Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of de-escalation techniques in Tier 4 CAMHS.

The Coalition Government published ‘Positive and Proactive Care; reducing the need for restrictive interventions’ and ‘A Positive and Proactive Workforce’ in April 2014. Both guidance documents are clear that corporate training strategies to manage violence and aggression should include clear learning outcomes about effective use of de-escalation techniques, the risks associated with restrictive interventions and safe implementation of restrictive physical interventions. Additionally a multi-agency programme of work is underway to target reductions in restrictive interventions across all mental health services including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Tier 4. This includes ensuring provision of accredited training for staff to use de-escalation techniques as appropriate.