Challenging Behaviour Policy and Procedure

The aims of this policy are:

1. To provide a safe and secure environment in which students are able to enjoy themselves, learn new skills and meet others
2. To set in place arrangements to ensure the protection of students and staff
3. To clarify the procedure in case of challenging behaviour within the group
4. To gather information about each student so that the ActOne team are aware of challenging situations likely to arise and are able to plan appropriately with parents knowledge and consent
5. To guide and protect all adults who are responsible for students during classes

Guidelines for dealing with challenging behaviour
Challenging behaviour is identified as hitting, slapping, kicking, spitting, punching, pushing, scratching, persistent verbal abuse, sexual harassment or bullying.

If you have concerns about challenging behaviour speak to the project co-ordinator and ring the company co-ordinator, Suzie Scambler telephone number 07890 539 230/ 01707 338373.

The company co-ordinator will be responsible for informing the relevant authorities if necessary. Our local authority is Children, School and Families, Duty Officer, telephone number 01483 737500.

Our policy is to ‘calm and contain’. Care must be taken not to aggravate a situation or take action detrimental to the student, other students or staff. When behaviour is challenging we must first make every effort to identify the cause of the anger/distress such as noise level, discomfort or communication problems. Students should be encouraged to continue participating in the activity with extra support i.e. partnering a support worker. If the student becomes too agitated or distressed to continue with the session or the behaviour puts the student, other students or staff at risk the following guidelines should be adhered to.

1. Always follow the behavioural policy procedure. There are 3 stages
   1. Give the student a clear warning that the behaviour is not acceptable explaining why it is disruptive to the group
   2. A second clear warning that if the behaviour continues the student will be asked to sit out of an activity
   3. If challenging behaviour continues the student is asked to sit out of the activity for an amount of time appropriate to the individual (not more than 10mins)
2. If the behaviour is likely to cause harm to the student, other students or staff then it may become necessary to take the student into a different room, if moving the student is likely to agitate the situation then the rest of the group will be taken to a separate area
3. Two members of staff must be present both with the individual and the remainder of the group at all times if the group is separated
4. If the situation is not able to be calmed quickly or physical intervention is necessary the named person for the group must be present
5. If the behaviour is not able to be calmed the parent/carer for the student must be contacted and asked to come to collect the participant
6. Incidents and concerns must be entered into the challenging behaviour book
7. If challenging behaviour is persistent a programme will be created by the Artistic Director, parent/carer and main teacher for the student. The aim of this programme is to note triggers for behaviour, coping strategy’s familiar to the student and progress

DO NOT

• Ignore challenging behaviour
• Stop activities unless the student, other students or staff are at risk
• Miss out a step of the behaviour policy
• Use negative language about the participant rather than the behaviour
• Use physical restraint unless the student, other student or staff is at serious risk, in this case the named person in charge is responsible for intervention
• Discuss the behaviour with any person outside the ActOne staff

Training in challenging behaviour will be sought for each member of the Company. This document will be provided in full to each person working with an ActOne group.