Physical Restraint – last-resort safety, never a behaviour-management tool
(aligned with the agency Restraint Policy, March 2025 edition)
Positive Aspirations Group’s stance is clear: physical restraint is avoided whenever humanly possible. It is not a method for enforcing rules or winning arguments; it exists only for split-second situations where immediate, serious harm is otherwise unavoidable.
1 | Principles to remember
- De-escalate first – calm voice, space, choices, change of adult.
- Withdraw if you can – move yourself (and anyone else at risk) out of harm’s way.
- Call police if danger remains – they have training and legal powers you do not.
- Use restraint only if all the following apply simultaneously:
- An imminent risk of serious injury to the child, another person or of major property destruction (e.g., setting fire).
- Withdrawal or other de-escalation is impossible.
- You believe you can intervene safely without escalating risk.
2 | If restraint happens
Even a brief hold must be treated as a critical incident.
| Step | Action |
| Immediately after | Check for injuries, offer reassurance, restore calm. |
| Within the hour | Phone your SSW (or out-of-hours) and the child’s social worker. |
| Within 24 h | Complete an Incident Report with: what led up to the restraint, exact technique used, duration, the child’s words and your own feelings. |
| Follow-up | Debrief with the child when calm, update the risk assessment and Safer-Caring Plan, and reflect in supervision. |
The agency will notify Ofsted as a Notifiable Event and decide whether the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) must be informed.
3 | Training and review
While we expect carers to avoid restraint, you will still receive annual refresher training on:
- recognising escalating behaviour and trauma triggers;
- non-contact de-escalation strategies;
- legal thresholds for reasonable force;
- safe, short techniques for emergency hand-to-hand holds (taught only as last-resort knowledge).
If a restraint occurs, targeted coaching is arranged before another similar situation arises.
4 | Trauma-informed reflection
Restraint—even when justified—can reactivate past trauma for children and carers alike. Use supervision to process emotions and adjust care plans: What was the spark that ignited the crisis? How can we meet that underlying need differently next time?
Key message: Physical restraint is the absolute last resort. Withdraw, protect, call for help—and record everything. When restraint does happen, transparent reporting and reflective learning safeguard everyone and reduce the chance of a repeat.
