NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 89 — 1 SEPTEMBER 2017

• the person performing the restraint and other people present.
• Apply physical restraint only for the minimum time necessary and stop as soon as the danger has passed.
• Monitor the physical and psychological wellbeing of both the student and the staff member who applied the restraint for the rest of the school day. Watch for shock, possible unnoticed injury and delayed effects.

Good practice following an incident involving physical restraint

After an incident involving physical restraint, take these steps to ensure everyone involved stays safe, future incidents can be prevented if possible, the parents or caregivers know, and the incident is reported.

• Check the staff member and the student regularly to ensure they are not in shock. Support them as necessary.
• Tell the parents or caregivers the same day the incident occurred so they can monitor the student’s wellbeing at home.
• If the student attends a residential school, ensure the residential team manager is told, so the student’s wellbeing can be monitored after school.

Reflection

• Reflect formally on why the incident occurred that resulted in the student being restrained. Consider what might have prevented it, and what might need to change to minimise the likelihood of it happening again.
• Consider whether all preventative and de-escalation strategies were used according to the Individual Behaviour Plan, if there is one, and whether the restraint used was safe.
• Review the Individual Behaviour Plan and make decisions as a team about what needs to be strengthened to minimise the likelihood of a similar incident.

Debriefing the incident

Debriefing staff

• Hold a debriefing session with involved staff, the Principal or Principal’s delegate, and another member of staff not involved in the physical restraint incident. Hold it within two days of the incident.
• In the debriefing, focus on the incident, the lead-up to it, the different interventions used that were unsuccessful in de-escalating the behaviour, and what could have been done differently.
• If Ministry or RTLB practitioners are part of the student’s team, involve them in the debriefing process.
• If the police were involved in the incident, invite them to participate in the debriefing session.
• Write notes on the debrief along with agreed next steps or actions.

Debriefing parents or caregivers

• Offer the parents or caregivers a separate debriefing as soon as practically possible, preferably within two days of the incident.
• At this meeting, give them the opportunity to discuss the incident. Invite them to become active partners in exploring alternatives to restraint. If appropriate, involve the student in this debriefing session.
• Write notes from the debriefing along with next steps or actions.

Managing complaints from parents

• It is understandable that some parents may feel upset if their child has been physically restrained. All schools will have a policy on responding to parent complaints.
• The school should also contact the local Ministry office if the complaint cannot be easily resolved. If further investigation is required then the Ministry reserves the right to be a party to that process.

Promote the minimisation of physical restraint

The Principal or Principal’s delegate should be responsible for:

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