Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department publishes for parents and social workers on the use of restraining techniques for children with autism who exhibit or demonstrate violent behaviour.

The Department for Education and the Department of Health jointly published non-statutory Guidance for Restrictive Physical Interventions: How to provide safe services for people with Learning Disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (July 2002).

The guidance is aimed at those who are responsible for social services, including social workers. It is not guidance for parents, though it would be of interest to them.

It promotes effective policies, planning and staff training for those who work with people who have severe behavioural difficulties associated with learning difficulties or autism spectrum disorder. It does not provide guidance on techniques of restraint – that is best delivered through specialised training.

The Department for Education and the Department of Health are working to produce for consultation new guidance which is intended to replace the 2002 guidance.

Weblink to the above guidance: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http:/www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4068461.pdf