An Innovative Approach
to Behaviour
Management for
Children
James Barlow – Area Manager (Hampshire)
Dr Anna Randle – Clinical Psychologist
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
(HPBS)

Hillcrest Childrens Services

Bespoke Positive Behaviour Support tailored to young people’s needs
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Behaviour Audit and Training Needs
Analysis
25%
39%
3%
5%
7%
9%
RPI
Missing/Absent
Self-Injury
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
12%
Damage
Non-compliance/Verbal Abuse
Assault
Other
Young Person History
6%
4%
7%
38%
10%
16%
19%
Neglect
Emotional Abuse/Neglect
Sexual Abuse
Physical Abuse/Sexual Abuse/Emotional Abuse/Neglect
Physical Abuse/Emotional Abuse/Neglect
Emotional Abuse
Other
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Regulations and Legislation

Protection of Children Standard

9.58 ‘Those commissioning training in restraint for children’s homes staff
should be satisfied that the training fits with their approach to restraint or
existing restraint system, and is appropriate to the needs of the children the
home is set up to care for’.

BILD Code of Practice 2014
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Every child needs someone who is
crazy about them
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
IMPLEMENTATION
Four day course upon induction/refresher courses

Module 1: The Care setting

Module 2: Understanding of Behaviour

Module 3: Crisis Prevention

Module 4: Crisis Management

Module 5: Post Crisis Support
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support

Insecure Attachment patterns are seen in 80% of maltreated children

Attachment difficulties can be the root cause of behaviour
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support

“It’s not what’s wrong with you, it’s what happened to you.” Jim Davis, CEO
Veterans for Change. PTSD

Product of what you experience

Don’t miss the person behind the behaviour or the diagnosis
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Trauma Tree
Problem
Solving
Cognitive
Organisation
Sensory Fragmentation
Fight/Flight/Freeze
Executive
Function
Hormonal
Regulation
Affect
Regulation
Attachments
Psychological
Development
Sleep Patterns
Brain
Development
Physical
Development
Muscle Tone & Coordination
Taste & Texture
Preferences and Ability
to Digest
DEVELOPMENTAL
TRAUMA
Heart Rate
Breathing
The Trauma Tree’s ‘roots’ are in the prolonged neglect, deprivation, loss, abuse, violence, upheaval or any combination of these
that the child has experienced in his or her early childhood, fundamentally affecting the development of brain, body and the
relationship between them.
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
TRAUMA

Neil Morrissy – “Being taken away from my parents was the biggest single
trauma I went through. I thought I was being placed into care because I was
naughty.”

Definition of Trauma – A very distressing or disturbing experience
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
The House Model (Golding, 2008)

How does this model differ from other approaches to caring for young people?

What is familiar and unfamiliar about this model?
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Managing Behaviour Whilst Managing
Emotion

Empathy first before discipline

Feelings are accepted even if behaviour is not

Management of behaviour needs to be consistent, reliable and predictable

Communicates ‘I am a safe person’

Look for opportunities to keep the young person close even when their
behaviour is pushing you away

May need to put space between yourself and young person but without the
child feeling rejected

Communicates ‘I can manage my feelings and won’t hurt you with them’

I’ll be back (apologies to Sam)
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Feelings Behaviour Model
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Arousal-Relaxation Cycle
Anxiety,
fear, need
for comfort
Behaviour:
angry,
compliant,
controlling
Just managing the
behaviour provides the
containment but doesn’t
build attachment
Relief and
relaxation
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Provide support and empathy
helping the child to manage the
shame and anxiety leading on
from the behaviour
What is empathy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Empathy

Happens with someone else

Is a quality in which one person understands the perceptions and feelings of
another, accepts these perceptions and feelings as belonging to the other
person and conveys this understanding and acceptance back to the person.

Recognising hidden needs

Not problem solving straight away!
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Still Face Experiment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Working with the attitude of PACE

We need to find ways to remain emotionally engaged and available to
the young people we work with.

Dan Hughes (2006) suggests a certain attitude (PACE) that you can hold
which will help you to maintain a level of emotional engagement with
your young person.

Playful - sometimes adopting a playful stance can diffuse a situation
and help the YP

Accepting - the feelings behind the behaviour but not the behaviours.

Curious - remaining curious and open about why the YP is behaving
as they are.

Empathetic - understanding.

Helps you to attune to your young person.
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Conclusion

Relationships

Whole Organisational Approach

Therapeutic Residential Child Care Diploma and Reflective Practice
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support
Benefits

Increased attuned relationships

Increase in trust, love and warmth

Increase in placement stability

Reduction in RPI

Reduction in injury

Improved staff knowledge, confidence and morale

Reduced staff turnover
Hillcrest Positive Behaviour Support