Physical Control in Care Training Manual - Independent Advisory ...

PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE1.8 THE PROPER CONTEXT FOR TEACHING ANDUSING PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CAREIt is essential that Instructors, and the staff they instruct, shouldalways have at the forefront of their minds that the techniques beingtaught are only one part of a range of possible responses tothreatened or actual violent behaviour.Such techniques are to be used only when other methods notinvolving use of force have been tried and failed, or are judgedunlikely to succeed, and action needs to be taken to preventinjury to young people, to staff, to other people or seriousdamage to property.THESE TECHNIQUES MUST ALWAYS BE SEEN IN THECONTEXT OF THE TOTAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CARESTAFF AND YOUNG PEOPLE.Any suggestion that the appropriate response to disruptive orthreatening behaviour is necessarily the use of force – or thatviolence should necessarily be met by violence – are unlawful andmust be discouraged.Instructors must always be conscious of the fact that, by what theysay and do, they influence the attitudes and actions of the staff theyare training. Instructors must at all times be mature and balanced inthe attitudes and actions which they present. The presentation of a‘macho’ approach is likely to be carried across into the manner inwhich staff perform their duties – to the serious detriment of theirperformance, their inter-personal relationships with young people andultimately to the reputation of their employer.APPROACH, ATTITUDEInstructors teach skills which are vitally important to staff and theirestablishments. Only the very best will be acceptable.Instructors will be instructing men and women of varying ages,physical competence, operational experience and aptitude to learn.Some may be over-confident, others apprehensive. The Instructor’stask is to assess, reassure, teach and produce at the end of the© National Offender Management Service National Tactical Response GroupJuly 201043