PPPHYSICAL CCCONTROL IIIN CCCARE TRAINING MANUAL DDDECEMBER 2005 RESTRICTED - PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE - RESTRICTED PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE IIINTRODUCTION PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE (P.C.C.) training has been created and developed by the National Instructors at the Prison Service College, to meet specifically the needs of the young person in care and those employed to care for them. The Secure Training Centre Rules require that the only methods of physical restraint used in Secure Training Centres are approved by the Secretary of State. The only method that has this approval is Physical Control in Care, a method developed by the Prison Service specifically for use on children and which the Home Office subsequently adopted for use in Secure Training Centres All techniques are approved by the Secretary of State for use in all secure trainings centre in the United Kingdom. Those people employed to escort young people in care also approve the techniques for use. PCC is a system of holds designed to be used on young people that does not rely on pain compliance to regain control. It is vital to impress upon staff that physical contact to resolve situations is a last resort. Staff should be encouraged to promote dialogue with the young person and de-escalate the situation as the young person regains control. PERSONAL SAFETY It is important that the safety of the young person is not gained at the expense of the care worker. The safety of the young person and the member of staff warrant equal consideration. Many of the risks associated with working with young people in care are foreseeable and as such can be catered for within the training package. Breakaway techniques should form an integral part of the physical handling system adapted for use. To this end PCC Training has incorporated © to HM Prison Service Training & Development Group December 2005 1 RESTRICTED - PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE - RESTRICTED breakaway techniques from potential attacks the young person may make whilst being held by a member of staff and the more common forms of attack they may possibly encounter in the course of their duties. These techniques offer a structured response to attacks within the care environment, giving the minimal risk of injury to staff and the young person. The PCC Training package does not depend on the size or strength of the care worker for its effectiveness although these factors will always play a part in the equation. When the situation demands a physical response, staff need to assess the situation, consider their own safety and capabilities before deciding on the appropriate course of action. We do not consider that there is any such thing as an absolutely safe restraint. Consequently staff considering the application of force will need to be aware of all the risks associated with laying hands on young persons, including factors inherent in both the young person and the holds themselves that may present risks. © to HM Prison Service Training & Development Group December 2005 2 RESTRICTED - PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE - RESTRICTED TTTRAINING All staff requiring PCC training will initially attend a 5 day Initial Course. On successful completion the member of staff will be authorised to use PCC in the approved manner, following the guidelines set out in Secure Training Centre Rules 37 & 38. The initial course will comprise of the following: • An introduction to PCC and the Use Of Force Policy. (Including the relevant Rules and Regulations. • Dealing with the conflict • The effects of stress • Use Of Force Report Writing • Medical advice • The role of the PCC supervisor • The FULL PCC syllabus The course is competence based and all students must be competent before receiving accreditation. All staff must receive a minimum of 1day Refresher Training per year in order for them to be validated to continue to be authorised to use PCC techniques Any staff not requiring the full PCC training will receive training in personal protection / breakaways at the earliest opportunity. They will receive the entire initial course without the PCC holds. Training will only be delivered by accredited instructors © to HM Prison Service Training & Development Group December 2005 3 RESTRICTED - PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE - RESTRICTED IIINSTRUCTOR TTTRAINING Selected staff will initially attend a pre-selection at their establishment. This will determine their suitability and potential to successfully complete the instructor’s course. Factors to consider are • Technical ability • Teaching experience / potential • Experience in the childcare environment • Knowledge of the Rules and Regulations • Long term ambitions • Appearance, demeanour, attitude The Initial Instructors Course will be a 10-day pass or fail format, at either of the Prison Service Training Colleges. PSC Hatfield Woodhouse PSC Kidlington Bawtry Road Evenlode Crescent Hatfield Kidlington Doncaster Oxfordshire (South Yorkshire) OX5 1RF DN7 6PQ The course will cover the following: • A full revision of the PCC syllabus • Introduction to teaching skills • Awareness of Health and Safety and Safe Systems Of Work • Warm-ups, briefing and de-briefing All candidates must demonstrate competence in technical ability, instructional ability, underpinning knowledge and attitude. On successful completion, candidates will be certified to instruct for 12 months. All instructors must attend an annual validation course of 4 days to re-qualify. Failure to attend will deem the instructor no longer eligible to instruct PCC. They are given up to 6 months to re-qualify and failure to do so will result in them having to complete the full PCC Instructors Initial Course again. © to HM Prison Service Training & Development Group December 2005 4 RESTRICTED - PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE - RESTRICTED PRINCIPLES PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE 1.1.1. USE OF FORCE The use of force to restrain a trainee must always be viewed as the final option available to Custody Officers. All other methods of resolving the situation must be tried or deemed inappropriate in the prevailing circumstances. Staff should use the reasonable force necessary to resolve the incident. Any person using force must be prepared to establish that the force used was reasonable in the circumstances. This means that they must be able to show that it was necessary to use force and the force used was proportionate to the threat presented. 2.2.2. ASSESSMENT In deciding to use physical force to restrain a trainee, staff must quickly assess the following factors: a) Their own ability b) The physical ability of the trainee c) Known history of trainee d) The minimum intervention phase required to successfully resolve the situation e) The availability of other staff f) The presence of other trainees g) The environment Having considered the above factors will determine whether or not staff can intervene. 3.3.3. INTERINTER----PERSONALPERSONAL SKILLS The Use of Physical Force must never be used as a first option. The Use of Force must not be used to replace the ability and willingness of staff to use their inter-personal skills to successfully resolve difficult confrontational incidents. © to HM Prison Service Training & Development Group December 2005 5 RESTRICTED - PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE - RESTRICTED 4.4.4. A NONNON----DECKINGDECKING POLICY Within the P.C.C. system there are no techniques, which deliberately take trainees to the floor. Physical restraint within the system aims to maintain the trainee in a standing position. Where there is a likelihood of the trainee or staff being taken to the floor during restraint, the hold(s) will be maintained and the trainee brought to a standing position at the earliest opportunity (within 3 minutes), or released. Within the system provision is made to physically hold the trainee who is already on the floor. The trainee will only be held on the floor for up to 3 minutes then the trainee must be released. 5.5.5. DEDEDE-DE ---ESCALATIONESCALATION The de-escalation of physical holds placed on the trainee by staff is of paramount importance. The P.C.C. system permits and promotes the hold(s) to be systematically down graded and eased as an integral part of the techniques used. The ultimate aim is to release all physical holds on the trainee as soon as practical and safe for all concerned. 6.6.6. HOLD RELEASE OPTION Where continued application of physical holds by staff on a trainee becomes unsafe for the trainee or staff the hold(s) must be released. Safety of all involved with the restraint is the priority. All P.C.C. holds and systems have the hold release option included. 7.7.7. ESCALATION Where staff are having trouble controlling the trainee, they have the option to escalate the physical restraint used by moving to the next phase of holds within the system provided if it is safe to do so. With any escalation (including handcuffs), the force used must be necessary and proportionate to the threat presented. 8.8.8. TEAMWORK The success of resolving difficult physical situations depends very much on a team approach to the resolution of these incidents. Staff should always bear in mind the effect that physical restraint may have on other trainees not involved and the potential for them to influence the proceedings. Staff not involved in © to HM Prison Service Training & Development Group December 2005 6 RESTRICTED - PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE - RESTRICTED the actual physical restraint of a trainee have an important role to play in supervising other trainees, making the area safe for those staff carrying out the restraint, and ensuring that all proceedings are professionally carried out. © to HM Prison Service Training & Development Group December 2005 7 RESTRICTED - PHYSICAL CONTROL IN CARE - RESTRICTED POLICY ON USE OF FORFORCECECECE Theory and Law surrounding the use of force The use of force by any member of staff in an establishment is lawful.