The Report of Sir Martin Narey’s independent review of children’s residential care includes key statements concerning risk, restriction and restraint the following quotations and page references below contain some of the more pertinent statements:
“No child in care should be exposed to any more danger than that to which we would expose our own children. The Department for Education, in consultation with Ofsted, needs to reconsider their guidance – taking account of recent Court judgements – to ensure that staff are able to keep children safe by preventing them leaving homes at time of danger, either by locking doors or using restraint, and that they can be confident in the legality of their doing so.” (Page 44)
“Ofsted should certainly encourage the reduced use of restraint, but seek to understand why, for some children, that may not be possible, even over long periods.” (Page 52)
“I urge Ofsted to re-visit their inspection framework and acknowledge that, exceptionally; the use of restraint on particularly challenging children might not reduce over time.” (Page 53)
Thanks, and acknowledgement to Bernard Allen for his contributions and commitments in this area of work – helping to safeguard people and services.