<aside> 💡 Applicable to: All

This policy takes account of the Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations (2013) and the National Minimum Standards for Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (Department for Education).

This policy has been approved by the OMH Board of Trustees

</aside>

Policy Statement OMH is committed to promoting positive behaviour and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all holiday makers attending our residential holiday schemes. Our approach is underpinned by respect, dignity, and an understanding that behaviour is a form of communication. This policy aligns with the Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the National Minimum Standards 2013.

Principles

• We recognise the right of every holiday maker to feel safe, valued, and supported.
• We understand that behaviours that challenge may arise from a range of needs and emotions, including communication difficulties, anxiety, trauma, or sensory needs.
• We are committed to using proactive, preventative strategies wherever possible, with reactive strategies reserved for immediate risk.

Proactive Support Procedures

• Clear, consistent behavioural expectations are communicated in accessible ways, including visual aids, social stories, and structured routines.
• Each holiday maker has a personalised care plan based on input from families, and prior experiences on the residential holiday, identifying triggers and preferred de-escalation strategies.
• Some holiday makers have individual behaviour support plans, updated regularly to reflect incidents and outline tailored strategies for de-escalation and intervention. These are shared with key volunteers to ensure consistent support.
• A dedicated team of more experienced volunteers, Specialist Support Team, support holiday makers with complex and specific behavioural needs, ensuring continuity and consistency of care.
• All volunteers receive training in using positive behaviour reinforcement techniques, structured choices, sensory regulation strategies, and planned transitions.
• All volunteers are trained to recognise early signs of escalation and are encouraged to request support from more experienced volunteers to intervene early and prevent crises.
• Some senior Volunteers receive annual training in CPI Safety Intervention for Children and Young People, delivered by a team member who is licensed to train by CPI.
• The Registered Manager and Child Leads monitor and evaluate behavioural incidents and update practice accordingly.

Responsive Procedures During Incidents

• Senior team members lead interventions during serious incidents to preserve the positive and trusting relationships built between one-to-one volunteers and holiday makers. These therapeutic relationships are based on consistency, understanding, and emotional safety, which are key to supporting wellbeing and positive behaviour.
• Space, time, and support are provided to holiday makers in distress to self-regulate.