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Positive Behaviour Support and Managing Aggression Policy

Purpose and Scope

This policy outlines our approach to promoting positive behavior and safely managing aggression in our care home. It applies to all staff, volunteers, and caregivers supporting adult service users (including older adults with dementia) in our CQC-registered facility. Our goal is to ensure that service users receive care in a manner that promotes dignity, respect, safety, and person-centered support while meeting the Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements for safe and effective care. By following this policy, we aim to enhance quality of life for residents, prevent incidents of challenging behavior, and respond safely and ethically when aggression does occur.

Policy Statement and Values

We are committed to a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach in all aspects of care. PBS is “a person-centred framework for providing long-term support to people … who have, or may be at risk of developing, behaviours that challenge”. This approach recognizes that “behaviour that challenges usually happens for a reason and may be the person’s only way of communicating an unmet need. PBS helps us understand the reason for the behaviour so we can better meet people’s needs, enhance their quality of life and reduce the likelihood that the behaviour will happen”. In line with this philosophy, our staff will strive to understand the underlying causes of distress or aggression (such as pain, confusion, fear or frustration in a person with dementia) and address those needs proactively rather than reactively.

Our values and principles include: person-centered care, respect for each individual’s rights and dignity, and a commitment to least restrictive practices. We uphold that every service user has the right to a good quality of life, including: participation in community life, meaningful relationships, personal choice and autonomy, opportunities to develop skills, and being treated with dignity and respect. We promote a culture that sees behaviour as communication, not as something to punish. All staff are expected to interact with service users in a non-judgemental, respectful, and caring manner at all times. As the MAPA® approach (Management of Actual or Potential Aggression) emphasizes, we respond to people with respect and dignity while supporting them to stay safe.

This policy is aligned with national best-practice guidance. We adhere to the Department of Health’s Positive and Proactive Care (2014) guidance, which requires providers to use recovery-based, person-centered approaches and PBS principles when supporting people who present challenging behaviours. This applies equally to those with learning disabilities or autism and to older people with dementia who may become confused or agitated. We also follow relevant NICE guidelines on managing violence and aggression in care settings to anticipate and reduce the need for restrictive interventions. Our approach supports compliance with key CQC Fundamental Standards: ensuring person-centred care (Regulation 9), safe care and treatment including risk management (Regulation 12), safeguarding from abuse and avoiding inappropriate restraint (Regulation 13), good governance through incident monitoring (Regulation 17), and staff training and competency in PBS and de-escalation (Regulation 18). All staff and managers are responsible for upholding this policy and its values in daily practice.

Definitions

Assessment and Individualised Support Planning

Effective positive behavior support begins with understanding the individual. For any service user who exhibits, or is at risk of, challenging behavior or aggression, we will carry out a holistic assessment and develop a personalised Behaviour Support Plan (BSP). The assessment will gather information about the person’s history, health (including mental health, dementia, pain or discomfort), communication needs, likes/dislikes, and known triggers for distress. We use a functional assessment approach to identify why the behavior is occurring and what need the person is expressing. Specifically, when assessing behavior, we consider factors such as the appearance of the behavior (what it looks like), the frequency of incidents, the severity of impact or harm, the duration of episodes, and the likely function (purpose) of the behavior for that individual. Understanding these elements helps staff to pinpoint underlying causes (e.g., physical discomfort, environmental stressors, communication frustrations) and to tailor support strategies accordingly.

Each service user’s Behaviour Support Plan will outline proactive strategies to meet their needs and prevent challenging episodes, as well as reactive strategies to manage situations safely if behaviours escalate. Plans are developed in collaboration with the individual (to the extent possible) and their family or representatives, to ensure we respect the person’s preferences and life history. We presume that each adult has capacity to be involved in planning unless assessed otherwise. If a person is found to lack mental capacity to make decisions about their care or interventions, any actions and the BSP will be made in their best interests in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We will also consider input from relevant professionals (e.g., psychologists, dementia specialists, community mental health teams) for additional expertise in designing effective support plans.

Behaviour Support Plans are living documents: they will be reviewed and updated regularly (at least annually, and sooner after any significant incident or change in behavior patterns). The plan will clearly specify the behaviours it addresses, known triggers, early warning signs, and step-by-step guidance for staff on how to prevent and respond to those behaviours. Our aim is to ensure that staff have a consistent, well-informed approach for each individual, fostering stability and trust. By planning ahead and individualising our care strategies, we reduce uncertainty for both the service user and staff, which in turn helps minimize situations that could lead to aggression or distress.

Proactive Prevention Strategies

Primary prevention is our first priority. “Primary prevention uses proactive strategies that are designed to meet the person’s needs to minimise the occurrence of incidents of behaviour that challenges”. This means we focus on creating an environment and daily routine where challenging behaviours are less likely to occur. Staff will get to know each resident well – their personal history, preferences, and the things that make them happy, anxious, or upset. We use this knowledge to adjust our care and environment in a way that keeps the person as content and engaged as possible. Key proactive strategies include:

By focusing on quality of life and preventative care, {{org_field_name}} aims to reduce the frequency and intensity of behaviours that challenge. Positive reinforcement of good behavior, encouragement, and celebration of the person’s abilities are also important. We treat every day as an opportunity to support the person’s wellbeing, independence, and sense of control, thereby proactively reducing the potential for aggression or frustration.

Early Intervention and De-escalation Techniques

Despite our best preventive efforts, there may be times when a service user begins to show signs of distress or escalating agitation. All staff are trained to recognize early warning signs of potential aggressive or challenging behavior. Early signs could include changes in body language (e.g. pacing, restlessness, clenched fists, tense posture), verbal cues (raised voice, shouting, or increased confusion), or changes in mood (like sudden anxiety or anger). Recognising these signs allows staff to intervene early with de-escalation techniques before the situation reaches a crisis point.

When early signs are noted, staff should remain calm and follow the person’s Behaviour Support Plan strategies for secondary prevention (sometimes called secondary strategies or early intervention). Key de-escalation techniques and approaches include:

Throughout an incident, staff demeanor is crucial. Staff must maintain a supportive, composed stance – be aware of their own body language (non-threatening posture, open palms, soft eye contact). We never respond to aggression with aggression. Shouting, scolding, or rushing toward a person will only escalate things further and is strictly against our approach. Instead, staff focus on de-escalation – the goal is to help the person calm down and regain control as soon as possible, while ensuring everyone’s safety. If the person begins to de-escalate (signs like slower breathing, willing to talk, reduced tension), staff should reinforce and support this by quietly praising their cooperation or offering comfort. Given our client group (people with dementia and other cognitive impairments), it’s especially important to be patient and not take any aggressive words or actions personally – they are a product of the condition or distress, and our role is to be the calming presence.

Use of Physical Intervention (Restraint)

Physical intervention (restraint) will only be used in {{org_field_name}} as an absolute last resort when all other de-escalation attempts have failed and there is an imminent risk of serious harm to the individual or others. We recognize that any use of force can be traumatic and carries risk of injury, particularly for frail older adults or those with medical conditions. Therefore, our emphasis is always on preventing escalation (through the strategies above) so that physical intervention is rarely, if ever, needed.

If a situation has escalated to the point where a service user is actively violent (e.g., physically assaultive or endangering themselves/others) and immediate action is required, trained staff may employ MAPA® physical intervention techniques to ensure safety. According to our MAPA® training, interventions may include gently holding or guiding a person to prevent them from striking or injuring someone. “MAPA® interventions include talking and listening and when necessary may include holding someone to prevent harm to themselves or others”. Any such hold or physical redirection must be done by staff who have been trained and deemed competent in the specific MAPA® methods, and it must be done safely, ethically, and for the shortest duration necessary. Staff are taught to always use the least restrictive option for the shortest time possible. For example, this might mean holding a person’s arm only long enough for them to drop a weapon or cease hitting, and releasing as soon as they are no longer a danger.

When using physical interventions, staff must adhere to the following guidelines:

We strive to minimize the use of restrictive interventions through our emphasis on prevention and de-escalation. The care home’s leadership is dedicated to a “restrictive intervention reduction programme”, meaning we continuously work to reduce the need for any restraints. Each incident of physical intervention is treated seriously as an opportunity to learn and further improve our support plans.

Post-Incident Procedures (Reporting and Debriefing)

Any incident of aggression, challenging behavior, or use of physical restraint must be followed by thorough reporting, review, and debriefing to ensure transparency and continual improvement. The steps after an incident are as follows:

  1. Ensure Immediate Safety and Care: Once the situation is under control, staff will attend to anyone who may have been hurt or distressed. This includes checking the service user involved in the incident for any injuries (even minor, especially after a restraint) and providing first aid or seeking medical attention if required. The individual will be comforted and reassured as soon as they are calm enough to engage. Other residents affected will also be checked and consoled as needed.
  2. Inform Leadership: The senior staff on duty or the Care Home Manager must be notified as soon as possible after any significant incident, especially if restraint was used or if any injury occurred. They will provide guidance on immediate next steps and ensure support is given.
  3. Document the Incident: Staff involved must complete an incident report (in line with our Incident Reporting Policy) before the end of their shift. The report will include a factual, detailed account of what happened: the context and triggers leading up to the incident, the behaviours observed, de-escalation efforts made, any physical interventions used (including duration and who applied them), and the outcome. It should also note the condition of the service user after the incident and any follow-up medical checks. This documentation is critical for accountability and learning.
  4. Debrief with Staff and Witnesses: The manager or a designated senior will facilitate a debrief with the staff members involved (ideally immediately or within 24 hours of the incident). The purpose is to reflect on what happened, evaluate what strategies worked or didn’t, and provide emotional support to staff. Witnesses or other residents (as appropriate) may also be debriefed to address any trauma or concerns. According to best practice, an immediate post-incident debrief helps staff and services learn from the event and monitor any ongoing risks. During debrief, we ask: Were all preventive measures used?, Did we follow the plan and training?, What could we do differently next time? This is a no-blame discussion aimed at learning and improvement.
  5. Follow-Up with the Service User: At a suitable time after the incident (considering the person’s cognitive ability and emotional state), we will check in with the service user involved. If they can understand, we gently discuss what happened and listen to their feelings. For those with dementia who may not recall or understand the event fully, this follow-up may simply be providing comfort and re-establishing trust (e.g., engaging in a pleasant activity together). We also involve the person’s family or representative if appropriate – for instance, informing them of the incident (as per our duty of candour) and explaining what is being done to support their loved one.
  6. Review and Update Plans: The individual’s Behaviour Support Plan and risk assessment will be reviewed and updated in light of the incident. We consider whether new triggers were identified, whether the current strategies need changing, or if additional support (such as specialist input or medical review) is needed. If the incident was serious, a formal multidisciplinary review might be convened. Our goal is to learn from each incident to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
  7. Notifications and Safeguarding: If the incident meets certain criteria (for example, a serious injury occurred, or a safeguarding concern is identified such as unreasonable use of force), the manager will follow statutory notification procedures. This could include informing the CQC (via regulatory notification), the local safeguarding adults team, or the police if a crime may have occurred. The Registered Manager is responsible for determining if an incident requires external notification under regulations and for ensuring our duty of candour to the affected person/their family is fulfilled (i.e., being honest and apologising if harm was caused).
  8. Support and Wellbeing: We recognize that incidents of aggression or restraint can be distressing for all involved – the service user, staff, and other residents. Post-incident, the care home will provide support as needed. This might involve counseling for staff (or access to an employee assistance program) if they are shaken, or therapeutic activities for the resident to help them recover emotionally. We strive to maintain a supportive environment where staff can openly discuss incidents and feel confident to report challenges without fear of blame, focusing instead on solutions.

All incident reports and outcomes of debriefings are reviewed by management. They are analysed for patterns or trends (e.g., is a particular time of day or activity often associated with incidents? Is a certain resident experiencing increased agitation recently?). This forms part of our continuous improvement and governance process.

Staff Training and Competency

To implement this policy effectively, all staff must have the knowledge and skills to support positive behavior and manage aggression safely. We are committed to providing comprehensive training and regular refreshers for our team:

Ultimately, our staff training and support framework aims to equip everyone with the confidence to handle challenging situations in a calm, skilled, and professional manner. This not only keeps our residents safe but also protects staff from injury and reduces their anxiety about responding to aggression. Well-trained, attentive, and compassionate staff are the cornerstone of effective positive behavior support.

Governance, Monitoring, and Review

The implementation of this policy will be monitored by the management team to ensure it is effective and remains up-to-date with best practices. Our governance and quality assurance measures include:

By closely monitoring our performance and remaining vigilant, we aim to continuously improve our positive behavior support practices. Our overarching goal is to create a safe, supportive home for our residents – one where respect, compassion, and positive support are at the heart of every interaction, and where incidents of aggression are met with skilled, caring responses that uphold the dignity and well-being of all.

References and Guidance


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