The Norfolk Joint Services Positive Handling Group, who are a multi-agency body of experienced practitioners and managers in the field of Children and Young People, with complex, challenging needs and learning disabilities or difficulties, have developed the following booklet:

Handling Behaviours that Challenge - For Children and Young People who have Learning Disabilities or Difficulties including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder - A guidance to support the Norfolk Joint Services Positive Handling Policy and Toolkit

This document has been developed to support and safeguard children and young people, parents and carers, and staff and managers who are responsible for such children and young people's care and well-being. The intention is to provide Norfolk agencies with guidance on the circumstances in which:

a) management of behaviours by non-restrictive means and
b) physical restraint, maybe appropriately used, the procedures that should be in place and the techniques that are considered to be suitable

It is vitally important that staff, children, young people and parents/ carers understand these procedures and the context in which they apply. The document is guided by legislation, national guidance and relevant codes of practice. A copy of the guidance will be provided for each school.