Launch of new guidance aimed at reducing use of restrictive practices in healthcare, social care and educational settings

The Reducing Restrictive Practices Framework provides advice to those who work with children and adults across relevant settings and services.

The Framework aims to reduce the use of restrictive practices, also known as restraint, used on people of all ages and on those with additional learning needs.

The set of new resources to support the Framework have been developed by the Welsh Government in partnership with the Restraint Reduction Network and Improvement Cymru. The resources are based on the lived experiences of those affected.

They include an animation produced and written by people with a lived experience, an explainer document, and a poster.

The animation depicts the eight types of restrictive practice; physical, chemical, mechanical, enforced isolation, psychological, cultural, surveillance and blanket restrictions.

As well as the animation, the explainer and poster aim to support discussion and increase public knowledge.

Minister for Social Care, Dawn Bowden, has welcomed the new resources which aim to reduce the use of restrictive practices in relevant settings for people of all ages.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the new resources, Minister for Social Care Dawn Bowden said: “We know that restrictive practices can have a negative impact on the people they are used on, as well as those who implement and witness them”.

“We hope this new set of awareness raising resources will reduce the use of restrictive practices in the future, and increase knowledge of the harm they can cause."

A webinar hosted by the Restraint Reduction Network in partnership with Welsh Government and Improvement Cymru has been planned for 24 July 2024 to officially launch the new resources.

Ben Higgins, Restraint Reduction Network CEO, said: “We are delighted to support the launch of the Welsh Government’s new resources for practitioners working in health, care and educational settings, created as part of the Reducing Restrictive Practices Framework.

"We hope that this coproduced animation increases understanding of restrictive practices – what they are, the harm they cause and how to reduce and prevent them - supporting practitioners to reduce the use of restraint in Wales and make a real difference to people’s lives.”