Recommendation 32

We welcome the Government’s commitment to reducing the use of seclusion, segregation and restraint for children and young people in inpatient units and the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act in particular. However, we have heard that 60 Children and young people’s mental health restrictive interventions, and particularly restraint, are still used excessively and avoidably against children and young people in inpatient settings and in transit. We are particularly concerned about the continued use of prone restraint on children and young people, despite guidance stating that prone restraint should be avoided due to the increased risk of death from this position. It is extremely worrying that restraint, and particularly prone restraint, is being used on children and young people at a much higher rate than in adult services.