past life experiences which children bring;
• The use of age, and developmental stage-appropriate sanctions - but only when necessary, not as routine;
• Receiving training which covers both the origins of behaviour and standard techniques/strategies;
• Having access to resources, including the Foster Carer Handbook;
• Working within a multi-agency context.

Each fostering family is encouraged to develop a "safer caring policy" to help them to care safely for the children who are placed with them. A "safe caring statement" should be completed with confirmation that the Foster Carers have been advised of any possible behaviour issues which can be expected from a child. The information should also include how those issues will be dealt with on a practical basis. Such practical arrangements should be in line with this policy.

See also Guidance on Safer Caring Plan.

The techniques that are deployed will be largely dependent on the child's individual circumstances and needs and should also be relevant to their age and developmental stage. The aim is always to reduce and/or eradicate behaviours by responding in a positive and consistent manner. 

Occasionally though, Foster Carers will need to exercise sanctions for unacceptable behaviours in the home and the following actions are permitted: 

• The curtailment of leisure activities, additional house chores, loss of privileges, use of increased supervision;
• The appropriation of pocket money or savings to repair damage or for the replacement of loss. Restitution may be in full, in part or merely token but children and young people must not be deprived of more than two thirds of their total spending money for the week;
• The confiscation, temporarily or permanently, of any article or substance belonging to a child if that same article, material or substance be considered potentially dangerous or injurious to property or persons.

Other sanctions are not permitted and Foster Carers cannot:

• Use any element of force as punishment including smacking, slapping, pinching, squeezing, shaking, throwing missiles, rough handling, punching or pushing in the heat of the moment in response to violence from young people;
• Punish or treat in any way which is humiliating, including requiring a child to wear distinctive or inappropriate clothing;
• Refuse meals or deprive of food and drinks, deny access to the amounts and range of foods and drink normally available to children being cared for (unless this is on medical advice);
• Use or withhold medication, medical or dental treatment;
• Use accommodation to physically restrict the liberty of any child;
• Restrict contact to and from family and friends - this will include Independent Visitors, advocates, any officer appointed by CAFCASS, solicitor, social worker, independent person re complaints and any person representing OFSTED;
• Intentionally deprive a child of sleep;
• Impose fines except for reparation and restitution (see Permitted Sanctions above);
• Conduct intimate physical searches. Occasionally and not as a punishment, a search of a child's clothing may be necessary e.g. for weapons. If it is suspected that a child has secreted drugs on his person, then consideration should be given to notifying the police, following consultation with the child's/young person's social worker;
• Allow participation in the consideration of, or the administration of any form of punishment by a child/young person on any other child or young person;
• Any threat to use any of the above.

The emphasis is on individual children and behaviour management which is tailored to each child's needs. Some of the behaviours which carers may find difficult could include persistent lying, persistent stealing, sexually harmful behaviours, self-harming, aggression, repeated destruction of property and going missing from home. 

Wherever possible, rewarding acceptable behaviour should be the preferred and usual method of reinforcing and encouraging acceptable conduct and behaviour. 

Carers will be encouraged to seek help and advice, where appropriate, from other agencies such as health and education.

Touching - Normal physical contact (as would be expected between good parents and their children) is expected between Foster Carers and the children they look after. Although physical contact may, on occasions be used to assert authority over a child or young person, it is more often an important element of care and parenting.

Holding - Holding would discourage a child from harming him/herself, others or property. Young people may be successfully engaged by a hand placed firmly on the arm or shoulder to reinforce the attempts of Foster Carers to reason with them or to emphasise the concern felt for them. Carers may also firmly encourage a young person to move away from a situation by placing a hand on their arm or around their shoulders and moving them away. 

Obstructing - the use of a carer's physical presence without touching to obstruct or restrict a child's movement. An example of obstructing would be to restrict a child's movement around a room or building to prevent him or her picking up an object to use as a missile.

Non-restrictive physical interventions should not be used as a matter of routine but only if absolutely necessary to the situation, in order to safeguard the child or another person. Holding should involve no more than a hand placed on an arm or shoulder or leading a child by one or both hands and/or possibly by the flat of one hand placed against a child's back in order to guide him/her to some other place or activity. An example of holding would be to avoid external danger (holding a child's hand while crossing the road).

Children who are looked after have various needs which the adults caring for them should respond to. Those needs will include the need for guidance, personal example, influence, sensitivity and in some circumstances control. Foster Carers have broadly the same rights and responsibilities as a parent would to promote a child's welfare, safeguard a child from negative influences and protect others from harm. It is recognised that Foster Carers who have day to day care of a child or young person will from time to time be required to exercise control in a manner which safeguards and promotes the welfare of the child. There may be circumstances where a child or young person may be at risk of committing harm to themselves or to other people, whether intentionally or not. In such circumstances non-restrictive physical intervention may be necessary (touching, obstructing or holding). 

Any physical intervention will be justifiable and appropriate to the child's circumstances and will enhance safety. Any physical intervention must take account of the physical, emotional and medical needs of each individual young person. Physical interventions should not in any way be used as a substitute for other types of intervention.

Risk assessment and behaviour management will inform any physical intervention and will indicate the necessity for the use of physical intervention.

Where this is indicated Foster Carers will receive relevant training and information about the management of behaviour, which will emphasise positive approaches and alternatives to the use of physical intervention wherever possible.

Where physical intervention has been necessary, Foster Carers will make a written record. The social worker/supervising social worker should be informed as soon as possible so that the child can be seen. Children, young people and Foster Carers will afterwards receive additional support, when required. 

Restrictive physical intervention is the positive application of force with the intention of protecting a young person from harming him/herself or others or seriously damaging property.

Where it is recognised that a child's behaviour is likely to require the regular application of restraint, the child should not be placed with foster carers. 

Matching - At the matching stage any known difficult behaviour should be considered, together with any risk posed to the child and/or Foster Carers, the Children and Families Assessment and any Risk Assessment must be accessible to carers and consideration must be given to the preparation of an individual risk assessment in respect of any child it is proposed to place with any carers.

Placement Planning - It is essential that Foster Carers receive all the relevant background written information on the child, (Children in Care documentation) - as set out in the Care Planning Procedure. A safeguarding statement should be completed with confirmation that the Foster Carers have been advised of any possible behaviour issues expected from a child and how those issues will be dealt with on a practical basis. Such practical arrangements should be in line with this policy and detailed in the Placement Planning Meeting minutes. 

Carers will be informed of the out of hours' helpline support arrangements. They should attend pre-placement planning meetings and be informed of any known difficult behaviour which the child has and where particular behaviour is indicated for the future. In these circumstances a behaviour management plan should be completed.

Despite the emergency nature of unplanned admissions it is essential that there should be an element of matching discussion and risk assessment. In line with both the Care Planning Procedure and placement with Foster Carer’s procedure, the placement planning meeting must be held within five days of placement taking place and the relevant background information must be provided to foster carers. Where appropriate, a behaviour management plan should be completed where the circumstances demand it as necessary. 

If information is not provided to the foster carer by the time of the Placement Planning Meeting then the Supervising Social Worker must follow their Escalation Policy.

Carers should be able to express "parental affection" towards children and young people in their care and to provide comfort to ease distress. This may include a hug or friendly arm on the shoulder etc. Carers need to be mindful that a high proportion of children and young people who are looked after have experienced sexual and physical abuse. Therefore carers need always to be cautious and ensure that any physical contact is not misinterpreted. 

The family "safe caring" policy should give parameters of acceptable behaviour within the foster home. Reference should be made to the "safe caring statement" and any relevant background information about the child. Carers also need to be aware of issues of age and gender and to be clear on when it is not appropriate to touch a child or young person. 

Carers should ensure that care is taken not to touch a child or young person in any way they are uncomfortable with as certain physical contact may be open to misinterpretation. 

Where a foster carer is concerned that behaviour may have been inappropriate, they should discuss their concerns with their supervising social worker immediately or contact the out of hour’s service if outside of office hours.

Children and young people who have been sexually abused may exhibit sexualised or inviting behaviour. Carers need to remain aware of their role and acknowledge any issues such as behaviour that arises for them, seeking advice and guidance from their supervising social worker.

A carer may use his/her physical presence to stand in the way of a child who is ignoring instructions or losing control, or to obstruct an exit and, thereby, create an opportunity to express concern and remonstrate and reinforce the instruction.

However, "obstructing" must:

Be likely to be effective by virtue of the overall authority of the carer rather than simply his/her physical presence, and

Be used in the general context of trying to engage the young person in discussion about his/her behaviour and its implications, and

Be discontinued if the young person physically resists. Should this occur a decision will have to be made as to whether some other form of permitted intervention is justified and necessary.

The effect of the obstruction may be to restrict a child's movement around the room or building. This is acceptable only so long as the duration of the restriction does not extend into hours, unless in the case of a young child, or child with severe learning disabilities the potential danger of, say leaving the home, is real and obvious and there is a need to provide close supervision to prevent injury or risk of significant harm.

This should involve no more than a hand placed on an arm or shoulder or leading a child by one or both hands and/or possibly by the flat of one hand placed against a child's back in order to guide him/her to some other place or activity.

This may be necessary:

To avoid external danger (for example holding a young child's hand while crossing the road).

To divert a child from destructive or disruptive behaviour.

A child may be successfully diverted from destructive or disruptive behaviour by being led away by the hand, arm, or by means of an arm around his or her shoulder. Again, children having a minor argument or a fight, which in itself is not likely to cause serious harm, but is nonetheless disruptive and detrimental to the well-being of other children, may be successfully separated by being held firmly and guided away. Holding is more likely to be helpful for Foster Carers looking after younger children. Particularly for those whose behaviour is unlikely to respond to verbal influence alone. However, even young adults may be successfully engaged by a hand placed firmly on the arm or shoulder to reinforce the attempts of staff to reason with them, or to emphasise the concern felt for them. 

Foster Carers should adopt the following principles when dealing with children in this way:

• Whenever possible, the carer involved should have an established relationship with the child and should explain to the child what she/he is doing and why;
• Holding should not arouse sexual expectations or feelings, and should cease if the child gives any indication of this;
• Carers should be careful where they hold children. For instance, carers should be careful not to hold a child or young person in such a way that involves contact with breasts or genitals.

If on any occasion the child forcibly resists or clearly objects, then "holding" should no longer be used as a method of physical intervention for that particular child. 

Should the foster carer feel unsure about any responses to a child's behaviour he or she should consult with the child’s social worker or their supervising social worker. Where necessary the out of hours the Emergency Social Services Team should also be contacted.