Case Study – De-escalation a shared approach to reducing restrictive practices in a Special School in Queensland

This project investigates the impact of a de-escalation training program, Team Teach APAC, on the reduction of restrictive practices, implemented within a special school setting in the North Coast region, Queensland. This holistic approach to prevention looks at how students with disabilities can be supported through an alternative non-physical approach, reducing the number of restrictive practices and risks to individual safety. The focus on duty of care within schools makes behaviour everyone’s business and requires a shared approach to behaviour support. The findings discover a positive affirmation for the selected training within the special school setting in reducing restrictive practices, with recommendations for this training to be mandated, enhancing its impact and value for all involved. The research applies a mixed method approach and explores quantitative data focussing on scaled responses to the training, whilst semi-structured interviews enrich this statistical data with descriptive information on the trainings impact and effectiveness. This project takes into account the theoretical and practical elements of the de-escalation training whilst building capability in all staff members who participate in the training. With intensity growing around occupational violence for staff in schools and controversial media and parental concerns surrounding the growing use of restrictive practices on students, in particular students with disabilities; this research is timely, reinforcing the need for alternative strategies to be found and implemented to assist with effectively supporting challenging behaviours.