1.5.1 Sanctions

Contents

1. Approved and Non Approved Sanctions
2. Informing Children
3. When Sanctions may be Imposed
4. Monitoring and Recording use of Sanctions
   
   

1. Approved and Non Approved Sanctions

The following restrictions, if placed upon a child, are deemed to be a Sanction and must be recorded as such:

1. Confiscation or withdrawal of a telephone or mobile 'phone in order to protect a child or another person from harm, injury or to protect property from being damaged. See: Correspondence Procedure
2. The requirement for a child to get up or go to bed up to one hour before the normal time.
3. The 'grounding' of a child within the home, or any restriction on a child from leaving the home.  Although 'grounded', a child may only be prevented from leaving the home by the use of Physical Intervention in certain circumstances.  See Physical Intervention Procedures.
4.  Preventing a child from being carried in a vehicle; a 'Car Ban'; even if a car ban is in place staff can take children on essential journey's e.g. to visit parents, with the authority of the Manager.
5. Any restriction on the normal use of or undertaking of Activities or Leisure pursuits, including withdrawal or suspension of the use of a TV.
6. Loss of privileges or any requirement on a child to undertake additional/extra household chores or tasks.
7. The payment of pocket money as reparation for damage to property or theft.  NB: Children may only be required to pay a maximum of 2/3 pocket money up to a maximum of six weeks for damage or theft.

In certain circumstances it may be appropriate to apply other sanctions upon individual children.  If this appears necessary, the sanctions used must be approved by the manager of the home in consultation with the relevant child’s social worker.  In doing so, the non-approved sanctions, outlined in Behaviour Management Guidance.

2. Informing Children

Children should be informed about the range of sanctions that may be imposed upon them and the possible circumstances which may result in sanctions.

This information must be provided in a Children's Guide or outlined in the Placement Plan and/or Individual Crisis Management Plan(ICMP) for individual children.

3. When Sanctions may be Imposed

Only Approved Sanctions may be imposed, as a negative consequence for unacceptable behaviour. 

Sanctions may only be imposed as a last resort with the intention of encouraging acceptable behaviour or acting as a disincentive for unacceptable behaviour.

Sanctions must never be imposed simply as a consequence of unacceptable behaviour.

Caution should be exercised to ensure that sanctions do not act as positive re-enforcement of unacceptable behaviour.

Before any sanction is imposed staff/carers must be satisfied of the following:

1. that the child was capable of behaving acceptably and understands what was required of him/her;
2. other encouraging and rewarding strategies have not worked or would not work in the circumstances;
3. the sanction imposed is relevant, fair and must last no longer than is absolutely necessary
4. there is a view that the sanction may encourage acceptable behaviour or act as a disincentive.

4. Monitoring and Recording use of Sanctions

The Home Manager must monitor and review the use of sanctions and be satisfied that they are used appropriately. 

Sanctions must be noted in the Daily Log and Sanctions Record kept by the home, and noted in the child’s Daily Record with detail, if necessary, on a Detail Record.

End