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Restrictive Practices
Restrictive practices are carefully designed interventions used to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals who may be at risk of harming themselves or others. While these measures may involve restricting movement or access to potentially harmful objects, they must always be implemented with care, respect, and a focus on the individual’s dignity. At My Care Living, we are dedicated to using restrictive practices only as a last resort, prioritising positive engagement and personalised strategies that create a safe and supportive environment for everyone involved.
Ethical and Compassionate Approach to Restrictive Practices
Understanding Restrictive Practices
Restrictive practices refer to a range of interventions and safety measures designed to protect individuals from causing harm to themselves or others. These interventions often involve limiting a person’s freedom of movement or access to specific objects that could pose a risk of injury. While restrictive practices are sometimes necessary to ensure safety, they must be implemented with the utmost care, adhering to authorised guidelines and maintaining respect for the individual’s dignity and rights. At My Care Living, we are committed to supporting individuals in a way that prioritises their safety while respecting their autonomy.
Minimising Restrictive Practices
At My Care Living, our approach to restrictive practices focuses on using the least restrictive methods possible. We understand that these measures should only ever be a last resort, employed when all other alternatives have been exhausted. Our team is trained to carefully assess each situation, exploring positive engagement strategies and other supportive interventions before implementing any restrictive measures. By focusing on the individual’s needs and creating personalised strategies, we aim to reduce the use of restrictive practices over time while promoting trust and collaboration.
Building Respectful Boundaries
Effective use of restrictive practices requires more than adherence to guidelines—it requires mutual respect and collaboration. At MyCare Living, we emphasise the importance of creating healthy, respectful boundaries that support both the individual’s safety and their personal growth. By involving the individual and their support network in planning and decision-making, we ensure that all measures are understood, transparent, and aligned with the individual’s best interests. This respectful approach helps create a supportive environment where individuals feel valued, understood, and empowered to thrive.
The Role of Positive Engagement
Restrictive practices are not solely about limiting behaviours—they are about creating an environment of safety and understanding. Our team prioritises positive engagement, working closely with individuals to build trust and open communication. By understanding their preferences, triggers, and needs, we develop tailored approaches that minimise distress and encourage cooperation. This focus on trust and understanding ensures that restrictive measures, when used, are implemented in a way that upholds the individual’s dignity and fosters a sense of security and well-being.
The 5 Main Types of Restrictive Practices Used by My Care Living:
1
Environmental Restraint
Environmental restraint is a restriction that limits an individual’s physical movements within their surroundings or modifies their environment to prevent them from engaging in unwanted behaviours. Some examples of environmental restraints used by My Care in disability include bed rails, seatbelts, harnesses, and safety gates.
Restricting access to objects is an essential aspect of environmental restraint in settings where individuals with disabilities may be at risk of harm.
One key consideration when using environmental restraint to restrict access to objects is to identify the specific risks or hazards that may be present. My Care conducts a thorough assessment of the environment to identify any objects or substances that may pose a threat to individuals with disabilities. For example, cleaning chemicals, medications, and sharp objects may need to be locked away to prevent accidental or intentional harm.
Once our team has identified potential hazards, they can implement appropriate strategies to restrict access to these objects. It may involve locking cabinets or drawers, installing safety gates, or securing things in other ways. It is crucial to ensure that the restrictions used are appropriate for the individual and their needs and that they are not overly restrictive or limiting.
The My Care team regularly review and evaluate the use of environmental restraint to ensure that it continues to be necessary and practical. Regular monitoring and assessment can help identify any changes in an individual’s needs or circumstances that may require adjustments to the environmental restraint measures in place.
Overall, the use of environmental restraint to restrict access to objects can be an effective way to promote the safety and well-being of individuals with disabilities. However, our team checks to ensure that the measures used are appropriate, individualised, and regularly reviewed to ensure their ongoing effectiveness.
2
Mechanical Restraint
Environmental restraint is a restriction that limits an individual’s physical movements within their surroundings or modifies their environment to prevent them from engaging in unwanted behaviours. Some examples of environmental restraints used by My Care in disability include bed rails, seatbelts, harnesses, and safety gates.
Restricting access to objects is an essential aspect of environmental restraint in settings where individuals with disabilities may be at risk of harm.
- Preventing harm to self or others: Mechanical restraint may be used to prevent individuals with disabilities from harming themselves or others in situations where they are experiencing extreme agitation, aggression, or self-injurious behaviour.
- Medical procedures: Mechanical restraint may be used during medical procedures to prevent individuals from moving and potentially causing harm to themselves or medical staff.
- Emergencies: In some emergencies, mechanical restraint may be necessary to protect the individual and others from harm.
When using mechanical restraints, our team will only use them as a last resort and ensure individuals’ safety and well-being through regular monitoring and assessment.
3
Physical Restraint
Physical restraint is a set of safety techniques our team uses when the client displays challenging physical behaviour. After our Team Leader has completed the Risk Assessment, our staff undergoes physical de-escalation training to learn how to apply those safe techniques under high-pressure situations practically.
Physical restraint in restrictive practice in disability refers to using physical force and techniques to limit an individual’s freedom of movement.
It involves using physical methods to restrict an individual’s motion to prevent them from engaging in behaviours perceived as dangerous or harmful to themselves or others.
Our professional, experienced team is regularly trained on the use of physical restraint and to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with adequate support and care to try to prevent the need for such interventions in the first place.
As an organisation committed to providing high-quality care and support for individuals with disabilities, My Care Living recognises the importance of using safe and effective techniques in physical restraint. Our approach prioritises using the least restrictive and least harmful techniques to ensure the safety and well-being of those in our care.
Verbal de-escalation is one of the safest and most practical techniques to calm individuals down and prevent them from engaging in harmful behaviours. Our team also use personal space interventions, such as physical barriers or private space, to prevent individuals from leaving certain areas or engaging in dangerous behaviours.
Our team receives training to use physical restraint safely, respectfully, and consistently with each individual’s care plan and rights. My Care is committed to promoting the safety, dignity, and well-being of those in our care, and our team strives to minimise physical restraint use through evidence-based, person-centred interventions.
4
Chemical Restraint
When an individual with a disability experiences difficulty controlling their behaviour, our Team Leaders may consider consulting a medical professional for the use of chemical restraint as a management option. Chemical restraint involves administering medication to reduce agitation or aggression. However, trained professionals such as doctors or psychiatrists must exhaust all alternative options before considering chemical restraint.
Before prescribing medication, professionals will carefully evaluate the individual’s medical history, the specific behaviour that requires management, and potential side effects. Furthermore, close monitoring is necessary to ensure the medication’s effectiveness and to minimise adverse effects.
Laws and guidelines strictly regulate the use of chemical restraint, requiring documentation and reporting. Recognising that chemical restraint should be a last resort is essential. The primary goal should be to empower individuals with disabilities to be as independent as possible by avoiding relying on medication to manage their behaviour.
5
Seclusion
This is where My Care Living may need to resort to a person being kept inside the house against their will for safety reasons for the client and the public.
As a registered NDIS service provider, My Care Living works closely with psychologists and behaviour specialists to identify and implement the restrictive practices necessary for clients and to provide a mandatory report to the NDIS for any restrictive practices used.
Partnering for Safe and Respectful Care
At MyCare Living, we believe that safety and respect go hand in hand when implementing restrictive practices. Our focus is always on fostering trust, understanding, and collaboration to ensure these measures are used responsibly and only when absolutely necessary. By prioritising positive engagement and personalised support, we help individuals feel valued and empowered while ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
If you or a loved one could benefit from expert guidance and compassionate care regarding restrictive practices, contact MyCare Living today. Together, we can create a supportive and secure environment where safety is upheld, and dignity is never compromised.
Let MyCare Living be your trusted partner in navigating restrictive practices with care, expertise, and respect.