Extreme poor practice

[dave]

As a rsw in the 1980's and trained to restrain young people in secure units I really thought and hoped I had seen the last of very very poor practice. I've just witnessed one of the most horrendous restraints I've seen for a long time. 12 year old child absconds from a unit. Staff are ordered by social worker not to let her out. Two big male staff rush after her. One grabs her and puts her in a wrist lock that wouldn't be out of place at Guantanamo Bay. Second puts her in straight arm lock. They drag her back to unit. She's screaming with pain and not surprisingly swearing at them. She's pushed to the floor face kind of up, staff lay on her legs and pin her arms. They tell her they won't let go until she stops screaming. Funnily enough (sic) she doesn't.

We've still got a long way folks.

[forumAdmin]

What systems are in place for reporting these events

when we see things who can we mention it too and in what form do we go forward - how - the story has an emotional effect yet in the same position I as a new member of staff may feel paralysed?

I am interested in others views and experiences - not only Dave's.

[nikkij]

There appears to be several reasons why bad practice is not reported: Often a new staff member can be 'buddied' up with an older staff member. Bad practice can therefore be learnt from others, particularly if individuals are not sure what would constitute as bad practice. If the staff members are new, they are less likely to report it for 'fear of the consequences' of what will happen to them. New individuals may also not know how bad practice should be reported. Some individuals may also not report it as they may have the thoughts of: "if it was bad practice someone else would have reported it before now".

My own personal experience of reporting bad practice was a very negative experience. After reporting some bad practice I had observed, the manager percieved my information as mere gossip! It was myself that recieved a stern talk and not the individual I had reported. Needless to say this will not stop me reporting bad practice, though some individuals may be put off by this....how can this problem be overcome?

[bethr]

I can relate to Nikki's experience of reporting bad practice - this also hapened to me as member of staff. I felt intimidated by older members of staff and quite scared as to what the outcome would be if i reported bad practice. I did report the incidents that concerned me, an investigation was started and after a horrifc interview, during which i felt like i was on trial, the staff members were moved to another unit - whether or not they were given any further training or support in order to ensure that bad practice did not occur again, i have no idea. I do know though, that this problem is not going to be overcome overnight.

[steveg]

I feel its always going to be hard to report bad practice if you got to put your head over parapit, especially if the incident is not a one off between one or 2 individuals, but an overall service practice

My own experiences was "shut up, put up or ship out." when i was a Support Worker

When i became a Manager and saw "iffy" practices in units that was not under my responsiblity, I felt it would be easier to report because of my position, but in the end i got the rep of "interferring Manager!"...... from fellow Managers!

I think it should be compulsary for all services (if it isnt so already?) for a whistle blower policy to be in place and any concerns can be reported without fear and reports should be looked into by an independant person

[steveg]

And CSci is always an option

[bethr]

I've had some experiences of 'whistle blowing policies' and i think as mentioned above by myself and Nikki we need to look at solving some of the difficulties associated with this policy. Overall experience from people who have replied to this thread, seems to be that they were thought of as a 'troublemaker'. So..........what things can be done to encourage people to report bad practice, and to support people in the aftermath?? Any ideas anyone??