ony O’Donovan Child Welfare Advisor, Irish Youth Justice Service Tony O’Donovan has worked in youth detention, at differing levels, for over 30 years in both Ireland and Canada. He became a Certified Instructor in 1989 and was part of the International Advisory Board of CPI for many years. He is presently the Child Welfare Advisor in the Irish Youth Justice Service and involved in developing policy in relation to youth detention. Presentation Topic: Tackling Challenging Behaviour in Irish Children Detention Schools Using his expertise in Youth Justice, Tony showcases the impact of ongoing training, at an organisational level, on the reduction in the use of restraints in the Children Detention Schools. Tony outlines how developing staff confidence in dealing with challenging behaviours has helped the Irish Youth Justice Service and present statistics that demonstrate the effectiveness of training in reducing the number and severity of physical restraints across the service.

1. Tackling Challenging
Behaviour
Children Detention Schools
June 27th
2014
Birmingham
DA Tony O’Donovan Jackie Leonard
Child Welfare Advisor Unit Manager CDS

2. Mission Statement
"To create a safer society by working in
partnership to reduce youth offending
through appropriate interventions and
linkages into services".
Irish Youth Justice Service

3.  Leadership and build public confidence in youth justice system
 Reduce offending
 Community sanctions and initiatives
 Safe and secure environment for detained
children, assisting re-integration into the
community
 Information and data sources in the youth justice system
Youth Justice Action Plan
- 5 high level goals

4. Background
 Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS)/Dept.
Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA)
 Children Detention Schools (CDS)
 Present Structures - Unification of a Campus
 Staff Body (Qualifications/Experience)
 Policy Development

5. Physical Restraint Systems
 Review of Existing System
 1983 – 1987 (Self-Defense Training – Police)
 1987 – 1991 (C&R – Prisons)
 1991 – 1996 (C&R Services – Mental Health)
 1996 – 2008 (TCI)

6. Review
 Review of Behaviour Management (2008)
 Child Welfare Advisor
 CDS Management & Staff
 CPI
 Beginning of Review Process
 Nearly 2 year Process

7. Problems Highlighted
 Lack of Staff Confidence
 High Number of Restraints & Injuries
 Suitability for Setting
 Preparation for Managing Older YP
 Greater Resources Required for Training
 Consistency Across Campus

8. Policy Parameters
 Must:
 Accredited Course
 Not Rely on Pain Compliance
 Be Resourced at Trainer Level
 Be Consistent in Delivery
 Stand up to Cross-Examination
 Be Adaptable to Environment
 Be Developmental in Nature

9. Development
 Working Group
 Input from Independent Providers
 Review of Existing Programmes
 Public Tender for Provision
 Awarding of Contract
 Development of a ‘Bespoke’ Programme in
Conjunction with CPI

10. ‘Bespoke’ Programme
 Acknowledged Experience of Staff &
Trainers
 Dichotomy between Security/Care
 Different Environments (Old/Newer Units)
 Different Staff Perspectives

11. Obstacles
 IR Issues
 Implementation Issues
 On-going Training
 Practice Drill Sessions
 Co-ordination of Reporting

12. Statistics
School Physical Restraint Grade 2or above Serious Incidents Average Occupancy School Physical Restraint Grade 2orabove Serious Incidents Average Occupancy
OBS 18 11 30 12 OBS 6 23 38 16
THS 26 0 26 10 THS 32 1 44 11
OGS 6 32* 39 5 OGS 2 0 40 6
FCAC 8 ** 30 12 FCAC 0 0 1 7*
Total 58 11 125 39 Total 40 24 123 33
*one incident of grade 1 *FCAC closed on 31st March 2010
**only grade 3are recorded
School Physical Restraint Grade 2or above Serious Incidents Average Occupancy School Physical Restraint Grade 2orabove Serious Incidents Average Occupancy
OBS 8 7 27 16 OBS 22 5 39 14
THS 39 0 55 16 THS 27 0 31 11
OGS 5 3 26 5 OGS 4 5 8 4
Total 52 10 108 37 Total 53 10 78 29
NB: The age range for the boys was increased to include 16year olds on the 1st May 2012
School Physical Restraint Grade 2or above Serious Incidents Average Occupancy School Physical Restraint Grade 2orabove Serious Incidents Average Occupancy
OBS 19 4 54 19 OBS 0 0 6 17
THS 22 0 23 15 THS 3 0 3 14
OGS 0 0 0 1 OGS 0 0 0 2
Total 41 4 77 35 Total 3 0 9 33
2009
2011
2013
2010
2012
2014up to the end of March

13. What Stats Tell Us
 Overall Drop in Restraints
 Drop in Injuries
 Ability to Manage Change
 Quality of Training
 Quality of Staff

14. Staff Training
 Instils Confidence
 Teaches More than the Course
 Gives Trainers a Sense of Worth
 Allows Staff Experience Success
 Better Outcome for Young People