Procedures On Physical Restraint And Seclusion
These procedures are established for the purpose of meeting the obligations of the South Portland School Department under state law/regulations and Board Policy JKAA governing the use of physical restraint and seclusion. These procedures shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with state law and regulations.
Definitions.
I. Physical Restraint.
To the extent possible, physical restraint will be implemented by staff certified in a training program approved by the Maine Department of Education. If untrained staff have intervened and initiated a physical restraint in an emergency, trained staff must be summoned to the scene to assume control of the situation if the emergency continues.
This procedure does not preclude law enforcement personnel from implementing physical restraints in carrying out their professional responsibilities.
Physical restraint may be used only as an emergency intervention when the behavior of a student presents imminent risk of injury or harm to the student or others, and only after other less intrusive interventions have failed or been deemed inappropriate.The physical restraint must end immediately upon the cessation of the imminent risk of serious physical injury to the student or another person, and should involve the least amount of force necessary to protect the student or other person.
“Serious physical injury” is a physical injury that a reasonable person would consider to be serious for the victim if it were to occur.
Prescribed medications, harnesses, and other assistive or protective devices may be used as permitted by Policy JKAA
Parents may be requested to provide assistance at any time.
Physical restraint used for punitive purposes; as a therapeutic or educational intervention; for staff convenience; or to control challenging behavior.
Physical restraint used solely to prevent property destruction or disruption of the environment in the absence of a risk of serious physical injury imminent risk of injury.
Physical restraint that is life threatening, restricts breathing or restricts blood flow to the brain, including prone restraint.
Physical restraint that relies on pain for control, including but not limited to joint hyperextension, excessive force, unsupported take-downs (e.g., tackles), the use of any physical structure (e.g., wall, railing or post), punching and hitting.
Physical restraint that is contraindicated based on the child’s disability, health care needs, or medical or psychiatric condition if documented in:
A health care directive or medical management plan;
A school-approved behavior plan;
An IEP or an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP); or
A school-approved 504 or ADA plan.
Aversive procedures and mechanical and chemical restraints.
Aversive procedures are defined as the use of a substance or stimulus, intended to modify behavior, which the person administering it knows or should know is likely to cause physical and/or emotional trauma to a student, even when the substance or stimulus appears to be pleasant or neutral to others. Such substances and stimuli include but are not limited to infliction of bodily pain (e.g., hitting, pinching, slapping); water spray; noxious fumes; extreme physical exercise; costumes or signs.
Mechanical restraints are defined as any restraint that uses a device to restrict a student’s freedom of movement. Such restraints do not include adaptive devices or mechanical supports to achieve proper body position, balance or alignment to allow greater freedom of movement, or the use of vehicle safety restraints when used as intended during the transport of a student in a moving vehicle
Chemical restraints are defined as the use of drug or medication that is not prescribed as the standard treatment of a student’s medical or psychiatric condition by a licensed physician or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional’s authority under state law that is used on a student to control behavior or restrict freedom of movement.
At least two adults must be present at all times when physical restraint is used except when, for safety reasons, waiting for a second adult to arrive is precluded by the particular circumstances.
The student must be continuously monitored until they no longer presents an imminent risk of injury or harm to the student or others.
If an injury occurs, applicable school policies and procedures should be followed.
The staff involved in the use of physical restraint must continually assess for signs that the student is no longer presenting an imminent risk of injury or harm to themselves and the physical restraint must be discontinued immediately after it is determined that the imminent risk of serious physical harm has ended.
The time a student is in physical restraint must be monitored and recorded.
If physical restraint continues for more than ten (10) minutes, an administrator/designee shall determine whether continued physical restraint is warranted, and shall continue to monitor the status of the physical restraint every ten (10) minutes until the restraint is terminated.
If attempts to release a student from physical restraint have been unsuccessful and the student continues to present behaviors that create an imminent risk of injury or harm to the student or others, then staff may request additional assistance from other school staff, parents, medical providers, or other appropriate persons or organizations.
II. Seclusion.
To the extent possible, seclusion will be implemented by staff certified in a training program approved by the Maine Department of Education. If untrained staff have intervened and initiated seclusion in an emergency, trained staff must be summoned to the scene as soon as possible.
A “timeout” where a student requests, or complies with an adult request for, a break is not considered seclusion under this procedure. Seclusion also does not include any situation where others are present in the room or defined area with the student (including but not limited to classrooms, offices and other school locations).
Permitted Uses and Location of Seclusion
Seclusion may be used only as an emergency intervention when the behavior of a student presents imminent risk of injury or harm to the student or others, and only after other less intrusive interventions have failed or been deemed inappropriate. The seclusion must end immediately upon the cessation of the imminent risk of serious physical injury to the student or another person. “Serious physical injury” is a physical injury that a reasonable person would consider to be serious for the victim if it were to occur.
Seclusion may be achieved in any part of a school building with adequate light, heat, ventilation and of normal room height.
Seclusion may not take place in a locked room.
If a specific room is designated as a seclusion room, it must be a minimum of sixty (60) square feet; have adequate light, heat and ventilation; be of normal room height; contain an unbreakable observation window in a wall or door; and must be free of hazardous materials and objects which the student could use to self-inflict bodily injury.
Parents/legal guardians may be requested to provide assistance at any time.
Prohibited Uses of Seclusion
Seclusion used for punitive purposes; as a therapeutic or educational intervention; for staff convenience; or to control challenging behavior.
Seclusion used solely to prevent property destruction or disruption of the environment in the absence of imminent risk of injury.
Seclusion that is life threatening.
Seclusion that is contraindicated based on the child’s disability, health care needs, or medical or psychiatric condition if documented in:
A health care directive or medical management plan;
A school-approved behavior plan;
An IEP or IFSP; or
A school-approved 504 or ADA plan.
Monitoring Students in Seclusion
At least one adult must be physically present at all times to continuously monitor a student in seclusion. The adult, while not present in the room or defined area, must be situated so that the student is visible at all times.
The student must be continuously monitored until he/she no longer presents an imminent risk of injury or harm to him/herself or others.
If any injury occurs, applicable school policies and procedures should be followed.
Termination of Seclusion
The staff involved in the seclusion must continually assess for signs that the student is no longer presenting an imminent risk of injury or harm to himself/herself or others, and the emergency intervention must be discontinued as soon as possible.
The time a student is in seclusion must be monitored and recorded.
If seclusion continues for more than ten (10) minutes, an administrator/designee shall determine whether continued seclusion is warranted, and shall continue to monitor the status of the seclusion every ten (10) minutes until the restraint is terminated.
If attempts to release a student from seclusion have been unsuccessful and the student continues to present behaviors that create an imminent risk of injury or harm to himself/herself or others, then staff may request additional assistance from other school staff, parents, medical providers, or other appropriate persons or organizations.
III. Notification And Reports Of Physical Restraint And Seclusion Incidents.
For the purposes of this procedure, an “incident” consists of all actions between the time a student begins to create a risk of harm and the time the student ceases to pose a risk of harm and returns to his/her regular programming.
Notice Requirements
After each incident of physical restraint or seclusion:
A staff member involved in the incident shall make an oral notification to the administrator/designee as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the school day.
(NOTE: For students in out-of-district placements, the entity must make this report to the sending school within 24 hours or by the next business day.)
An administrator/designee shall notify the parent/legal guardian about the physical restraint or seclusion (and any related first aid provided) as soon as practical, but within the school day in which the incident occurred. The administrator/designee must utilize all available phone numbers or other available contact information to reach the parent/legal guardian. If the parent/legal guardian is unavailable, the administrator/designee must leave a message (if the parent/legal guardian has a phone and message capability) to contact the school as soon as possible. The parent/legal guardian must be informed that written documentation will be provided within seven (7) calendar days.
If the physical restraint or seclusion incident occurred outside the school day, the notifications must be made as soon as possible and in accordance with the South Portland School Department usual emergency notification procedures.
If serious bodily injury or death of a student occurs during the implementation of physical restraint or seclusion, the South Portland School Department emergency notification procedures shall be followed and an administrator/designee shall notify the Maine Department of Education within twenty-four (24) hours or the next business day.
2. Incident Reports
Each use of physical restraint or seclusion must be documented in an incident report. The incident report must be completed and provided to an administrator/designee as soon as practical, and in all cases within two (2) school days of the incident. The parent/legal guardian must be provided a copy of the incident report within seven (7) calendar days of the incident.
(NOTE: For students in out-of-district placements, the entity must make the incident report to the sending school.)
The incident report must include the following elements:
Student name;
Age, gender and grade;
Location of the incident;
Date of the incident;
Date of report;
Person completing the report;
Beginning and ending time of each physical restraint and/or seclusion;
Total time of incident;
Description of prior events and circumstances;
Less restrictive interventions tried prior to the use of physical restraint and/or seclusion and, if none were used, the reasons why;
The student behavior justifying the use of physical restraint or seclusion;
A detailed description of the physical restraint or seclusion used;
The staff person(s) involved, their role in the physical restraint or seclusion, and whether each person is certified in an approved training program;
Description of the incident, including the resolution and process of returning the student to his/her program, if appropriate;
Whether the student has an IEP, 504 Plan, behavior plan, IHP (individual health plan) or any other plan;
If a student and/or staff sustained bodily injury, the date and time of nurse or other response personnel notification and any treatment administered;
The date, time and method of parent/legal guardian notification;
The date and time of administrator/designee notification; and
Date and time of staff debriefing.
Copies of the incident reports shall be maintained in the student’s file and in the school office.
IV. School Unit Response Following The Use Of Physical Restraint Or Seclusion.
Following each incident of physical restraint or seclusion, an administrator/designee shall take these steps within two (2) school days (unless serious bodily injury requiring emergency medical treatment occurred, in which case these steps must take place as soon as possible, but no later than the next school day):
Review the incident with all staff persons involved to discuss: (a) whether the use of physical restraint or seclusion complied with state and school board requirements and (b) how to prevent or reduce the need for physical restraint and/or seclusion in the future.
Meet with the student who was physically restrained or secluded to discuss: (a) what triggered the student’s escalation and (b) what the student and staff can do to reduce the need for physical restraint and/or seclusion in the future.
Following the meetings, staff must develop and implement a written plan for response and de-escalation for the student. If a plan already exists, staff must review it and make revisions, if appropriate. For the purposes of this procedure, “de-escalation” is the use of behavior management techniques intended to cause a situation involving problem behavior of a student to become more controlled, calm and less dangerous, thus reducing the risk of injury or harm.
V. Procedure For Students With Three Incidents In A School Year.
The school unit will make reasonable, documented efforts to encourage parent/legal guardian participation in the meetings required in this section, and to schedule meetings at times convenient for parents/legal guardians